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Monday, May 30, 2016

Lesson from Nigeria: University of Ibadan Moves to Eradicate 'Tomato Ebola'

Agric experts in Nigeria are currently congregating to resolve ways to kick the Tomato Ebola out of the country as it has greatly affected the availability of the product.
 Agricultural experts at the University of Ibadan, on Sunday, proffered solutions to the recent outbreak of Tomato disease, Tuta Absoluta, saying importing tomato seeds was not the best option.
 Dr. Morufat Balogun, a Geneticist, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that importing seeds to cushion the problem would further drain the nation’s foreign exchange.
She said the Federal Government should direct Plant Breeders/Entomologists to develop new tomato varieties that could adapt to the Nigerian environment.
“Tomato is a short duration crop that breeds fast; when an insect smells something in the plant that puts it away, it can’t feed on it.
“If the gene from such hormones is put in tomato, the pest will not feed on it. That will be a lasting solution.
“A cushioning solution will be when farmers grow their tomato in an insect screen environment, the insects can’t attack it.
“Tomato can be produced anytime of the year. So, government should build screen houses for farmers,” Balogun said.
 Another expert, Dr Biodun Claudius-Cole, a Plant Pathologist at the university, said management of the disease should be done using combination of biosecticide method, resistant crops, among others.

“Farmers need to practice good agricultural methods; they must have good land preparation as that manages soil burn, which is one of the problems of tomato. “They should also be encouraged with inputs and facilities that will help them produce tomato all year round.”
 
She said the government should ensure that crops like tomatoes coming to Nigeria were quarantined before allowed into the country. Claudius-Cole said the government should also put necessary measures to control the disease in affected states to stop it from spreading to other places.
 An entomologist from the same University, Dr Olajumoke Alabi, said farmers should use insecticide in a systemic way, if they should use it at all. “We can use bio-control agents like nematode, augmentation to suppress the pest population, we can also use cultural control, whereby farmers uproot and destroy infected crops.”
 Similarly, Prof. Olufemi Awodoyin, said government should support farmers to enable them produce crops like tomato. “In University of Ibadan we still have tomatoes that are not infected, cultivated in screen house. If we survived it other farmers can also survive it.”


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Former Chadian President Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

 Chad's ex-president, Hissene Habre has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison at a historic landmark trial in Senegal.
Hissene Habre
In a historic landmark judgement, the Extraordinary African Chambers in Dakar Senegal, on Monday, sentenced former Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre, to life imprisonment for human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings and rape.
 Described as the first of its kind where a ruler of one country is convicted for human rights crimes by another country, the conviction and sentencing, brings relief to tens of thousands of his victims who have waited for justice for more than 25 years.
 It also shows that there is no hiding place for present and former dictators, especially in Africa, who committed or are committing widespread human rights abuses in their countries.
 It was learnt that the crimes for which he was convicted was committed between 1982 and 1990 when he ruled the Central African country with iron fist, and apart from the widespread right abuses committed by his junta, he was personally convicted for committing rape.
 Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International West Africa researcher said, "This verdict is a victory for those victims who fought tirelessly to ensure Hissène Habré could not get away with crimes under international law.
 "It demonstrates that when there is enough political will, states can work together effectively to end impunity in even the most entrenched situations.
"It is moments like these that other victims around the world can draw on in darker times when justice appears beyond reach. It will nourish them with hope and give them strength to fight for what is right. 
"This landmark decision should also provide impetus to the African Union or individual African states to replicate such efforts to deliver justice to victims in other countries in the continent," he said.
 Reed Brody from Human Rights Watch, who has worked on the case for 17 years and was in court for the judgement said, "Today will be carved into justice as the day that a band of unrelenting survivors brought their dictator to justice."
 Throughout the trial, Habre refused to recognise the court's legitimacy, frequently disrupting proceedings. The ex-president denied accusations that he ordered the killing of 40,000 people during his rule from 1982 to 1990.
 His critics dubbed him "Africa's Pinochet" because of the atrocities committed during his rule.
 Survivors had recounted gruesome details of the torture carried out by Habre's feared secret police. One of the most notorious detention centres in the capital N'Djamena was a converted swimming pool.
 Witnesses said victims endured electric shocks, near-asphyxia, cigarette burns and having gas squirted into their eyes.
 Some were subjected to "supplice des baguettes" (torture by sticks), when the victim's head is put between sticks joined by rope which is then twisted.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Hilarious President Mugabe Quotes that Will Leave You Laughing Hard and Peeing in Your Pants

 Omg! These hilarious Mugabe quotes will surely make your day and leave you laughing so hard you may even pee on your pants.

