Category Archives: Nigeria

Nigeria: CNPP CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF JONATHAN

From: Atlantic Reporters

The Cross River State chairman of Conference for Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Hon. Cletus Obun wants President Goodluck Jonathan to be impeached forthwith because…Read more at www.atlanticreporters.net.
http://www.atlanticreporters.net/index.php/news-reports/item/162-cnpp-calls-for-impeachment-of-jonathan

Drama at the Nigeria High Commission, Ottawa

From: Dauda Garuba

Dear All,

I am posting the link above here because I know a number of well-meaning Nigerians, including the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduakwe, is on this listserv. Can we just find a way to do things right in our country. How long are we going to continue to treat our fellow citizens – home and abroad – as sub-human? Something positive needs to happened.

Dauda Garuba

UN: Reject Nigerian Senate changes to law allowing girls’ under-age marriages — Youth & Children

From: athmanabdallahmohamed

I strongly back the rejection! And I feel that we should all do to protect the rights of girl chald in Africa

………..
Mr. Athumani Abdulla Mohamed
Finance & Admin Officer
C.I.P.K – Mombasa
Mob: 0705863475

– – – – – – – – – – –

——– Original message ——–
From: Emmanuel Dennis
Date:
Subject: UN: Reject Nigerian Senate changes to law allowing girls’ under-age marriages — Youth & Children

AfricaFiles

Action: UN: Reject Nigerian Senate changes to law allowing girls’ under-age marriages
Act By: 8/1/2013
Sponsor: Eme Awa
Other Contact Info: mail@change.org
Action Site: Change.org

African Charter Article# 18: The State will protect the family as the natural unit and basis of society; the rights of women, children, the aged, and the disabled will be protected.

Summary & Comment: Under Section 29 (4a and 4b) of the Nigerian Constitution, a woman shall not be qualified for marriage until she is 18 years of age. The Nigerian Senate has proposed changing that provision to “a woman is deemed to be of full age once she is married,” irrespective of the age she did so. Please urge the UN to reject this change by August 1, 2013, when the petition is scheduled to be submitted to the UN. JS

——–

United Nations: Stop the Nigerian Senate from making under-age marriage the law!

Please sign this petition to protect many generations of Nigerian girl children, now and in the future, from sexual exploitation. Please urge the UN to reject this change by August 1, 2013, when the petition is scheduled to be submitted to the UN.

http://www.change.org/petitions/united-nations-stop-the-nigerian-senate-from-making-under-age-marriage-the-law?utm_source=supporter_message&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_message_notice

http://charlesegwuba.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/childnotbride-a-disjointed-and-ridiculous-law-by-the-nigerian-senate/

http://allafrica.com/stories/201307220337.html

Nigeria’s Economic Growth: AfDB approves up to US $150 Million Line of Credit to Fidelity Bank in support of Nigeria’s Economic Growth

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

AfDB approves up to US $150 Million Line of Credit to Fidelity Bank in support of Nigeria’s Economic Growth

TUNIS, Tunisia, July 17, 2013/ — The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) approved today a US $75-million medium-term line of credit (LoC) to Fidelity Bank Plc to fund selected projects in sectors that are critical to Nigeria’s transformation agenda and economic growth such as infrastructure, manufacturing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The LoC will be complemented by AfDB arranged-syndicated financing of up to US $75 million on a best-effort basis.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png

Fidelity Bank Plc is an indigenous universal bank that has been operational since 2001. It has over 200 branches and over two million customers located in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. It is thus strategically placed to tap into various sectors and ensure diversification of its client base. As at December 2012, Fidelity had a total shareholders fund amounting to US $1.04 billion. Fidelity is ranked among the top six banks in Nigeria by equity base and eighth in terms of deposits and totals assets. The LoC will complement Fidelity’s other fundraising efforts through deposits mobilization and financing lines from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), commercial banks and proceeds from its recent bond issuance.

The AfDB’s LoC will contribute to bridging Fidelity’s financing gap by providing much-needed longer-term liquidity to meet its pipeline demands against the background of a financial market that has hitherto slanted towards short-term liquidity inhibiting access to medium- to long-term lending. This financing will allow Fidelity to better serve and fund its clients, increase the tenors of loans to subprojects and expand its loan portfolio, particularly in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Twenty per cent of the LoC proceeds will be dedicated to SMEs.

This LoC is in recognition of the positive impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its supervisory framework, stabilize and instill confidence in the local financial system as well as improve liquidity and credit flows. This LoC sends strong signals that Nigeria’s financial sector has stabilized and confirms a return of confidence to the Nigerian banking sector. It is also symbolic of AfDB partnership role in supporting the private sector to play its rightful and important part in building the Nigerian economy. Moreover, it also highlights the AfDB’s commitment to supporting its Regional Member Countries and their governments in strengthening in their financial markets, diversifying their economies and revamping their infrastructure to facilitate stronger private sector participation and contribution to the economy.

Ultimately, this transaction will contribute to improved and longer term liquidity in the banking sector, increase government revenues, import substitution and job creation.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Contacts:

Sabrina Hadjadj Aoul, Senior Communications Officer, T. +216 71 10 26 21 / C. +216 98 70 98 43 / s.hadjadjaoul@afdb.org

Lilian Macharia, Principal Investment Officer, T. +216 71 10 26 81 / l.macharia@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 53 regional member states.

SOURCE
African Development Bank (AfDB)

USA, NYC; & Nigeria: October 6th Nigerian Independence Day Parade Video clip

From: African Views Information Exchange

Here is the video footage of the Nigerian independence day parade that took place in New York on October 6, 2012.

Enjoy:

http://www.africanviews.org/country-profile-videos/viewvideo/30688/nigeria/ny-usa-52-eme-anniveraire-de-lindependance-de-nigeria-new-york

AV

Listen to Gov Ogbeni Rauf of the State of Osun in Nigeria

From: odhiambo okecth

I need not add more. Read on;

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Date: Monday, August 13, 2012, 9:00 AM

Clean And Healthy Environment, Panacea To Sickness, Untimely Death – Aregbesola

The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has identified clean and healthy environments as panacea to sickness and diseases that usually kill people with ease in the society.

The governor stated this at the handing over ceremony of medical staff quarters, built by the Otan-Ayegbaju Pacesetters’ Club, Otan-Ayegbaju, for doctors and nurses working at the Comprehensive Health Centre of the community.

The state’s helmsman further stressed that cleanliness of the body and environment, combined with fresh air, are the greatest insurance against any form of sickness, as well as being tools to stem the spread of diseases.

The quarters contain five bedrooms, one living room and three kitchens, according to the Chairman, Planning/Project Commissioning Committee, Chief SegunAina (OFR).

Aina stated that the construction and handing over of the quarters to the state government was borne out of commitment of the club to provide comfortable accommodation for all nursing staff and resident medical doctors being posted to the community health centre.

