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NEWS and REPORTS => Nigerian News => Topic started by: SR on May 10, 2011, 06:05 PM

Title: Nigeria’s Current Articles & News from Sahara Reporters [May ‘11 Series]
Post by: SR on May 10, 2011, 06:05 PM
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Latest and most updated news about Nigerians, Nigerian Government, and Nigeria. Be the first to read all Latest and Current Articles, Items & News on Sahara Reporters.

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Title: Bird Strike: Arik Aircraft Passengers Saw Hell As Flight Ran On One Engine-PM News, Lagos
Post by: SR on May 11, 2011, 12:05 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/arik-air-b777.jpg?1304965807)              By Simon Ateba, PM News, Lagos           A passenger with Arik Air flight W3 596 who sat by the engine side of the aircraft when the plane suffered a bird strike yesterday has described as hellish the situation on board the plane before their emergency landing in Lagos State, South West Nigeria.

Source: Bird Strike: Arik Aircraft Passengers Saw Hell As Flight Ran On One Engine-PM News, Lagos (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/bird-strike-arik-aircraft-passengers-saw-hell-flight-ran-one-engine-pm-news-lagos)
Title: Nigeria Police, Troops 'Abused Rioters' In North
Post by: SR on May 11, 2011, 06:05 AM
   By Nigeria2day           Rights groups have accused Nigerian troops and police of abuses, including extra-judicial killings, as they sought to quell deadly riots in northern Nigeria after the April 16 presidential poll. Police and military officials could not be reached for comment, but a spokesman for the governor in the hard-hit state of Kaduna denied the allegations.

Source: Nigeria Police, Troops 'Abused Rioters' In North (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/nigeria-police-troops-abused-rioters-north)
Title: Ohakim: Downfall Of An Impostor-Governor
Post by: SR on May 11, 2011, 12:05 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/2011/Governor%20Ohakim%20flanked%20by%20Barrister%20Asoluka,%20arriving%20NIIA.jpg?1305001466)              By Charles Ofoji*           The governorship of Ikedi Ohakim at best can only be described as Maurice Iwu´s slap on the face of Imo people. During the brazen days of Obasanjo´s presidency everything was doable on Nigeria´s political landscape, including overtly substituting candidates who won primaries and elections with losers with sickening impunity. Back then in Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi had won the PDP governorship primaries, but on the day he was supposed to be presented the party flag, Obasanjo thumped his ambition with the joke – that his candidacy had small k-leg. There and then he was substituted with Celestine Omehia. But thanks to the Supreme Court that later corrected such primitive injustice.

Source: Ohakim: Downfall Of An Impostor-Governor (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/ohakim-downfall-impostor-governor)
Title: NNPC: Diezani, Where Is Kerosene?
Post by: SR on May 12, 2011, 12:05 AM
   By Ifeanyi Izeze           When the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some personal aides of President Goodluck Jonathan campaigned for his election last month, availability and easy access of fuels was a major theme used to cajole Nigerian voters. It was said that the nation has conquered the evil of fuel scarcity as petroleum products are now readily available in all filling station and at the government-pegged prices.

Source: NNPC: Diezani, Where Is Kerosene? (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/nnpc-diezani-where-kerosene)
Title: Photonews: Nigerian Rogue Bankers On Trial
Post by: SR on May 12, 2011, 06:05 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/2.%20Dayo%20Famoroti,%20Execetive%20Director%20FinBank%20Plc.jpg?1305050084)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/5.%20Agnes%20Ebubedike%20former%20Execetive%20Director%20FinBank.jpg?1305050084)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/6.%20Felix%20Fagbohungbe%20SAN,%20leading%20Counsel%20to%20Erastue%20Akingbola%20speaking%20with%20journalist.jpg?1305050084)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/7.%20Okey%20Nwosu%20former%20MD%20FinBank%20Plc%20with%20other%20director%20at%20Ikeja%20High%20Court,%20Lagos.jpg?1305050084)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/4.%20Okey%20Nwosu%20Former%20MD%20FinBank.jpg?1305050084)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/1.%20The%20Toyota%20Car%20that%20brought%20Erastus%20Akingbola%20to%20Court%20with%20Registration%20Number%20DA%20481%20ABJ.jpg?1305050084)           Nigerian rogue bankers on trial at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, in appearance of former Board of Director of FinBank plc , Dayo Famoroti, Erastus Akingbola, Okey Nwosu, former MD FinBank and Agnes Ebubedike former Executive Director FinBank.