President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe who has been in power for 29 years and still refused to relinquish it has become yet another thing of jest as many blame him for the woes of his country.

According to The Nairobian, here is a compiled list of jokes allegedly attributed to the president that will make you laugh and pee in your pants.

They are an odd choice of words and crazy comparisons that always leaves many in stitches. The off-the-wall quotable quotes linger on the mind for long. There are many random hilarious quotes that have been attributed to the octogenarian. Sample the following.


“Treat every part of your towel nicely because the part that wipes your buttocks today will wipe your face tomorrow.”

“Some women’s legs are like rumours, they just keep on spreading.”

“It’s hard to bewitch African girls these days because each time you take a piece from her hair to the witchdoctor, either an innocent Brazilian woman gets mad or a factory in China catches fire.”

“It’s better for a man to be stingy with the money he has hustled for, than for a woman to deny you a hole that she didn’t even drill it herself.”

“Don’t fight over girlfriends. This country is full of beautiful women. If you can’t get one, come to Mugabe for assistance.”

“If you are ugly; you are ugly — stop talking about inner beauty because we don’t walk around with X-ray machines to determine such claims.”

“Dear sister, don’t be deceived by a man who text you “I miss you” only when it’s raining. You are not an umbrella.”

“Check your girlfriend’s body, if she has more tattoos or piercings, you can cheat on her. She is already used to pain.”
“Some of you girls can’t even jog for five minutes, but expect a guy to last in bed with you for two hours? Madness! Your level of selfishness demands a one-week salvation crusade.”
“God is the best inventor ever. He took a rib from a man and created a loudspeaker!”
“If women think having their periods (menstruation) in a whole month is a difficult task, they should ask the men how difficult it is to control an erect (memeber) in public.”
“Sometimes you look back at girls you spent money on rather than send it to your mum and you realise witchcraft is real.”
When debate on homosexuality hit fever pitch some time back, with US president Barack Obama championing for the rights of gay men, good old ‘Bob’ scoffed: “If President Barack Obama wants me to allow marriage for same-sex couples in my country (Zimbabwe), he must come here so that I marry him first.”
As if that wasn’t enough, he threw in yet another deft claim: “Even Satan wasn’t gay, at the Garden of Eden, he chose to approach unclad Eve instead of unclad Adam.”

On the numerous rumours about his death, the octogenarian is rumoured to have once quipped: “I have died many times. I have actually beaten Jesus Christ because he only died once”.
When Western envoys threatened to slap sanctions on Zimbabwe a while back, a furious ‘Mugabe’ is quoted to have hissed: “We don’t mind having sanctions banning us from Europe. We are not Europeans, after all”.
On the economy comrade Bob was once quoted as having said: “Our economy is a hundred times better than most African countries. Outside South Africa, which other country has a better economy than Zimbabwe? The only thing we lack are good on shelves and money in our pockets — that’s it.”
When reading Western leaders the riot act in the past, Bob, in a fit of fury, is quoted as having once said: “The only white man you can trust is a dead one”. “You come take gold and leave holes in my country, no!”


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Horror at Binka as Man is Stabbed to Death (Graphics Photo)

Tongues are still waging in Binka over the horrific scene that happened yesterday night at about 9 pm. The story goes that Musa (the  herdsman) was drinking with three other herdsmen in a bar. Allegedly, after serious drinking, a quarrel broke out between Musa and the three other fulani herdsmen with whom he was drinking and generated into a serious fight. Few minutes latter Musa was discovered lying in cold blood with hands tied. His hands as could be seen in the pictures were tied and he was slaughtered like an animal. The corpse had wounds all over the body and apparently he was tied and slaughtered by his own friends.  The Binka village vigilantic group launched a manhunt that led to the arrest of the three killers. Sources say the police have opened an investigation into the killing of the herdsman as they arrived the scene today morning at about 10 am. Details soon....  