According to Aregbesola, who commended members of the club for contributing to the improvement of healthcare delivery in their hometown, the best way to prevent untimely death as a result of sickness and diseases is to avoid living in an unhealthy area.
The governor disclosed that hospital patients in the state were reduced by 50 per cent with the introduction of a 90-day emergency environmental sanitation and the O’ CLEAN programme, maintaining that it is safer to maintain a clean environment than to save money for medical treatment.

Aregbesola charged the people to plant trees and flowers in their surroundings for fresh air, just as he enjoined them to do exercise from time to time.

The governor then urged other associations at Otan-Ayegbaju, to emulate the Pacesetters’ Club and assist the government in delivering qualitative healthcare services and development of the state at large.

He, however, promised to deploy more health workers, especially doctors and nurses, as well as general health practitioners to the health centre in the community,with a view to facilitating the free health care drive.

In his address, Aina lamented that the health centre in the community was suffering from dearth of nurses and doctors, as the health practitioners posted to the centre usually complain of lack of accommodation.

Aina disclosed that the Otan-Ayegbaju Pacesetters’ Club deemed it fit to build the medical staff quarters and hand it over to the state government,so as to attract medical practitioners, who will henceforth be posted to the community health centre.

He stressed that the quarters have been furnished to the taste of the doctors and nurses, pleading with the government to post necessary and adequate personnel to the health centre for 24-hour service.

According to him, there was inadequacy of medical personnel on duty at the health centre during the day and none during the evening, nights and weekends.

Appealing to the state government to upgrade the Otan-Ayegbaju health centre to a General Hospital, Aina disclosed that the community had set aside 11 hectares of land to accommodate the upgrading.

Commending Aregbesola on the Osun State Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and the Osun Rural Enterprises and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP), the Owa of Otan-Ayegbaju, Oba Lukman Ojo Fadipe, stated that the state is developing aggressively with the various projects embarked upon by the governor.

Oba Fadipe, who also handed over the medical equipment donated by the community to the health centre, to the state government, urged Aregbesola to, as a matter of urgency, look into the health care delivery of the community and provide doctors and nurses for the health centre.

NIGERIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ELECTION SITUATION ROOM

From: nkwachukwu orji

Interim Statement on the Edo Gubernatorial Election

Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room commends the people of Edo State for coming out to vote in the 14 July 2012 gubernatorial election in the state. The zeal with which they participated in the election demonstrates the desire of the people of the State to elect their leaders through a free and fair election.

Reports received from our network of observers in the field indicate that INEC’s preparation for the election leaves room for improvements. The Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room observes that security agents were absent in a number of polling units, and election officials were not deployed in sufficient numbers in some polling units, prompting party agents to step in and assist the election officials in the accreditation of voters at PU 010 EBEN/NB III, Oguola primary school II, Benin City. We are also particularly disturbed by the reports that many prospective voters were disenfranchised following the omission of their names or photograph in the voters register. The problem of late arrival of election materials and delays in the commencement of accreditation and voting, which has plagued Nigeria’s elections in the past, was also observed in many polling units. In some communities, the conflict over ownership of polling units nearly marred the election. Lastly, the Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room notes with dismay the unlawful arrest and intimidation of two accredited election observers by military officers in Eghor Local Government Area.

In spite of the hitches experienced in many polling units, the distribution of materials and commencement of accreditation have however been reportedly timely in some areas, and accreditation and voting progressed largely in a peaceful manner. In particular, election officials and security agents deployed in the State have conducted themselves in a professional and commendable manner.

As collation of results begins, we urge INEC to carry out the process in a transparent and forthright manner. We call on political parties and candidates to respect the wishes of Edo people, which have been expressed in votes. They are to guard their statements and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner. We condole with the families of the three police officers and the INEC official that died in a boat mishap while carrying out election duties. The Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room will issue a final statement on the Edo gubernatorial election subsequently.


Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Blogu ya Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com

Nigerian caught with Fake Passport

From: Maurice Oduor

Look at the lengths people go through to make it out into the West !!!!!

This Nigerian guy wants the Immigration Officers to believe that he’s only 15. He is very well coached. Minors can never be deported and he knows that. Very clever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oWIl2UWHOc&feature=related (about 10 min long)

Courage,
Oduor Maurice Wod Plista Ny’Alego Gang

How a Nigerian “Prophet”accurately predicted the death of Malawian President two months ago

An exclusive report published By Uganda Correspondent online

Forwarded By Leo Odera Omolo

TB Joshua: Prophet of doom?

A flamboyant Nigerian Pastor who claims to be a “Prophet” is being hailed by his admirers for predicting the death of former Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika. During a church service on the 5th February, “Prophet” TB Joshua announced that he was seeing the death of an African president in two months time.

“..I am seeing a Head of State…by that I mean a President. He is not feeling well. He is very old. What is this I am seeing…sudden death…I am seeing the death of an old African president in two months”, TB Joshua said.

He added: “…It could be sickness being in the body for a long time but God showed me the country and the place but I am not here to say anything like that. When it’s too close and there is nothing I can do about it…I will mention it clear…the place, the country and the person so that they can see what they can do to rescue him…” he said.

On Sunday April 1, TB Joshua said his prophecy was drawing closer and closer. “…I was talking about April…we should pray for the nation…this country…God loves us. You should pray for one African Head of State. The sickness that is likely to take life…sudden death.” said the Pastor.

TB Joshua’s prophecy was confirmed on Friday, April 6, a day after Bingu wa Mutharika died of a heart attack. April 5, the day Mutharika died, is strangely, exactly two months after the Nigerian church leader predicted the death of the African president.

Whether or not TB Joshua’s prophecy should be taken seriously may be totally irrelevant to fanatics who profess dogmatic faith in religion. Indeed, going by the debate raging online, it appears TB Joshua’s prophecy has won him hundreds of thousands of new followers.

END

Nigeria: Draft ICT Policy of Nigeria 2012

from Yona Maro

Nigeria’s Federal Government has released the Draft National Information Communications Technology policy for Nigeria. The document was released by the Ministry of Communication Technology as promised in January 2012 by Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology
http://www.ebusinessnigeria.com/ebusiness/draft-national-ICT-policy-nigeria.html


Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

Nigeria: Bomb explosions in Kano Police Headquarters

From: Ulanga Ally

Allah will surely disown whoever is carrying this out in His name. The criminals are well aware of this. Even if they are doing this in ignorance, they will still be punished. Ignorance is not an excuse in Islam.

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On Jan 20, 9:50 pm, Yona F Maro wrote:

By Opeyemi Adesina

After President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to sack the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim about the sudden escaped of Boko Haram sponsor, Kabir Umar, from police custody, multiple bomb explosions has rocked Kano Police Zone 1 headquarters and its environ.