Source: Photonews: Nigerian Rogue Bankers On Trial (http://www.saharareporters.com/gallery/photonews-nigerian-rogue-bankers-trial)
Title: Wrapping Up SaharaReporters’s Coverage Of Nigeria's 2011 General Elections
Post by: SR on May 12, 2011, 12:05 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/sr_tell.jpg?1305074928)              By SaharaReporters, New York           Dear SR Reader: The SaharaReporters election team is now in the process of wrapping up its coverage of the 2011 Nigeria elections.  

Source: Wrapping Up SaharaReporters's Coverage Of Nigeria's 2011  General Elections (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/wrapping-saharareporters%E2%80%99s-coverage-nigerias-2011-general-elections)
Title: UK Versus Nigeria: Good For The Goose, Apparently Not So For The Gander
Post by: SR on May 12, 2011, 06:05 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/image001.png?1305129206)              By Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.           The British have a saying: “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” However, when it comes to Nigeria, what is normal and natural for the UK citizens and government to do in UK cannot be allowed—by the UK—for the peoples suffering and dying in Nigeria to do in Nigeria.

Source: UK Versus Nigeria: Good For The Goose, Apparently Not So For The Gander (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/uk-versus-nigeria-good-goose-apparently-not-so-gander)
Title: Profiling The Northern Enemy By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu
Post by: SR on May 13, 2011, 12:05 AM
   By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu           The past three weeks have been some of the most difficult for the frames of perception and analysis of Northern Nigeria, in the Southern Nigerian press. Not since the crisis generated by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, has Northern Nigeria received the negative, in some cases, crudely racist profiling, as has been visited upon it, in the wake of Nigeria’s last presidential election. From top clergy men, like the President of CAN, through to newspaper columnists, and individuals who don’t have a real day’s job, but are called “militants”, the North was exhumed as the enemy and has been so treated.

Source: Profiling The Northern Enemy By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/profiling-northern-enemy-is%E2%80%99haq-modibbo-kawu)
Title: On President Jonathan's Cheap Politicisation Of Post-Election Violence
Post by: SR on May 13, 2011, 06:05 AM
   By Yinka Odumakin           The petty politics being played by President Goodluck Jonathan with the unfortunate disturbances in parts of the country following the massive rigging of the April 16 Presidential election shows the tragic incompetence that is governing Nigeria at its pathetic  worst.

Source: On President Jonathan's Cheap Politicisation Of Post-Election Violence (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/president-jonathans-cheap-politicisation-post-election-violence)
Title: A Clarion Call To All Nigerian Nationalities To Take Steps To Save Nigeria Now
Post by: SR on May 14, 2011, 06:05 AM
The Nigerian General Elections of April 2011 have come and gone. But, yet again, like all important functions of the Nigerian political system, they have provoked violent uprisings in parts of Nigeria – this time, mostly in the Northern States of Nigeria – and they have left a legacy of blood and tears, and of inter-group animosity and hate.

A major political party, in support of an eminent Nigerian citizen as candidate, rejects the management and results of the presidential election in its entirety. Massive crowds of citizens exploded and rampaged through the streets; hundreds of people were killed; houses were torched, and places of worship burnt. In some cities, the situation was close to a war.

Nigeria has unfortunately become known worldwide for such periodic self-induced disasters, resulting in massive losses of lives and property, and in significant losses of productivity for the country. Neither the people nor the country is ever at peace in a stable and predictable manner. And the situation has steadily grown worse and worse since independence. In the past three decades, hardly any half-year has passed without a staggering national conflagration.

Nigerians have endured it all – usually assured by political self-seekers and false prophets that such problems are temporary birth pangs of a new country. But the events of the past April, and of recent months, have at last blown away all this self-deception. When we consider Nigeria and other countries of Black Africa, and we compare with other developing countries in other parts of the world, the truth becomes clear and unmistakable. Nigeria's problems are not mere teething problems. They are not superficial or temporary. They are the enduring effects of an original error. They are deep – extremely deep. In the context of Nigeria as it is, they are essentially insoluble.