When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Sunday, May 29, 2016

The Mandela Washington Fellows Cameroon Empowers NW Youths

The Mandela Washington fellowship for young African leaders which began in 2014 has extended its outreach programme to GBHS Bamenda and the Catholic University-CATU-Bamenda. This Fellowship Program which is the flagship program of President Obama's young African leaders initiative (yali) program seeks to empowers young people through academic course work, leadership training and networking.
As part of their commitment to their countries, the Mandela Washington fellows Cameroon have been organizing out reach programs in order to enable young Cameroonians access to and benefit from the opportunities the united states has put at their disposal. Under the leadership of Chongwain Christelle Bay Nfor, the progam has impacted the lives of several youths in Cameroon. Last week, The Mandela Washington Fellows Cameroon also organized a workshop with objectives to Empower Youths on Enhancing Interfaith Dialogue for Peace. The workshop took place at Blue Pearl Hotel in Bamenda. Here below are the pictures of their activities in Bamenda. #PhotoNews
























When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Misaje Fons, Elite(s) Threaten to Block Hon. Abe at June Session over Micro Project Grants

Hon. Abe
An atmosphere of uncertainty looms in Misaje Sub Division in Donga Mantung as traditional rulers and elite(s) of the area have vowed to block the Member of Parliament for Ako/Misaje Special Constituency from attending the upcoming June Session over the management of micro project grants (for the fiscal year 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016). Allegedly, Hon. Abe Michael Ndra who was elected into Parliament in 2013 with Misaje Sub Division contributing largely to his victory by voting massively (over 2000 votes) has never had a taste of micro project grants. It alleged Hon. Abe told the people of Misaje that during his first year, he will use the first micro grants to carryout projects in Ako. But for three years now, Misaje has not had it share.Yet classified sources say in 2014, Hon. Abe disbursed FCFA 3 million to Misaje as part of their share of the FCFA 8 million but since then Misaje has not had a franc.
Classified sources say last weekend, Fons and elite(s) of Misaje had stormy meeting in which they unanimously agreed to block Hon. Abe Micheal from attending the June session. "If he is in Donga Mantung, we will block him from leaving the Division but if he is in Yaounde, he should expected to see us at the entrance of the National Assembly", Kimah Koyu John told us. "We have been waiting for long and we cannot continue to wait, we need our own share of the Parliamentary grants. We are not begging, we deserve to have our share because it is thanks to votes from Misaje that he (Hon. Abe) went to Parliament", says one of the Fons. 
From every indication, the entire Misaje Sub Division is aghast with Abe Michael Ndra. It is also alleged that even the newly elected CPDM Section officials in Ako are also aghast with their MP. Of late, there was a clash of interest when the MP who happens to be influential member of Mbembe Cultural and Development Association-MBECUDA, organized a meeting on the same day the CPDM was holding a Joint Section Conference in Ako. The Eye gathered that tempers almost flared as to why a CPDM MP should organize such a meeting on same day.
However, in reacting to the above allegation Hon. Abe Michael said that Misaje elite(s) based in Yaounde, especially his Alternate Member of Parliament could talk more elaborately on whether Misaje has had their fare share of the micro project grants or not. He said he visited Misaje Sub Division during his homecoming and has been there on several occasions. "I am not President of MBECUDA" he concluded.
(To be Continued)


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

'Tomato Ebola' Hits Nigeria

The Federal Government has advised farmers to be very careful as tomato ebola hits six states destroying tomatoes.
 The Federal Government on Tuesday revealed the cause of tomato scarcity in the country as it said the pest, Tuta absoluta, popularly known as ‘Tomato Ebola’, is responsible for the massive destruction of tomato in farmlands in Nigeria. The destructive pest has so far invaded six states in Nigeria. Farmers all over the country have been warned to be careful and advised farmers on the management skills to use so as to curb the spread of the pest.
 
Speaking on the issue, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, revealed that the highly reproductive nature of the tomato pest and lack of management knowledge for containment allowed it to spread which led to the destruction of tomato fruits in Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau and Lagos.
 He also stated that the government is already consulting with experts in other find a way out.
 He said, “The pest can also attack even pepper and Irish potato. So we are confronting something quite serious. But the good thing is that we are tackling it right now as experts will commence work immediately. We are bringing the commissioners and governors of states to jointly attack this pest, which, if not dealt with, will create serious problems for food security in our country.”
 Also, the minister revealed that Nigeria spent huge sums importing substandard tomato paste which affected many in Nigeria.
 “We have two processing plants for tomato paste in Nigeria, Erisco and Dangote, and their capacities are huge. We welcome their arrival because our annual import bill of tomato paste is about $400m and it is a good sign that we can now produce here and make money for our farmers.” he said.
 Reacting to the recent development, CropLife International, a group of agro-professionals, advocated the use of hazard-based approach rather than a risk-based methodology. The group also called for the promotion and adoption of relevant biotechnologies in farming activities.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Here are the Seven Appointed CPDM Divisional Coordinators for NW