Sources confirmed to NigeriaPolitics Online that several other explosions occurring simultaneously at other locations and people are running for safety.

A resident in Tarauni who doesnt want his name to be mention described a very thick dark cloud of smoke in the sky visible from his location to our reporter, most likely coming from the explosion at Ungwar Uku while two other explosions have been reported from Farm Centre and Sharada in Kano.

Details soon.

http://www.nigeriapoliticsonline.com/theContent.aspx?page_id=3&id=1119


Tembelea www.mwanabidii.com Kwa mijadala Moto Moto

Facts You Must Know About Nigeria Fuel Subsidy

From: Yona Maro

Pastor ‘Tunde Bakare delivered this expose on Fuel Subsidy at The Latter Rain Assembly a few hours ago. Please read, digest, and share with as many people as you can. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

1) DEFINITION

To subsidise is to sell a product below the cost of production. Since the federal government has been secretive about the state of our refineries and their production capacity, we will focus on importation rather than production. So, in essence, within the Nigerian Fuel Subsidy context, to subsidise is to sell petrol below the cost of importation.

2) THE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Nigerian government claims that Nigerians consume 34 million litres of petrol per day. The government has also said publicly that N141 per litre is the unsubsidised pump price of petrol imported into Nigeria. (N131.70 kobo being the landing price and N9.30 kobo being profit.)

3) ANNUAL COST OF IMPORTATION

Daily Fuel Consumption: 34 million litres

Cost at Pump: N141.00

No. of days in a regular year: 365 days

Total cost of all petrol imported yearly into Nigeria:

Litres Naira Days

34m x 141 x 365

= N1.75 trillion

4) COST BORNE BY THE CONSUMERS

Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel, haven’t we? Therefore, cost borne by the consumers =

Litres Naira Days

34m x 65 x 365

= N807 billion

5) COST OF SUBSIDY BORNE BY THE GOVERNMENT

In 2011 alone, government claimed to have spent N1.3 trillion by October – the bill for the full year, assuming a constant rate of consumption is N1.56 trillion.

Consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is:

Total cost of importation minus total borne by consumers, i.e. N1.75 trillion minus N807 billion = N943 billion.

Unexplainable difference: N617 billion

The federal government of Nigeria cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).

6) BOGUS CLAIM BY THE GOVERNMENT

A government official has claimed that the shortfall of N617 billion is what goes to subsidising our neighbours through smuggling. This is pathetic. But let us assume (assumption being the lowest level of knowledge) that the government is unable to protect our borders and checkmate the brisk smuggling going on. Even then, the figures still don’t add up. This is because even if 50% of the petrol consumed in each of our neighbouring countries is illegally exported from Nigeria, the figures are still inaccurate. Why?

WORLD BANK’S FIGURES: POPULATIONS OF WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

NIGERIA: 158.4 million

BENIN: 8.8 million

TOGO: 6 million

CAMEROUN: 19.2 million

NIGER: 15.5 million

CHAD: 11.2 million

GHANA: 24.4 million

The total population of all our six (6) neighbours is 85.5 million.

Let’s do some more arithmetic:

a) Rate of Petrol Consumption in Nigeria: Total consumed divided by total population:

34 million litres divided by 158.8 million people = 0.21 litres per person per day.

b) Rate of Petrol Consumption in all our 6 neighbouring countries, assumed to be the same as Nigeria:

0.2 litres x 85.5 million people = 18.35 million litres per day

Now, if we assume that 50% of the petrol consumed in all the six neighbouring countries comes from Nigeria, this value come to 9.18 million litres per day.

7) PATHETIC ABSURDITY

There are two illogicalities flowing from this smuggling saga.

a) If 9.18 million litres of petrol is truly smuggled out of our borders per day, then ours is the most porous nation in the word. This is why: The biggest fuel tankers in Nigeria have a capacity of about 36,000 litres. To smuggle 9.18 million litres of fuel, you need 254 trucks. What our government is telling us is that 254 huge tankers pass through our borders every day and they cannot do anything about it. This is not just acute incompetence, but also a serious security challenge. For if the government cannot stop 254 tanker trailers from crossing the border daily, how can they stop importation of weapons or even invasion by a foreign country?

b) 2nd illogicality:

Even if we believe the government and assume that about 9.18 million litres is actually taken to our neighbours by way of smuggling every day, and all this is subsidised by the Nigerian government, the figures being touted as subsidy still don’t add up. This is why:

Difference between pump price before and after subsidy removal =

N141.00 – N65.00 = N76.00

Total spent on subsidizing petrol to our neighbours annually =

N76.00 x 9.18 million litres x 365 days = N255 billion

If you take the N255 billion away from the N617 billion shortfall that the government cannot explain, there is still a shortfall of N362 billion. The government still needs to tell us what/who is eating up this N362 billion ($2.26 billion USD).

ILLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS

i) We have assumed that there are no working refineries in Nigeria and so no local petrol production whatsoever – yet, there is, even if the refineries are working below capacity.

ii) Nigeria actually consumes 34 million litres of petrol per day. Most experts disagree and give a figure between 20 and 25 million litres per day. Yet there is still an unexplainable shortfall even if we use the exaggerated figure of the government.

iii) Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Niger, and Chad all consume the same rate as Nigeria and get 50% of their petrol illegally from Nigeria through smuggling.

These figures simply show the incompetence and insincerity of our government officials. This is pure banditry.

9) FACT 9: The simplest part of the fuel subsidy arithmetic will reveal one startling fact: That the government does not need to subsidise our petrol at all if we reject corruption and sleaze as a way of life. Check this out:

a) NNPC crude oil allocation for local consumption = 400,000 barrels per day (from a total of 2.450 million barrels per day).

b) If our refineries work at just 30%, 280,000 barrels can be sold on the international market, leaving the rest for local production.

c) Money accruing to the federal government through NNPC on the sale, using $80/bbl – a conservative figure as against the current price of $100/bbl – would be $22.4m per day. Annually this translates to $8.176bn or N1.3 trillion.

d) The government does not need to subsidise our petrol imports – at least not from the Federation Account. The same crude that should have been refined by NNPC is simply sold on the international market (since our refineries barely work) and the money is used to buy petrol. The 400,000 barrels per day given to NNPC for local consumption can either be refined by NNPC or sold to pay for imports. This absurdity called subsidy should be funded with this money, not the regular FGN budget.

If the FGN uses it regular budget for subsidising petrol, then what happens to the crude oil given to NNPC for local refining that gets sold on the international market?

10) TACTICAL BLUNDER

The federal government is making the deregulation issue a revenue problem. Nigerians are not against deregulation. We have seen deregulation in the telecom sector and Nigerians are better for it, as even the poor have access to telephones now right before the eyes of those who think it is not for them. What is happening presently is not deregulation but an all-time high fuel pump increase, unprecedented in the history of our nation by a government that has gone broke due to excessive and reckless spending largely on themselves. If the excesses of all the three tiers of government are seriously curbed, that would free enough money for infrastructural development without unduly punishing the poor citizens of this country.