At different times since Nigeria's independence, different nationalities in Nigeria have reached this conclusion. Most famously, it was called the 'mistake of 1914'. Another personality who was in a vantage position to know, confirmed this when he asserted from the highest position of authority in the land that the basis for Nigeria's unity simply does not exist. Today, most Nigerians are saying the same, even though their voices are not influential enough to reach the airwaves. Most Nigerians murmur endlessly today that  Nigeria is moving from being hurtful to being outright destructive of the human person. All the three original regions of Nigeria at different times have tried to opt out of that 'mistake'. One such attempt even advanced from the drawing board to the battlefield. The move was defeated but the idea lives on.  For more than half a century, Nigerians have been investing on a road that patently, in all sober reflection, leads nowhere. Fifty years into independence, it has been a lot of exhausting motion without movement.

By Tokunbo Ajasin anf Dejo Ogunwande.

Source: A Clarion Call To All Nigerian Nationalities To Take Steps To Save Nigeria Now By Oodua Foundation (http://www.saharareporters.com/press-release/clarion-call-all-nigerian-nationalities-take-steps-save-nigeria-now-oodua-foundation)
Title: Is Governor Peter Obi and APGA Losing Grip Of Anambra State?
Post by: SR on May 15, 2011, 09:02 PM
APGA poor showing on the recent Nigerian elections may be due to lack of
strategic planning and absence of Dim Ikemba Ojukwu.

American President John F. Kennedy once said, "Failure is an orphan, but
victory has a thousand fathers," and with the recent concluded elections
in Nigeria, this may be applicable to the Governor of Anambra State of
whom the center of his political life may be falling apart.  His party All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) did not perform to an expectation in
his natural turf of Anambra State. Not only did the party not win any of
the three senatorial zones in his state, APGA whom Peter Obi is the most
visible and highest elected officer in the land could only win 13 out of
the 32 seats in the state assembly.

People especially those who were keen observers of political trends in the
state and in Nigeria were highly disappointed with lukewarm performance of
Peter Obi's APGA. Most of these people were putting the blame and
misfortune of the party squarely on the feet of the governor. They alleged
that he did not care for the welfare of the party and lately the wellbeing
of Anambrarians, for he is waiting according to them, for the appropriate
time to jump boat into another party preferably the ruling PDP.

But the right question must be asked before the right answer is rendered.
Why did people of Anambra State deserted their beloved APGA and voted for
another parties, not just voting for PDP but for ACN?

The speculation is that Governor Peter Obi and his party has disappointed
the people with their stoic development blueprint and its erratic
implementation. Anambra State deserves a serious attention not on pages of
newspapers but on making affirmative differences in lives of the people of
the state.

The entire Anambra real estate is poorly managed; people living in urban
cities of Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka are being overrun with debris and
darkness. At nights the Anambra State becomes one big village thriving in
darkness and devoid of functioning street lights.

Instead of talking to the people and finding out how to improve their lots
and wellbeing, the government is wasting time and money on mass media and
public relation. When the people feels neglected and nobody listen to
them, they will have the last laugh on the ballot paper on the Election
Day.

By Emeka Chiakwelu
Via SaharaReporters.
Title: "Contraband" T-shirts For Soccer Kids Impounded By Nigerian Customs Over Refusal To Bribe
Post by: SR on May 16, 2011, 09:02 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/play_tees1.jpg?1305483470)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/play_tees2.jpg?1305483751)           Nigerian customs officials impounded 300 T-shirts intended for a youth soccer playoff when former soccer champion Musa Kadiri refused to "settle up" for the so-called "contraband" shirts.

Source: "Contraband" T-shirts For Soccer Kids Impounded By Nigerian Customs Over Refusal To Bribe (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/contraband-t-shirts-soccer-kids-impounded-nigerian-customs-over-refusal-bribe)
Title: Nigeria: Post-Election Violence Killed 800-Human Rights Watch
Post by: SR on May 16, 2011, 09:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/reports/victims.jpg?1305555699)              By Human rights Watch           Promptly Prosecute Offenders, Address Underlying Causes