President Paul Biya has appointed his seven apostles in the North West Region. Shey Jones Yembe, was named to coordinate Donga Mantung Division, Nji Fidelis for Menchum, Awanga Zacharia for Momo, Paul Atanga Nji for Mezam, Uphie Melo Chinje for Ngoketunjia, Waingeh for Boyo, Dr. Lantum Danielfor Bui Division respectively. They are charged with overseeing the mobilization of militants for party events, putting in place strategies ahead of elections and executing the strategies as well as marketing the ideals of the party at grassroots. However, most of them are hardly seen in their constituency and not to talk of attending party events. The last time I saw one of them in the feild was in 2013 during elections. These are some of the fears expressed by grassroot militants as it is also feared they may likely clash with section Presidents

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Why Goodluck Jonathan Went on 'Exile' in Ivory Coast - SaharaReporters Reveals

Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has been away from Nigeria in recent months, and is currently exploring several countries in Africa in which he could hide...a yet another report reveals.
 
Following the ThisDay report that former President Goodluck Jonathan has gone into exile in Ivory Coast, SaharaReporters can confirm that Mr. Jonathan has been away from Nigeria in recent months exploring several countries in Africa in which he could hide.
 
This was as information leaked to him that some of his former aides have revealed to security agencies various acts of serious graft and mismanagement involving him.
 
Several of those aides are currently under arrest and interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
 
As a way of covering his tracks, Jonathan paid for and arranged several tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, some of which included buying awards from available colleges and universities to create a semblance of popularity.
 
Sources close to the former President revealed to SaharaReporters however that most western nations had started asking Mr. Jonathan hard questions relating to his corrupt activities in office, forcing him to seek ways of staying out of Nigeria.
 
He reportedly considered going to Kenya where there were speculations that he had financial ties to a diary firm, but the Kenyans reportedly turned him down claiming the pressure will be too much for them should he be indicted for corruption and declared wanted.
 
In opting for Cote D’Ivoire, the former President is going back to an ally, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, who Jonathan assisted to power in 2010.
 
Jonathan reportedly used his connections with President Ouattara to invest in the refinery business in the country our sources revealed.
 
Ivorian officials in Washington DC told SaharaReporters earlier today that Mr. Jonathan has been living in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, for close to two months but they could not confirm if he has been granted political asylum there.
 
Jonathan arrived Cote d’Ivoire from Ecuador two weeks ago.
 
Contacted, Kone Seydou, the Cote d’Ivoire government spokesperson, said the government does not have any official position on Mr. Jonathan’s presence in the country.
 
Meanwhile, Mr. Jonathan is reportedly sending text messages to his friends in Nigeria saying that the ThisDay story is an attempt by publisher Nduka Obaigbena, who was an insider of his government’s, to “rubbish” him.
 
Mr. Obaigbena received seedy vast sums from former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki that he is currently coughing up to the EFCC following an arrest. It is unclear why he would want to “rubbish” Mr. Jonathan.
 


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Exile in Cote d'Ivoire: Ex-President Obasanjo Reportedly Undertakes Mission to Broker Goodluck Jonathan's Return to Nigeria

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has left the country in a bid to bring back Goodluck Jonathan who denied viral reports that he had opted to go on exile in Cote d'Ivoire.
Goodluck Jonathan
 It was widely reported online and social media yesterday that former President Goodluck Jonathan went into temporary self exile in Cote d’Ivoire, following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may arrest him on his arrival in Nigeria from his overseas tour on allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars during his tenure as president.
 
 
Just as the news went viral, the former president, spoke exclusively to ThisDay on the phone late on monday, and confirmed that he had been out of the country for over a month, revealing that he travelled to some cities in the United States of America, then departed the country for London before arriving Cote d’Ivoire via Paris, thereby debunking the alleged 'exile report'.
 