Let me just cite, in closing, the example of National Assembly excesses and misplaced spending as contained in the 2012 budget proposal:

1.Number of Senators 109
2.Number of Members of the House of Representatives 360
3.Total Number of Legislators 469
4.2012 Budget Proposal for the National Assembly N150 billion
5.Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member N320 million
6.Average Cost of Maintaining Each Member in USD $2.1 million/year

Time has come for the citizens of this country to hold the government accountable and demand the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality precipitate fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.

Here is a hidden treasure of wisdom for those in power while there is still time to make amends:

PROVERBS 21:6&7

“Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death. The violence of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do just.”

A word of counsel for those who voted for such soulishly indulgent leadership:

“Never trust a man who once had no shoes, or you may end up losing your legs.”

This is the conclusion of the matter on subsidy removal:

i) “If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)

ii) “The Righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and will not be heard.” (Proverbs 21:12&13)

Thanks for your attention. God bless you all.

Pastor ‘Tunde Bakare


Tembelea www.mwanabidii.com Kwa mijadala Moto Moto

Kujiondoa Tuma Email kwenda

Nigeria: Firing of Anti-Corruption Czar Won’t Fix Agency

from Yona Maro

(Lagos) – The sudden dismissal of Nigeria’s controversial anti-corruption chairman will not fix the troubled agency she led, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should carry out broad institutional reforms if Nigeria is to make real progress against corruption.

On November 23, 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed Farida Waziri, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission’s record in fighting high-level corruption has been consistently disappointing under both Waziri and her well-regarded predecessor, Nuhu Ribadu, Human Rights Watch said. Partly due to the commission’s own failures, it has been largely unable to secure convictions against senior government officials charged with corruption. As Human Rights Watch showed in a recent report on the institution’s problems, broader institutional failures – such as executive interference and judiciary inefficiency – will need to be addressed if the commission is to improve its anti-corruption record, Human Rights Watch said.

“The EFCC’s mandate is to fight corruption that the political system actually rewards, and to accomplish that by working through institutions that are either broken or compromised,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “That’s an almost impossible job no matter who is in charge.”

The commission, established in 2003, is the only government institution that has publicly challenged the longtime impunity of Nigeria’s ruling elite. It has arraigned 35 nationally prominent political figures on corruption charges, including 19 former state governors. But many of those cases have made little progress in the courts, and not a single politician is currently serving prison time for any of these alleged crimes. The commission has secured four convictions of senior political officials since 2003, but they have faced relatively little or no prison time.

The Jonathan administration should present legislative amendments granting tenure security to the commission chairman, Human Rights Watch said. The institution can never be truly independent if the president can dismiss its chairman at will. The government should also bolster Nigeria’s other key anti-corruption institutions, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Nigeria’s weak and overburdened judiciary has also been an obstacle to effective prosecutions. Most of the corruption cases against high-level political figures have been stalled in the courts for years, with their trials not even begun. In early November, Nigeria’s new Supreme Court chief justice, Dahiru Musdapher, took a long overdue initiative by instructing judges to expedite corruption cases, giving them a six-month deadline to complete these cases.

The government should build on this promising initiative by beginning the long-term process of repairing the battered federal court system, reforming federal criminal procedure, and examining ways consistent with due process rights to establish special courts or designating specific judges to hear only corruption cases, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch has also called on Jonathan to pledge publicly not to interfere in the EFCC’s work and to support aggressive efforts to fight corruption no matter who is implicated. Past governments have openly interfered in key anti-corruption cases, discouraging the commission from acting as aggressively as it otherwise might.

“One of the EFCC’s greatest weaknesses has been its lack of independence and susceptibility to political pressure,” Bekele said. “President Jonathan’s sudden firing of Farida Waziri will only make that problem worse unless the government pushes through reforms to bolster both the EFCC and the other institutions it depends on.”

Waziri was appointed in 2008 in controversial circumstances after Nuhu Ribadu was forced from office in apparent reprisal for his attempted prosecution of a powerful former governor, James Ibori. Waziri has been widely criticized as ineffective and politically beholden, but in the months leading up to her sudden ouster she initiated a flurry of prosecutions against senior political figures. In October the commission arraigned four former state governors and a serving senator on corruption charges, and in June the agency filed corruption charges against the former speaker and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives – all of them members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

During Waziri’s three-and-a-half years in office, the agency arraigned 21 senior political figures on corruption charges but only secured two convictions in these cases. Her four-year term in office was due to expire in May 2012.

Endemic corruption at all levels has kept Nigerians mired in poverty despite the country’s considerable oil wealth. Human Rights Watch research has documented how political corruption in Nigeria fuels violence, police abuse and denial of basic health and education services.


East Africa Jobs www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

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To The 100 Suicide Bombers Left In Nigeria

from Yona Maro

By Abiola Olaifa

I was born to a Christian father and a Muslim mother. My mum later converted to Christianity as our cultural belief is that any religion practised by the head of the house, is the religion for the family. My mum’s conversion to Christianity was without any troubles from her kinfolk since it was believed that we serve same God. I have relations, friends and neighbours who are Muslims, we all co-habit and live in peace in the same neighbourhood, my mum’s Islamic background gave me a good knowledge of Islam and I can easily recite some of the quranic quotes. I did not for once doubt this religion as a religion of peace. We all live together in harmony, believing that we are serving the same God, but in different ways.

At Christmas, our Muslim friends and family visits my home, we have one or two Sheeps ready to go for the big Christmas celebration, we all eat, danced and partied together. Same is the case when it is time for the Muslim’s Sallah festival, we all gather in my Uncles, who already have their Rams ready for the slaughter, these are always exciting moments for us. We also enjoyed playing with and using the Rams for fights before they are slaughtered and these are great moment of excitement for us kids. We do not see ourselves as being religious enemies or opposite or unequal before God in whatsoever way. We were happy together and we often attend one Islamic lectures or the other in my uncle’s home from the Alfa’s that visit for prayers on weekends, this are equally very happy moments for us as we are sure that we will have some food to eat at the end of the prayer session.

The recent event is throwing this happy inter-religious relationship into the winds, not only I’m I getting worried about the latest developments, I am equally saddened by the appalling and heartless killings going on in Nigeria at the moment through suicide bombings. I have not been able to fathom the immediate reason for this, except accepting this as a sure sign of the end times. Does it mean that those practising Islam before are doing it the wrong way or a new version of Quran has just been invented which is very hostile to the opposite religion? If the Quran is still same one used by the Alfa’s in my uncle’s home, then we are in for a new inconceivable disaster.