Source: Nigeria: Post-Election Violence Killed 800-Human Rights Watch (http://www.saharareporters.com/report/nigeria-post-election-violence-killed-800-human-rights-watch)
Title: PHOTONEWS OF THE DAY: Coca Cola Casual Workers Protest/ Erastus Akingbola Charged Again
Post by: SR on May 17, 2011, 03:02 PM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/1%20.AKINGBOLA%20BAYO%20DADA%20AT%20IKEJA%20HIGH%20COURT%20.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/2%20.AKINGBOLA%20BAYO%20DADA%20AT%20IKEJA%20HIGH%20COURT%20.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/3%20AKINGBOLA%20BAYO%20DADA%20AT%20IKEJA%20HIGH%20COURT%20.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/AKINGBOLA%20%20and%20his%20Lawyer%20Felix%20Fagbohungbe%20AT%20IKEJA%20HIGH%20COURT%20.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/Nigeria%20Cocacola%20Bottling%20Plc%201.jpg?1305579106)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/Main%20Entrance%20to%20Nigeria%20Bottling%20Plc%202.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/Delington%20Ajifemsan%20during%20the%20protest%201.jpg?1305579106)         
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/Delington%20and%20others%20at%20the%20protest%20.jpg?1305579106)             
Saharareporters, New York - 1. Erastus Akingbola, former Intercontinental Bank Plc and Bayo Dada, former ED of the Bank, at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos Nigeria today were docked over fresh charges of N47bn fraud.

Source: SaharaReporters.
Title: Goodluck Jonathan And The Expectations Of Nigerians-Festus Keyamo
Post by: SR on May 17, 2011, 09:02 PM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/reports/2011/Keyamo.jpg?1305649153)
Lecture delivered by Festus Keyamo on the occasion of the marking of Isaac Adaka Boro Day in Port-Harcourt on Sunday, May 15, 2011.

Permit me to wholeheartedly thank the organisers of this event for having considered me worthy enough to stand before you to say a few things to mark this day. It was only a few days ago that my friend and brother, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari informed me that I have been chosen to say some things on this occasion. He duly informed me that the topic would be "Goodluck Jonathan and the expectations of Nigerians".

It is so apposite that today, being a day set aside to celebrate the life and times of Isaac Adaka Boro,  we are discussing Goodluck Jonathan, the first person (whether military or civilian) from the South-South extraction to become President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is no gain-saying the fact that the central theme of the life and times of Isaac Adaka Boro was the struggle against the marginalisation and oppression of the minorities from the South-South region especially the Ijaw nation. He was prepared to live and die for that cause.
Title: The Role Of SaharaReporters In Ikedi Ohakim’s Defeat-An Insider
Post by: SR on May 18, 2011, 09:02 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/2011/ohakim2.jpg?1305642008)              By Insider Jobman           In an era of social media – Internet journals, blogging and twitting – the flow of information is unrestricted. Even though their enduring impact is yet to be measured accurately, there is no question that their penetration and dismantling of boundaries have empowered many formerly voiceless people. In a country like Nigeria, social media have also stripped away some of the unfair advantages hitherto enjoyed by incumbent politicians in managing and controlling information and how it is fed to the public.

Source: The Role Of SaharaReporters In Ikedi Ohakim's Defeat-An Insider (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/role-saharareporters-ikedi-ohakim%E2%80%99s-defeat-insider)
Title: Governor Akpabio’s Militia Go After Journalist Anyalewechi
Post by: SR on May 18, 2011, 03:02 PM
   By Citizen Reports           These are not normal times for Bekee  Anyalewechi, the  Abia State, Nigeria-  born editor-in-chief of The  Neighbourhood, a Port Harcourt-based provincial   newspaper. Is not unto a week when suspected militia of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) started   threatening to eliminate the courageous and enterprising journalist over a story his paper had carried in its front page.

Source: Governor Akpabio's Militia Go After Journalist   Anyalewechi (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/governor-akpabio%E2%80%99s-militia-go-after-journalist-anyalewechi)
Title: Lota Ezeudu Kidnap Saga: DPO Chukwu, Desmond Chinwuba Still Fugitives As Trial Resumes
Post by: SR on May 19, 2011, 03:02 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/010%20009.jpg?1305731737)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/010%20008.jpg?1305731737)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/010%20006.jpg?1305731737)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/chukwu_chinwuba.jpg?1305696932)              By Saharareporters, New York           Trial will resume on Thursday, May 19 of key suspects in the September, 2009 kidnap of Lotachukwu (Lota) Ezeudu, a 19-year old second year student at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus.