 In flash news report posted by SaharaReporters on its Twitter page, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is currently in Lesotho, Southern Africa, has undertaken to broker ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's return to Nigeria, probably to come and answer some questions on allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars levelled against him.
 This new report is still developing, we'll surely keep you updated as soon we have more details.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

One Freed Chibok Girl Still Cause for Shame, not Celebration

Amina Ali
Amina Ali, the rescue Chibok school girl, sits during a meeting with Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential palace in Abuja, Nigeria, Thursday, May. 19, 2016. The first Chibok teenager to escape from Boko Haram's Sambisa Forest stronghold was flown to Abuja on Thursday and met with Nigeria's president, even as her freedom adds pressure on the government to do more to rescue 218 other missing girls. (AP Photo/Azeez Akunleyan)
The fact that one Chibok girl basically rescued herself last week shouldn’t make any of us feel better.
The family of Amina Ali Nkeki has a reason to celebrate. The rest of the world does not.
The response from the Nigerian government and the Obama administration to one abducted Chibok girl’s escape last week is symptomatic of a larger issue. Real action – not just posturing and attention seeking – is needed to rescue these girls, now missing for more than two years.

I was hardly surprised to see the Nigerian government immediately attempting to celebrate (and take credit for) the purported rescue of a second Chibok girl just days after Amina’s escape – the second girl, it turned out, was not actually among those taken in the mass kidnapping in 2014. After all, the Nigerian government has been more preoccupied with securing positive international impressions than they have been about securing freedom for the Chibok girls.
Now more than ever, we need to refocus attention on Amina’s escape, as she is currently the only Chibok girl from the mass kidnapping to emerge after two years of captivity. Her self-rescue should fill leaders in the free world with shame on behalf of her classmates’ continued imprisonment.
This is not the time for the world to celebrate. This is the time to confront our shame.
How have we allowed more than 200 girls to remain trapped in captivity for over two years, held by one of the world’s most brutal terrorist groups?
Amina was found last Tuesday by local witnesses with her baby, wandering out of the Sambisa Forest in northern Nigeria. This location is known to be a Boko Haram stronghold and has been thought to be a possible location where the Chibok girls have been held.
Within hours of Amina’s sighting, the Nigerian government was—unsurprisingly—eagerly attempting to take credit for her release. Their attempts to capitalize are disgraceful; they also make me realize why the search for remaining Chibok girls has been so unfruitful. It appears that the Nigerian government has been much more concerned about good press than actual results on behalf of the captured schoolgirls. While the girls wait, cowardice and corruption continue to be the prevailing reality.

Within the Obama administration, we’re seeing hopeful words and hashtag advocacy on the ongoing captivity of the Chibok girls (with First Lady Michele Obama raising the issue by tweeting a photo of herself joining #BringBackOurGirls). But the one action from the administration that holds the most promise has yet to be accomplished. President Obama still hasn’t visited Nigeria during his nearly two full terms in office. Not once. (Obama is reported to currently be tinkering  with the possibility of a trip to Nigeria in July. To that I say, better late than never.)
In an advocacy campaign launched earlier this year, Open Doors USA has been urging President Obama to prioritize a trip to Nigeria.
We’re also asking him to issue a statement on the desperate situation of persecuted Christians in Northern Nigeria, including the Chibok girls, as a result of Boko Haram and other groups.
We’re also encouraging him to put pressure on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to support investigations into allegations that prominent Nigerian politicians have been funneling financial support to Boko Haram. It isn’t too late for more Americans to add their voices to our call for action.
Last week’s news of one girl’s freedom can and should be an opportunity to advocate for those still held captive. For Amina, much care will be needed to help her begin to heal the physical and emotional scars of her ordeal. But I cannot help but rejoice for her family as their personal nightmare comes to an end.
I visited with several of the fathers of the kidnapped Chibok girls while in Jos, Nigeria, several months ago. As director of advocacy at Open Doors USA, I wanted to hear firsthand about the challenges facing the families in the wake of their daughters’ disappearance.
What I witnessed broke my heart.
Open Doors is on the ground in Nigeria, providing trauma counseling and practical support for the families of the kidnapped girls. But the needs are very deep, and the heartache these families endure on a daily basis is gut wrenching.
I’m incredibly grateful that the pain of not knowing what happened to their daughter is over for one family. But the voices of the other fathers still ring in my ear.
After describing his daughter to me, one father put his head in his hands and wept, softly crying over and over, “I miss her, I miss her, I miss her,” as tears ran down his face.
As I discovered while I was in Jos, at least 18 of the parents of the missing Chibok girls have died in the wake of their daughters’ kidnapping.
Tragically, even as Amina, the newly recovered Chibok girl, is reunited with her mother, she will also be learning of the death of her father.
“They didn’t die of old age,” one Chibok father was quick to tell me of the parents who have died. “They died of heartache.”
This is not the time for the world to celebrate. This is the time to confront our shame.
The world’s silence—and the inexcusable inaction of our leaders—have allowed over 200 innocent girls to remain captives for two years. It is time to demand action and insist that we do whatever is in our power to rescue the Chibok girls and reunite them with their families.
For more information about Open Doors’ campaign for action on behalf of the Chibok girls and other victims of persecution in northern Nigeria, visit http://live.opendoorsusa.org/petition/.
Kristin Wright is the advocacy director at Open Doors USA. She works with government officials to address issues of religious persecution throughout the world, and take action for those who are suffering.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Lesson from Nigeria: Buhari Accused of Failing in the Agricultural Sector