The spokesperson for Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group recently claimed responsibility for the bombing of UN Building in Abuja, in a phone call to BBC. He claimed further that there are more than 100 recruits ready to carry out more suicide attacks in Nigeria, just after the country was thrown into panic on the 26th of August 2011. It broke my heart to hear that this act is being perpetrated because of God and the need to Islamise Nigeria. This group reason that killing innocent people is a sure way to achieve their aim of winning people to Islam. I beckon on these newly recruited bombers to be wary of the effect of these heinous attacks on our world and the psychic of the people, no one with his right senses will change to Islam if you continue with these activities. Violence has never been and will never be the right way.

I am confident that these killings are not for God, but purely to make political statement. It could not have been for God if you must shed human blood for sacrifice to the same God, who they ironically say also wants to save the world. I have believed based on teachings from the Alfa’s visiting my Uncle, my mother and personal discovery that God should be some humble-spirit, interested in saving the world and a comfort to those in trouble and that we pray to about our problems and he helps us through it. I am now beginning to have a change of mind, if these killers are saying they are committing all this crime in the name God and that God will make them martyrs if they are able to kill so much people, then this God must be different from the God I have previously known. This is a serious and dangerous consternation to my long held belief about Islam and I am absolutely startled.

I have many questions going on in my head that I sure need answers to; what do you aim to achieve by killing those you choose to convert. If the reason you give is to change the unbelievers to accept Islam, how would a dead person accept Islam? Must violence be the way to make your voice heard? Has God instructed you to carry out these unlawful killings or is this politically motivated? If this God makes you a Martyr as you claim, would you be happy by how many people your sect lands in hell through sudden death, since they have no time to repent of their sins. Why must you create so much fear and panic to the world to impress your views on others?

I am of the opinion that if God has ordered this killing as this suicide bombers claim and the same God is happy with what they are doing, then I do not want to be associated with this God. He must be a God with no human face and I dissociate myself from such heartless God. Also if you are perpetrating these evil acts out of the need to be made a martyr and have a place in Al-Jannah as you claim, then it’s a big shame, I equally do not want to be associated with such a materialistic religion.

I have a personal message for the over 100 suicide bombers still left in Nigeria as claimed by Boko Haram, who are ready to attack at any moment. Please stop and think for once, your next victims may be your brother or sister. Do not be deceived, you have no mansion and beautiful bride waiting for you in heaven, but hell. Sit back and think before you strike. It is not fair on the already volatile planet, there is so much panic and pain, and what joy do you get in that. I have spoken to many Muslims and confident that this killing is not Islamic, let us all hold tight and pray for these religious asinine to stop this unnecessary killings, they are not heroes at all as they believe, but criminals. The world now live in fear because of these extremist groups, let us pray for this evil acts to stop and for the perpetrators to be caught and brought to justice. Let us pray for the repose of the soul of the dead and for the peace of the world.


Kwa Nafasi za Kazi kila siku www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

http://worldngojobs.blogspot.com/ Nafasi za Kazi Kimataifa

Nigeria: The Record of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

from Yona Maro

This 65-page report analyzes the record of the commission, Nigeria’s most important anti-corruption agency. Since the commission was established in December 2002, it has publicly challenged the longtime ironclad impunity of Nigeria’s political elite – an accomplishment without precedent in Nigeria. The agency has arraigned 30 nationally prominent political figures on corruption charges, including 15 former state governors. But many of those cases have made little progress in the courts, Human Rights Watch found, and not a single politician is serving prison time for any of these alleged crimes. The commission has secured four convictions of senior political figures, but they have faced relatively little or no prison time. Other politicians widely implicated in corruption have not been indicted.

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2011/08/20/corruption-trial


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http://worldngojobs.blogspot.com/ Nafasi za Kazi Kimataifa

Buhari Condemns Attack On UN Building in Nigeria

from Yona Maro

Former Head of State and Presidential Candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari has condemned Friday bomb attacks at the United Nations building in Abuja in which many lives were lost and several others wounded.

He described the horrendous attack as heart rending devastation and a great challenge to the emotion. Gen Buhari sends condolences to the United Nations, the mourning people of Nigeria and the grief-stricken families who have lost beloved ones in this unfortunate incident: “It is my prayer that the Almighty will comfort all the bereaved and bring speedy recovery to all the wounded” he said.

Gen Buhari however frowned at the lazy official response that has accompanied serial challenges to security in the country.

“There has yet to be any coordinated response by the security forces in the country. It is unprofessional and incompetent for our security agencies to surrender to this omnibus Boko Haram as the only clue to every security challenge.”

He said such portends serious danger to the country: “What that means that even foreign interest can enter Nigeria today and wreck havoc and issue a statement in the name of Boko Haram and we will bury our dead and life continues”.

He called on those in charge of the country to seriously address all the social problems confronting the country and show focused leadership which is lacking at the moment.

‘Yinka Odumakin.

Spokesman for General Muhammadu Buhari.


Kwa Nafasi za Kazi kila siku www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

http://worldngojobs.blogspot.com/ Nafasi za Kazi Kimataifa

Kenya & Nigeria: Terror attacks kill 10 in Nigeria

from Yona Maro

(AFP) Ten people were killed in two separate overnight attacks outside the volatile Nigerian city of Jos, a local official said, leading angry residents to block roads leading to the area on Monday. Local council chairman Emmanuel Lomang alleged that four identity cards and a cap belonging to soldiers were found at the scene of the killings, fueling rumours that troops may have been involved.

Both the military and police declined immediate comment.

“Seven people were killed at Heipang while three were killed at Foron,” near Jos, the restive capital of Plateau State, Lomang told AFP.

He said both incidents happened around 12:30 am when the attackers opened fire on their victims after storming the two villages.

Angry residents have blocked roads leading to the area, an AFP reporter saw.

Jos and the surrounding region has been hit by waves of clashes between Christian and Muslim ethnic groups that have left hundreds dead in recent years.

The region lies in Nigeria’s so-called Middle Belt between the mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south of Africa’s most populous nation.

Last week, at least two people were hacked to death while four others were seriously wounded in a village near Jos.

In Maiduguri, A man was shot dead by Nigerian police on Monday in a failed attempt to bomb police headquarters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, a day before a report on Islamist sect attacks in the region is submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan. Police said they believed the man planned to detonate remotely seven gas cylinders and cans of gunpowder and petrol that were packed into the car.

“The man … gained entrance by ramming into the gate of the police headquarters and drove straight towards the main building before he was gunned down inside his car,” local police spokesman, Abubaker Kabru, said.


Kwa Nafasi za Kazi kila siku www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

http://worldngojobs.blogspot.com/ Nafasi za Kazi Kimataifa

NIGERIA: NEW ANAC GENERAL MEETING: PROPOSED NIGERIA PEACE CONFERENCE – Wednesday, August 17th 2011 – 9:00PM EST PEACE

From: naija4real @ . . .