Source: Lota Ezeudu Kidnap Saga: DPO Chukwu, Desmond Chinwuba Still Fugitives As Trial Resumes (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/lota-ezeudu-kidnap-saga-dpo-chukwu-desmond-chinwuba-still-fugitives-trial-resumes)
Title: IMF: The Politics Of Currency Devaluation And Austerity Measures
Post by: SR on May 19, 2011, 09:02 AM
   By Emeka Chiakwelu           The reclaiming of Nigerian and African dignity

Source: IMF: The Politics Of Currency Devaluation And Austerity Measures (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/imf-politics-currency-devaluation-and-austerity-measures)
Title: Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense
Post by: SR on May 19, 2011, 03:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/2011/baba_aye.jpg?1305723600)              By Baba Aye           It was the great Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, or Abami Eda, for those that used to gyrate to the soul-lifting rhythm of his comprehensive show at the Africa Shrine, many years back, who sang that evergreen song; Teacher. He was of the opinion that government is the teacher of citizens, while "culture and tradition" are the teachers of government, but finally declared to the teacher that; "make you no teach me, I go know. Person you teach finish, yes, abi e don die o".

Source: Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense; The Bretton Woods Chieftains, Corruption & Austerity (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/teacher-don%E2%80%99t-teach-me-nonsense-bretton-woods-chieftains-corruption-austerity)
Title: Wealthy Nigerians, Pastors Spend $225 Million On Private Jets-Nigeria2Day
Post by: SR on May 19, 2011, 09:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/David_Oyedepo_jet.jpg?1305749673)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/global-express-second-cabin.jpg?1305750023)              By Nigeria2day           A few wealthy Nigerians spent at least $225 million acquiring private jets between March 2010 and March 2011, a Nigerian newspaper reported yesterday. According to the report published by the Punch Newspaper, a couple of the acquisitions were made by billionaires Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga.

Source: Wealthy Nigerians, Pastors Spend $225 Million On Private Jets-Nigeria2Day (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/wealthy-nigerians-pastors-spend-225-million-private-jets-nigeria2day)
Title: Sultan Of Sokoto, Northern Emirs And Ulamas In Secret Meeting With Jonathan
Post by: SR on May 20, 2011, 09:02 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/josult.jpg?1305823700)              By Saharareporters, New York           Northern traditional rulers and Islamic leaders fearing for their safety were bused to Abuja on Monday night to join a series of meetings with Goodluck Jonathan in what was described as a courtesy visit of traditional rulers who are chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council of the states and the FCT.

Source: Sultan Of Sokoto, Northern Emirs And Ulamas In Secret Meeting With Jonathan (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/sultan-sokoto-northern-emirs-and-ulamas-secret-meeting-jonathan)
Title: Fresh Violence In Maiduguri As Boko Haram Escalates War Against Military Task Force
Post by: SR on May 20, 2011, 03:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/police1_boko.jpg?1305824338)              By Saharareporters, New York           The Islamic militant group operating in Borno State in Northeastern Nigeria, Boko Haram, escalated its attacks against military personnel in the city of Maiduguri this afternoon, with two security agents reportedly shot dead today in one of their raids.

Source: Fresh Violence In Maiduguri As Boko Haram Escalates War Against Military Task Force (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/fresh-violence-maiduguri-boko-haram-escalates-war-against-military-task-force)
Title: Lessons Of The Historical Process By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu
Post by: SR on May 20, 2011, 09:02 PM
   By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu           If a word captures the central content of the responses I got to my first piece last week, it would be “vitriol”. Not that I was surprised; but the depth of anger against me, for daring to deconstruct the prevalent perspective about Northern Nigeria, within media, intellectual and even popular levels, in Southern Nigeria, was simply amazing! The space of knowledge has narrowed dangerously. Most of those who read my piece could not accept that there cannot be one view of our society, anymore than there can be one way of being human.

Source: Lessons Of The Historical Process By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/lessons-historical-process-is%E2%80%99haq-modibbo-kawu)
Title: Knocking The Truth On Its Head – The Pattern Of Voting In The South-East And South-South
Post by: SR on May 21, 2011, 03:02 AM
   By Osi Okponobi           Enough has been said and many speculations have been made about the votes or the pattern of voting in the South-East and the South-South, the domain of the incumbent President, and the President-elect, Mr Goodluck Jonathan.

Source: Knocking The Truth On Its Head – The Pattern Of Voting In The South-East And South-South (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/knocking-truth-its-head-%E2%80%93-pattern-voting-south-east-and-south-south)
Title: Flight Nightmares In Nigeria
Post by: SR on May 21, 2011, 03:02 PM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/Travel%20Woes3.JPG?1305838224)         

(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/Travel%20Woes2.JPG?1305838224)         

(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/Travel%20Woes1.JPG?1305838224)             
People sighing.  People muttering.  People hissing.