 Farmers in Nigeria have lodged complaints about the low productivity of the agricultural sector in Nigeria owing to low government support.

 
At independence in 1960, agriculture was the largest contributor to the Nige­rian economy, accounting for about 63 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domes­tic Product (GDP), which is typical for developing agrarian nations.
As at that time incomes were derived from the ex­port of major cash crops like rubber, cocoa, palm oil, cashew nuts, ground­nut and cotton, cassava among others and provid­ed about 70 per cent of ac­tive labour for Nigerians. But from the 2013 rebased figures the agricultural sector contributed 21.97 percent or N17.625 trillion ($112.26 billion) of the to­tal N80.22 trillion ($510 billion). This compares with N14.71 trillion ($93.7 billion) in the old non-re­based estimates for 2013.
With the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari administration on May 29, 2015, farmers were optimistic that the agricultural sector would experience the much awaited change, expected to transform the sector.
Though, President Mu­hammadu Buhari, has con­tinued assuring the nation that developing the sector and ensuring food security in the country remained a priority to his administra­tion. One year under the President’s watch, agri­culture has experienced tremendous set back as the prices of farm produce have gradually become out of reach for consumers of fresh tomato, rice and gar­ri among others.
The prices of some ag­ricultural items have sky­rocketed across the major markets in the country.
For instance between 2014 and April 2015, the price of rice was stable in the market even dur­ing the Christmas period, when it sold for N9,000. Today however, a bag of rice is being sold for about N17,000 while one bas­ket of tomato that used to sell for about N4000, to N6000 before is now be­ing sold for N12,000 and a custard plastic of garri that sold for N250, now sells for N750 over night.
However, some stake­holders and farmers who spoke to Daily Sun scored Buhari’s administration a lean 5 per cent in agricul­ture sector, just because of his appointment of Chief Audu Ogbeh as the Minis­ter of Agriculture and Ru­ral Development.
Yet other stakeholders in support of President Muhammadu Buhari in­sist that one year in office was not enough to judge one’s performance. They said the budget has just been approved and that with time Buhari will turn the sector around.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), Is Best Philanthropist of The Year

The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF) has won the Gold Category of the Life Time Achievement Award as Philanthropist of the Year. The recognition came during the 7th anniversary of the Life Time Group of Newspapers in Bamenda on 22 May 2016.
The President of the Foundation, Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh was represented by Dr. Willibroad Dze-Ngwa who presented the keynote address.
The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF) has its headquarters in Bamenda, Cameroon.
Excerpt of Dr. Dze-Ngwa speech at the occasion “...There is no doubt Dr. Chris Fomunyoh is an exemplary Philanthropist in his own rights. After sailing around and about the world, impacting other African countries to strengthen their democratic governance, Dr.Fomunyoh thought nothing was as fulfilling as being able to serve his beloved country (Cameroon), his own people and being able give back abundantly to his community. That is why The Fomunyoh Foundation was founded in 1999, to carry out humanitarian and philanthropic actions at the service of the Cameroonian people. This Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to promote democracy, social and humanitarian causes in the country. Since its launch in 1999, the Foundation has:
• Organized workshops to raise citizen awareness and strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations and journalists across the country.
• In the Littoral Region: The TFF has conducted activities in partnership with development associations such as the women of Bonandale, Douala.
• In the West Region: It has conducted programmes at the traditional Fondom of Foto-Dschang.
• In the Far North it has donated books to many municipal councils and academic institutions in Maroua and Mayo Oulou,
• Garoua in the North and Ngoundere in the Adamawa has also benefited from the largesse of Dr.Fomunyoh.
• The East Region has also benefited from this largesse- three secondary schools, the Bertoua Linguistic Center and the Catholic University of Bertoua, two schools in Abong Mbang have also been beneficiaries.
• In the Center Region: the Foundation is working closely with four academic institutions in the national’s Yaounde, it sponsored Youth activities in Monatele and Monabo in the Likie Division.
• In the North West Region: the Foundation runs a community radio station in Bamenda, The Foundation Radio, a Public library of over 20,000 books, assisted the Guzang Widows, engaged in other activities in Nkambe; where it has created a resource center for the training of women in ICTs, Bafut, Bamenda 2, Oku-Noni Councils and the Moghamo youths
• Free access to Foundation facilities and activities
• Established partnerships on HIV/AIDS and children vaccination campaigns