All,

the Chairman Dr. Bright Aregs has called a meeting for next Wednesday. We look forward to seeing you on the call.

Colin

WHAT: NEW ANAC GENERAL MEETING FOR PEACE CONFERENCE ON NIGERIA
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2011
TIME: 9:00 PM EST, 8:00 CST, 6:00PM PST

TELECONFERENCE: 1712-432-1690, Access Code 831192#

AGENDA

Roll Call
Opening Prayer
Chairman’s Update on state of affairs in Nigeria, Peace Conference on Nigeria
ANAC Website Committee Report
ANAC World Summit on Nigeria Security (Peace) Committee Report
ANAC 501 © Status Report
ANAC Partnership with Nigerian National Think Tank Organization
ANAC Meeting the Nigerian Ambassador and Head of Mission to USA
Partnership Request from the International Forum for Peace in Nigeria
AOB
Adjournment

www.anacweb.org

Dr. Bright Aregs Hon. Paul Oranika Colin I. Atobajeun Mrs. Toyin Anjous-Ademuyiwa
Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary General Treasurer
chairman@anacweb.org vicechair@anacweb.org secretarygeneral@anacweb.org treasurer@anacweb.org

NIGERIA: ISLAMIC BANKING WILL BREAK-UP NATION

By NAIWU OSAHON

The events of September 11 in the US, heightened fundamentalist vs. modernist tension around the world, forcing the non-Muslim world to struggle to make sense of an obviously puzzling, medieval mindset centering on holy war or jihad as a religious duty. The critical questions non-Muslims and many Muslims themselves are trying to find answers to include: what went wrong with the Middle East encounter with modernity? Why has Reformation, similar to that of Christianity, not occurred with Islam, and whether religion, particularly Islam, is only conducive to conflict and hatred even among Muslims themselves. There is no Islamic country in the world today not suffering from severe civil strife, which they export around the globe, with developing countries as their most vulnerable victims. It is for this reason that all the constitutions drafted by the founding fathers of Nigeria and the military, insisted on Nigeria being a secular state.

Security agencies in the US, predicted some years back, that Nigeria would break-up on religious grounds by the year 2020. Because of the secular nature of the Nigerian constitution, many Nigerians, mostly from the south, accused the US agencies of being alarmist and mischievous, but happenings in the country since 1985 particularly, suggest that the prediction could happen sooner than 2020. The disturbing thing is that while those working for the break up of the country are not slowing down on their efforts, the Nigerians in leadership positions to do something about the grave threat to national cohesion and survival are unworried about the whole thing and doing nothing. It is like, everyone has given up and just waiting for Nigeria’s break-up.

The Arab world has for a long time been pursuing an agenda to Arabize and colonize Nigeria, failing which they would settle for the break-up of the country along the religious line of Islam vs., non-Islam. The Arab world wants a Somali or Sudan situation in Nigeria, preferring the Somali scenario if they cannot control Nigeria because as they claim, Nigeria is too large. What they mean by too large is that Nigeria’s influence in Africa is creating a clog in their efforts at Arabizing all of Africa. Ghadaffi confirmed Arab’s plan for Nigeria when he announced without diplomatic finesse of any sort in March 2010, during a very difficult political period in Nigeria, that Nigeria should break into two on the religious basis of Islam versus Christians or North versus South.

Arab’s interference in Nigeria’s affairs got a boost when her military President Babangida (1985 to 1993), smuggled Nigeria into the full membership of the Organization of Islamic countries (OIC), without respect for Nigeria’s secular law and without carrying along or informing or discussing the move at his Supreme Military Council, the highest decision making organ of government at the time. Babangida’s deputy at the time, Admiral Ubitu Ukiwe, leaked the slight to the council, and the illegality of the move, to the public, and was promptly eased out of the government. Nigeria is not an Islamic country, if anything she is secular by her constitutional provisions and yet Nigeria remains a member of the OIC even now and becomes active in it when a Northern President is in power.

Ghadaffi was the arrow head of the Arab world’s Arabization policy in Africa. Ghadaffi after forcibly annexing the Auzon Strip from Chad, sponsored destabilization in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire, Niger, etc in pursuance of the Arabization of Africa policy, laced with inordinate imperial personal ambition. In 1998, his strategy got a fillip with the founding of his community of Sahel-Savannah States (CEN – SAD), which he was hoping to use to control the envisaged African Union (AU.) The CEN – SAD, at the moment, ropes in 25 African states from West, East, and Central Africa, and includes Senegal, Cote d’Ivore, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Comoro Islands etc. Most of these unsuspecting African countries were stable until they joined CEN – SAD.

Abacha, whose military government grabbed power after Babangida’s regime, had agreed to smuggle Nigeria into the CEN-SAD in 1998, but died before he could actualize the move. Ghadaffi, in flagrant defiance of a UN embargo on flights in and out of Libya, invaded Nigeria with his planes carrying 1,000 members of his rag-tag army, plus 500 journalists, and strategically occupied the Kano airport and his other reception facilities, with the connivance of his host, Abacha, in 1997. The purpose was to launch a jihad or at least precipitate a serious schism between the predominantly Moslem north of the country and the Christian and animist south. Nigeria proved too sophisticated to be so cheaply destabilized so Ghadaffi settled for an accommodation to come to the aid of Abacha who was ready to plunge Nigeria into chaos at the time to become President for life in the mould of President Nassir of Egypt. The deal was finally sealed during Abacha’s overnight strategizing meeting with Ghadaffi in Chad just before Abacha died mysteriously in office frolicking with Muslim Indian prostitutes. With Nigeria returning to the semblance of civilian leadership in 1999, the Arab world decided to use ‘Sharia’ to dismember Nigeria. Pakistan, Libya and Saudi Arabia, to name a few countries, pumped substantial funds into the coffers of Governor Yerima’s Zamfara state, the first of Nigeria’s Sharia states, to start the process of Islamizing, (or at least to trigger mayhem and civil war), in Nigeria as in the Sudan. Obasanjo, the President of Nigeria at the time, ignored Zamfara’s illegal action and it soon began to engulfed other northern states smitten with Arab supremacy. Interestingly, Arabs call Blacks and Africans abeed, (meaning slaves, their slaves), and treat all Blacks as such.

Governor Bunu Sheriff of Borno state, one of the ‘Sharia’ states, encouraged the setting up of an Islamic fundamentalist sect, known as Boko Haram in his state. The sect is opposed to everything Western whether in education, commerce or other ways of doing things, and is determined to overthrow regimes operating such agendas at the state and national levels by violent means. There has been a series of skirmishes in Nigeria from that time, in the guise of Islamic fundamentalists such as the desert Al-Qaedas from Algeria and Mali, the Boko Haram sect and imported jihadists from the neighbouring countries of Niger and Chad, sacking whole Nigerian villages at night or burning down police stations and killing law enforcement officers in broad day light in Brono, Benue, Plateau and other neighbouring states. Yerima of Zamfara state, who is now a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, recently married and is sleeping with the baby wife aged ten years, and we are told not to scream because his action is ‘Sharia’ compliant.