Some others are doing a combination of these and more under their breaths.  A few, pushed to their limits, are on their seats venting their frustrations out loud - fists in the air, veins jutting out, saliva flying in all directions.

Source: SaharaReporters.
Title: Petroleum Training Institute, www.ptinigeria.org By Choice Ekpekurede
Post by: SR on May 21, 2011, 09:02 PM
I wish to use the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Delta State to draw attention to the shameful websites being created by institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. As an alumnus of the PTI, I can vouch for the PTI as being a very prestigious institution of higher learning in Nigeria.

While I was there, the school's facilities were relatively well maintained. The PTI is under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and was well funded by the Federal Government to train indigenous manpower for the oil and gas and allied industries. The management of the institute had no time for "African time"; appointments were kept pronto.

The admission process was, to a good extent, fair and based on merit. After graduation, alumni did not have to wait for eternity to collect their certificates. Yes, the PTI had quite a few good things that could be said about it.

But now we are in the 21st century and must move on with the times. The old way of doing business and carrying physical files from one office to the other and waiting for months for someone who is on leave to return before certain papers can be signed is no more acceptable. It is no more acceptable that one has to be physically present in an academic institution before any serious inquiries about the institution can be made. It is now taken for granted that any institution of higher learning should have a befitting website that should serve as a virtual office where serious, official business can be carried out. With this said, I turn now to briefly discuss the official website of my alma mater, the Petroleum Training Institute, www.ptinigeria.org.

Via: SaharaReporters.
Title: Msgr. Hassan Kukah Rips Tinubu, Jonathan And Obasanjo Over Godfatherism
Post by: SR on May 22, 2011, 03:02 AM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/goodluck__saraki__ajimobi__tinubu_and_igbinedion_001.jpg?1305909200)
Reverend Fr. Matthew  Hassan Kukah surprised guests yesterday at an induction symposium for new governors organized by the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) when he ripped into the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

He accused both men of conspiring to impose late Nigerian president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua upon the nation via a fraudulent election in 2007. Goodluck Jonathan and Bola Tinubu were presesent in the hall when he made the observation.

The straight-shooting Catholic priest and scholar was a Guest Speaker at the event which had been organized to prepare elected state executives for office.

Jonathan looked a bit uncomfortable on his seat as he listened to the speech. But Fr. Kukah further jolted him when he drew attention to his new book, "Witness to Justice, An Insider's Account of Nigeria's Truth Commission," and urged participants to buy it. In 1999, Kukah was appointed by President Obasanjo to the 'The Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations;' the book is a searing look into his service on the panel and on key issues in Nigerian public life.

Source: SaharaReporters.
Title: Akwa Ibom Child Witches: Eunice Thomas’s Blood Money
Post by: SR on May 22, 2011, 03:02 PM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/articles/2011/child_witches_dilema.jpg?1305993095)
Today, 20/5/2011, at 7am Nigerian time, I paid a visit to the Security Village in Uyo Akwa Ibom state.

My mission there was simple; to confirm the status of the over 100 children picked from CRARN to the facility. I was hoping against all hopes that the children will be fine, and indeed one of them said "I LIKE IT HERE". Now let's follow the event chronologically.

By about 7.02am, I was blaring the horn at the gate of the facility. After a while, it was obvious nobody was getting the gate opened for me. I had to help myself into the compound. There were over 100 kids loitering within the compound, some were brushing their mouth, some queued in front of a building to the extreme end of the compound others engaged in tidying the compound.

I approached the queue and was greeted by some familiar smiling faces on the line. At the head of the line was a lady in her mid thirties, handing out some cards of Cabin biscuits to the children, four cards per child, sometimes five. I approached her, and she beamed a welcoming smile. We got introduced and shared some small talk generally about the facility and the children.

I then observed something was amiss, I asked for her assistants and she said she was alone. I asked her where the children eat their meals and she gestured towards an empty sitting room 'here' she said. Candidly speaking, she saw nothing wrong with the almost empty hall with stacks of brand new six spring mattresses and pillows at one corner.

I then asked her why the kids were having biscuits instead of real food this morning and she replied that there was no firewood yet for her to cook, if there was, she would have had food on fire about then. Who else works with you in this facility, she said NOBODY. Who hired you? She said the Permanent Secretary brought her in from Oron, but she hopes other people will be joining her later. How late that later is, she wouldn't know. Not one staff from the Ministry of Women Affairs was deployed to work with her.

Source: Akwa Ibom Child Witches:  Eunice Thomas's   Blood Money (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/akwa-ibom-child-witches-eunice-thomas%E2%80%99s-blood-money)
Title: Divided They Run, United They Lose : How Fractionalized Opposition Strengthens African Incumbents
Post by: SR on May 23, 2011, 09:02 AM
(http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/reports/SEGUN-ADENIYI.JPG?1306044857)
On April 16, 2011, Nigeria held its much-anticipated presidential election. It was won by the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whose party has been in power since the country returned to democracy in 1999.

Although the local media and international election observers have commended the election as relatively transparent and the result fair, leading opposition candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, insists that the process was rigged, citing as evidence results from the South-East and South-south zones of the country where recorded voters' turnout in the presidential elections doubled the national average.

The fall-out of the election has indeed brought to fore the challenge highlighted by Freedom House about "dominant-party states in which multi party systems exist on paper but genuine electoral competition is suppressed". This was the view reinforced by Paul Collier in the Wall Street Journal where he argued that it would take more than voting to bring about change in a continent where supporting institutions are lacking and where elections "have proved to be more decorative than functional, a veneer beneath which autocratic rule of the pre-1991 era continues."

By Olusegun Adeniyi
Source: Divided They Run, United They Lose : How Fractionalized Opposition Strengthens African Incumbents (http://www.saharareporters.com/report/divided-they-run-united-they-lose-how-fractionalized-opposition-strengthens-african-incumbent)
Title: PHOTONEWS: Museveni Repression Of Ugandans
Post by: SR on May 23, 2011, 03:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/ugandan_army.jpg?1306061651)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/ugandan_baby_rescue.jpg?1306061651)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/ugandan_dead.jpg?1306061651)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/ugandan_redcrossbay.jpg?1306061651)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/uganda_house_uk.jpg?1306061650)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/kizzy_bisigye_wife.jpg?1306061650)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/Uganda_army_baby.jpg?1306061650)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/%20Uganda_pink.jpg?1306062260)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/Africa-Uganda.jpg?1306062321)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/galleries/uganda_protester_girl_0.jpg?1306063488)           Two weeks ago, Mr. Yoweri Museveni was inaugurated for the umpteenth time as Uganda's "president" amidst some of the most brutal suppression of modern times. These photos are  some of the collections of the sordid acts of brutality against the people of Uganda we could find.

Source: PHOTONEWS: Museveni Repression Of Ugandans (http://www.saharareporters.com/gallery/photonews-museveni-repression-ugandans)
Title: Pay-To-Play/Chequebook Journalism: Why Nigerians Distrust Their Local Media Outlets-AlJazeera TV
Post by: SR on May 24, 2011, 03:02 AM
AlJazeera exposes pay-to-ply journalism in Nigeria. Watch the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/v/pnpokmW_K0A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0
Title: PHOTONEWS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Visits Nigeria
Post by: SR on May 24, 2011, 03:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/un%202.jpg?1306151044)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/un%203.jpg?1306151044)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/un%203a.jpg?1306151044)              Photonews@SaharaReporters, New York           UN Secretary General   Ban Ki Moon visits Nigeria's Maitama

General Hospital in Abuja  during his visit   to Nigeria.

Source: PHOTONEWS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Visits Nigeria (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/photonews-un-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-visits-nigeria)
Title: Nasir El-Rufai On President Jonathan's “Spectre Of Biafra”: Matters Arising
Post by: SR on May 24, 2011, 09:02 PM
   By Benedict Okereke           Amid the post-election killings in the north of Nigeria, Presidential Goodluck Jonathan cautioned: “if anything at all, these acts of mayhem are sad reminders of the events which plunged our country into 30 months of an unfortunate civil war.”

Source: Nasir El-Rufai On President Jonathan's "Spectre Of Biafra": Matters Arising (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/nasir-el-rufai-president-jonathans-%E2%80%9Cspectre-biafra%E2%80%9D-matters-arising)
Title: Lagos ACN Condemn Ugbah’s Arrest, Damns Police For Complicity
Post by: SR on May 25, 2011, 03:02 AM
   By Joe Igbokwe           The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has condemned in strong terms, the arrest and detention of the Benue State candidate of the ACN in the last governorship election, Prof. Steve Ugbah. The party sees the arrest as the height of what is turning out a bloody and desperate attempt to put Ugbah, who most Benue citizens believe, won the last gubernatorial election in Benue out or circulation.