Yar’Adua, on becoming president of Nigeria in 2007, became active in OIC any time he could escape from bouts of his ailment. He smuggled Nigeria into a Muslim group of Islamic countries, an off-shoot of the OIC, camouflaged as Developing Countries (D8), to conceal its religious platform and agenda. All members of the D8 are Muslim countries except Nigeria. They include Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh etc., with absolutely nothing to offer Nigeria that ought to be aspiring to join the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

To instigate a jihad, Iran tried to smuggle a shipment of 13 container loads of war arsenals, including rockets and rocket launchers, to their agents in Nigeria by mid 2010 when Nigeria was at a leadership crisis breaking point. President Yar’Adua was already brain dead in a Saudi Arabian hospital as guest of the Saudi monarch at the time, but the fact was concealed from Nigerians to prevent the handing over of government business to Yar’Adua’s deputy. Yar’Adua’s wife was ruling the country by proxy with the national security adviser, top-most military leadership and most of the federal cabinet members supporting her and taking instructions from her. Her Attorney General, who appeared to have no legal education what-so-ever and was interpreting the Nigerian Constitution like a five year old kid, was claiming that Yar’Adua could rule the country from Mongolia indefinitely, and that Nigerians have no right to enquire into the president’s mental state of health or any other. According to the counterfeit Attorney General, the president cannot be replaced by his deputy. The deputy must continue to take instructions from his boss, in other words, from his proxy, Madam President.

Saudi Arabia connived with the family of Yar’Adua and the leadership of the Nigerian army at the time, a General of Northern Nigerian extraction, to smuggle Yar’Adua back into Nigeria like a thief in the night. The Nigerian security system was severely breached and troops were moved from the North to secure strategic locations at the nation’s capital Abuja, including the seat of power, for the clandestine incidence. In the morning, they ransacked the Acting President’s office to intimidate him and tried to stage a coup by laying in wait for the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, to occupy the President’s seat so as to be arrested by them for usurping the seat of the President who had returned in the night to the country.

The Iranian cargo of death was already awaiting clearance at Nigeria’s Apapa ports then, and was to have come in handy for the destabilization of the country but for the patience and security astuteness of Yar’Adua’s Deputy President, who had been sworn in as Acting President by the authority of a National Assembly emergency law, invoking the ‘doctrine of necessity.’ For damage control measures and to distract the Nigerian Security Agencies, the Iranian Prime Minister while attending the Developing Countries (D8) meeting in Abuja in late July 2010, pledged solidarity with Nigeria’s plan for nuclear technology acquisition for peaceful use. And in the heat of the commotion over the arms import, Iran, a backward football country, offered to play a friendly football match with Nigeria in mid November 2010, with all expenses paid by Iran.

Jonathan’s attempt to contest for the presidency of Nigeria in the April 2011 general elections was marked by ugly scheming to scuttle his efforts by a gang led by Babangida and Atiku, pushing Northern and Islamic agendas in the guise of the zoning of leadership. Jonathan trounced them at the pools and was sworn in to serve his own term in office on May 29, 2011, but his zoning scar appears to have compromised him, resulting in the promotion of narrow-minded, sectoral distortions in our body polity as exemplified by the greedy regional hijack of the presidency and speakership positions in the National Assembly.

To take advantage of the seeming weakness in the presidency, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who had been training personnel secretly for some time, to set up a parallel Central Bank to the national one, for Islamic banking in Nigeria, and had initialled damaging ‘Sharia’ agreements to the structure of our secular system and democracy, began pushing for the establishment of Islamic banking as the panacea for solving Nigeria’s economic ills. In other words, after he had sold Nigeria’s sovereignty to the OIC and the Islamic world, he was deceiving the nation that the Islamic bank had nothing to do with ‘Sharia’ laws, and that people opposing its berthing in Nigeria were only being sentimental. To the shock of the nation, the documents he had initialled with the Islamic bank’s agents confirmed his deceit, and came to light at his meeting on July 20, 2011, with the House of Representative members.

Only an Al-Qaeda agent or a mischief maker would lie so blatantly to try to grievously inflict religious tension, division and intolerance on his own country. Imposition of ‘Sharia’ laws at the national level to promote separate functions, products, services and queues for Muslim men and Muslim women on the one hand and them and non-Muslims on the other, and Arab laws against our national laws to forbid trading in alcohol, tobacco or other such moral fixations, as if we are an occupied country, is the surest and fastest recipe to disintegration in a secular country like Nigeria. A country which is already a melting pot of bitter non-native religious rivalries and acrimonies, and where the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, with the active support of Maghreb’s Al’-Qaida sects from neighbouring countries, is now throwing bombs daily, killing dozens of innocent people in public places and sacking churches and police stations to precipitate a jihad. The timing to introduce the bank in Nigeria is not only extremely troubling; it is an affront to the collective ambition and acumen of a people struggling desperately to evolve a common destiny.

The Islamic ‘do good,’ or interest free bank, as is being touted by Sanusi, is an irresistible bait in a poverty stricken, alien mentally and religiously enslaved society like Nigeria. But deceiving a people by calling a tiger a sheep, does not make the tiger a sheep. The truth of the matter is that the Islamic bank makes profits by Muslim names. It charges interest by non-conventional formats and names, to remain in business. The bank’s debtors end up paying higher interests by whatever Arab names called, than what operates in conventional banks, because the Islamic bank becomes a fortune sharing part-owner of the businesses of its loans, until the loans are liquidated.

Sanusi says, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is financing some Fadama II projects in two Northern and one Eastern states. Well, that is true, and Ya’Adua got us into that trap. What the IDB provided as aid, is on average N140 million (less than a million dollars), per state. Can’t the nearly half a trillion naira stolen by Mrs Ibru and the other Nigerian banks’ executives have taken care of that, instead of exposing us as a country so cheaply to the ridicule of being aided with pittance all in the effort of deviously imposing Sharia banking to Nigeria?

The Islamic bank has not impacted positively on the lives of Arabs’ indigenous poor who are the derelict Black original owners of all Arab countries, including Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan etc., which is why we have South Sudan now, with Darfur in toe. Sanusi says there is Islamic banking in Britain. Britain is not a secular country, Nigeria is. Britain has the resources, sufficiently sophisticated intelligence gathering mechanism, intimidating security efficiency and might, to quickly isolate their small Muslim population and nip whatever threats they pose in the bud.

Why do we keep pursuing things that divide rather than unite us as a people? If Sanusi is allowed to breach our secularism so contemptuously with his Islamic bank, how do we stop a future governor of the CBN from Bayelsa, licensing Egbesu bank; Igbo CBN governor, Amadioha bank; Edo CBN governor, Ogun or Olokun bank; Yoruba CBN governor, Sango bank; Christian CBN governor, Vatican or Jerusalem bank or does Sanusi expect to hold on to the CBN governorship post for eternity?

Civilization is hurtling away on a supersonic train and we are not on the train. We are on the side walk in an exciting new age of Barack Obama, unlimited possibilities, robust inclusiveness and collective responsibilities for decision making for our common future, regardless of gender, race or tribe, hanging on to some stupid, mundane, outmoded, barbaric, demonic pre-occupations, as if our lives still depend on our selfish, exploitative, self-centred past masters who abandoned us naked on the by-lane of wretched existence. When are we going to get on the moving train and contribute something of our own to human caucus and progress, outside of our Arabic and Caucasian influences and mind control?

President Jonathan must stop the Islamic banking from being set up in Nigeria right away and remove Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for lying to the nation about his Islamic bank intentions, because otherwise we would not have one Nigeria by the year 2020.

NAIWU OSAHON Hon. Khu Mkuu (Leader) World Pan-African Movement); Ameer Spiritual (Spiritual Prince) of the African race; MSc. (Salford); Dip.M.S; G.I.P.M; Dip.I.A (Liv.); D. Inst. M; G. Inst. M; G.I.W.M; A.M.N.I.M. Poet, Author of the magnum opus: ‘The end of knowledge’. One of the world’s leading authors of children’s books; Awarded; key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honourary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council; Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honourary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee; and a silver shield trophy by Morehouse College, USA, for activities to unite and uplift the African race. Naiwu Osahon, Sage: New World Order, renowned author, philosopher of science, mystique, leader of the world Pan-African Movement. All members of this group and of the African race are entitled to free e-copies of the following documents among others and are invited to apply for them.

Nigeria: Women should be at the Forefront of the Energy Revolution

from: African Press Organization

PRESS RELEASE

13 African Nations at “Power Kick for Africa” Conference in Abuja / “Women should be at the Forefront of the Energy Revolution”

ABUJA, Nigeria, July 1, 2011 — Access to cleaner, more affordable energy for their people is a current priority for many African Nations. 70 participants from 13 African Nations – policy makers as well as representatives from business and civil society – discussed the topic of renewable energy on an international conference from 30th June to 1st July in the Nigerian Capital Abuja. In sessions on policy, technology, project development, finance and African leapfrogging participants exchanged experiences in best practices as well as best policies. The conference was arranged by the African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA).

The “Power Kick for Africa 2011” conference shed a spotlight on the linkage of energy and gender. Hon. Ms. Elizabeth Thabethe, Deputy Minister, Department of Trade and Industry, Republic of South Africa, said: “A change in energy production paradigm is necessary, and women should be at the forefront of the energy revolution. Women of the continent should be champions of this new energy production paradigm that promotes the utilization of clean energy sources.”

Few African women have access to electricity. In Nigeria about 70 percent of households in both semi-urban and urban areas are using firewood as a primary cooking fuel. Currently, cooking with firewood causes about two million deaths each year around the globe, with approximately 400.000 in Africa. Gender as a main determinant that defines access, ways of utilization, opportunities and control over all energy resources was also a highlight at a ‘Solar-Powered Screening’ of the Women’s Football World Cup match between Germany and Nigeria on 30th June organized by the World Future Council together with Bosch Solar Energy and the Heinrich Böll Foundation Nigeria.

The intention of the “Power Kick for Africa 2011” conference is to fill the gap between policy and best practice. “What exactly is needed in order to foster renewable energies in Africa? We want to identify concrete implementation possibilities for the participants,” says Ansgar Kiene, Director Africa Liaison Office of the World Future Council and conference organizer.

Inspiring policies that accelerate the uptake of renewable energies motivate countries that still lack behind. Representatives from Uganda and Kenya like AREA-member Joseph Nganga, Renewable Energy Venture Kenya, show how a locally designed Feed-in Tariff-legislation can push the uptake of renewable energies. Feed-in Tariffs are perceived as one of the best policy for grid connected areas. African countries can set the right framework to guarantee energy producers have access to the grid. “We don’t need megatalk. We need Megawatt” said Chidi Izuwah, from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission of Nigeria. The country set an ambitious target to achieve 20 percent renewable energy in a long term.

The financial incentive legislations from Cape Verde gave a good example of how renewable energy can make electricity affordable for more people. A kilowatt hour electricity from the conventional system costs now 25€ Cent in the country, whereas wind energy provides it for only 12 € Cent.

Conference participants also clearly stated that Africa does not only need sustainable policies and future just legislations. Action and implementation on the ground is needed – to trigger a mind change of the consumer and to push policy makers to scale best practices up to a best policy. By presenting community based examples, the conference raised awareness for applicable and people oriented

policies. Yahaya Ahmed from the Developmental Association for Renewable Energies Nigerias shared his experiences with the SAVE80 project, a highly efficient cooking stove, with 80 percent savings on fuel wood compared to traditional stoves. The Save 80 Project is the first SSC-CDM project activity in Nigeria and the first, applying the methodology AMS II G, to get registered worldwide.

“The energy landscape of millions of Nigerian women looks like that: no access at all, besides her own physical power and the battery inside her torch. They have a low carbon footprint and a low life expectancy”, says Christine K., Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation Nigeria. Better health, education, quality of life – African women can disproportionately benefit from electrification. Access to energy can improve women’s social, economic and political status, reducing the time and effort involved in household chores, providing better health and educational conditions, expanding income-generating opportunities, and easing their participation in public affairs.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the World Future Council.

Notes to Editors

Contact: Ina Neuberger, Media & Communication
T: +49 (0) 40 30 70 914-16
ina.neuberger@worldfuturecouncil.org
Twitter: @good_policies

The African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA) is a platform for policy makers, representatives from business and civil society to exchange information and consult about policies, technologies and financial mechanisms for the deployment of renewable energies in Africa. AREA will play a catalytic role in promoting knowledge transfer and international cooperation.

www.area-net.org | www.area-network.ning.com

The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy making. We inform policy makers about future just policies and advise them on how to implement these. The World Future Council is a registered charitable foundation in Hamburg, Germany. www.worldfuturecouncil.org

Journalists find more information, texts and royalty free photos on the Power Kick project on www.worldfuturecouncil.posterous.com

The Heinrich Böll Foundation is part of the Green political movement that has developed worldwide as a response to the traditional politics of socialism, liberalism, and conservatism. Our main tenets are ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self-determination and justice. We place particular emphasis on gender democracy, meaning social emancipation and equal rights for women and men. www.boell.de

Heinrich Böll Foundation Nigeria: www.ng.boell.org

SOURCE

The World Future Council