Source: Lagos ACN Condemn Ugbah's Arrest, Damns Police For Complicity (http://www.saharareporters.com/press-release/lagos-acn-condemn-ugbah%E2%80%99s-arrest-damns-police-complicity)
Title: ACN Candidate Steve Ugbah Granted Bail
Post by: SR on May 25, 2011, 09:02 AM
Professor Steve Ugbah the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria was granted bail today  in Makurdi, Benue State.  Prof Ugbah was charged with 14 others before a Magistrate judge in the state capital.

Source: ACN Candidate Steve Ugbah Granted Bail (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/acn-candidate-steve-ugbah-granted-bail)
Title: Of Biafra, raising the specter, and El Rufai by Oguchi Nkwocha, MD
Post by: SR on May 25, 2011, 03:02 PM
   By Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.           In his self-serving, Buhari-is-best-and-almighty-savior-of-Nigeria interview published in various Nigerian media under such title as “El-rufai Passes Vote Of No Confidence On Jonathan, says Buhari Was The Best”, (http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-672172.0.html#msg8363287 ) in response to the just concluded elections in Nigeria, El Rufai’s opinion (to which he is of course entitled) and assertions are predictable, but also ill-informed and insensitive.

Source: Of Biafra, raising the specter, and El Rufai by Oguchi Nkwocha, MD (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/biafra-raising-specter-and-el-rufai-oguchi-nkwocha-md)
Title: Nigerian Lawyer, Francis Chukwu Dazzles NY Law School
Post by: SR on May 25, 2011, 09:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/Francis_Chukwu.jpg?1306272603)              By SaharaReporters, New York           Over the weekend at the New York Law School graduation ceremony, Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Francis Chukwu, delivered a spectacular speech as the voice of the Class of 2011. He was given the honor for his exemplary performance as a student and a member of the Law School community.

Source: Nigerian Lawyer, Francis Chukwu Dazzles NY Law School (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/nigerian-lawyer-francis-chukwu-dazzles-ny-law-school)
Title: The National Health Bill Brouhaha
Post by: SR on May 26, 2011, 03:02 AM
   By Adepoju Paul Olusegun            Since the first republic, Nigerian legislature has been passing bills ranging from serious national issues like national security to selfish laughable and unarguably comic ones like the one that apportioned a sizable portion of the national cake to political office holders’ wives.

Source: The National Health Bill Brouhaha (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/national-health-bill-brouhaha)
Title: NDDC Website Hacked By NaijaCyberHacktivists To Protest N1 billion Inauguration Spending
Post by: SR on May 27, 2011, 09:02 AM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/hacked_NDDC.jpg?1306409216)          (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/Screenshot_napep.gov_.ng_.jpg?1306412278)              By SaharaReporters, New York           Nigerian anonymous Internet hacker group-NaijaCyberHacktivists- yesterday brought down the website of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to protest the decision of the Jonathan regime to spend 1 billion Naira on the  presidential  inauguration. It is the second time the hackers will be attacking a Nigerian government website. The NDDC has since restored their website after the disruption which lasted a whole day.

Source: NDDC Website Hacked By NaijaCyberHacktivists To Protest N1 billion Inauguration Spending (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/nddc-website-hacked-naijacyberhacktivists-protest-n1-billion-inauguration-spending)
Title: When Democracy Insults
Post by: SR on May 27, 2011, 03:02 PM
   By  Chido Onumah           If there was any hope of free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria last month, that hope was dashed the moment President Goodluck Jonathan decided to run for president. I shall return to this.

Source: When Democracy Insults (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/when-democracy-insults)
Title: Human Rights Groups Slighted By U.N. Chief In First Visit To Nigeria
Post by: SR on May 27, 2011, 09:02 PM
   (http://www.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/page_images/news/2011/ban_ki_moon.jpg?1306442413)              By Daniel Fayemi/http://www.nigeriapoliticsonline.com           U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in his first in-country visit, held meetings with government officials on  Nigeria’s maternal and infant health care services but avoided meeting even a single one of the 120 human rights NGOs in Human Rights Nigeria, the umbrella group said.

Source: Human Rights Groups Slighted By U.N. Chief In First Visit To Nigeria (http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/human-rights-groups-slighted-un-chief-first-visit-nigeria)