Courtesy: Mokun Njouny Nelson, Foundation Radio Bda 

 
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ten Disturbing Facts About Boko Haram's 7-Year Insurgency That You Need to Know


Nigerians have lived in fear of the horrific Boko Haram terrorist sect for many years as the Nigerian army tackles the insurgency. These are some facts you need to know about the deadly sect.
 
Boko Haram
 
World leaders and aid chiefs have been discussing how to coordinate the fight against Boko Haram and respond to the humanitarian crisis created by the Islamist militant group's seven-year insurgency in north-east Nigeria.
 
Nigeria's neighbours, French President Francois Hollande, and senior US and British officials attended a security summit earlier this month in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.
 
UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien will speak at a panel on the impact of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region at this week's World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, where he hopes to draw attention to the needs of the affected populations.
 
Here are 10 facts about Boko Haram:
 
1 - The Islamist militant group Boko Haram became active in 2003 and carried out its first attack in 2004, from its then heartland in north-east Nigeria around Maiduguri.
 
2 - Boko Haram, which means “Western education is sinful” in the Hausa language, demands the adoption of sharia (Islamic law) across Nigeria and considers all people who do not follow its ideology to be infidels, whether they are Muslim or Christian.
 
3 - Since 2009, the militants have waged an insurgency aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate in northeast Nigeria.
 
4 - The most high-profile attack took place on April 14, 2014, when the militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls, from a secondary school in Chibok in Borno state, northeast Nigeria. About 50 of the girls escaped but 219 were captured.
 
5 - Boko Haram controlled a swath of land in northeast Nigeria around the size of Belgium at the start of 2015, but was pushed out by Nigerian and regional troops. The militants have since struck back with cross-border attacks and suicide bombings.
 
6 - About 2 000 girls and boys have been kidnapped by Boko Haram since the beginning of 2014, and are used by the group as cooks, sex slaves, fighters and even suicide bombers.
 
7 - Boko Haram used 44 children to carry out suicide attacks in West Africa last year, up from four in 2014, with some as young as eight, mostly girls, detonating bombs in schools and markets.
 
8 - The insurgency has forced around 2.4 million people to flee their homes in the four Lake Chad Basin countries - Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
 
9 - The militant group has killed more than 15 000 people.
 
10 - Boko Haram last year pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, and may be sending fighters to assist the group in Libya.

- Reuters

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Rescued Chibok Girl Finally Offered Scholarship by Nigerian School in Collaboration with Canada

Amina Ali has been offered scholarship by a top school in Osun State which is also enjoying a collaboration with a foreign country.


Amina Ali and her baby
 The management of Kunike International School, Osogbo in collaboration with Delta School District in Vancouver, Canada has offered to give full scholarships to the first two Chibok girls rescued from the captivity of the Boko Haram sect.
Amina Alli with her four-months-old baby and Serah Luka were rescued last week from Sambisa Forest which is the hideout of the dreaded terror group.
The Director of Kunike International school, Mr. Amos Adekunle, announced the offer in a statement made available to a correspondent in Osogbo on Saturday.

He said the girls needed to be encouraged to fullfill their dreams of getting quality education which was temporarily stopped by the terrorists, who invaded their schools on April 14, 2014 and abducted over 200 girls.

The statement read;
” The management of Kunike International Schools, Osogbo in conjunction with the management of Delta Schools District, in Vancouver, Canada is extending full scholarships ( all tuitions and boarding) to the first two Chibok girls, Amina Alli and Serah Luka that were recently rescued from captivity.
“Kunike is located in a well secured and safe environment in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
 
Meanwhile, reports have it that Serah Luka isn't a Chibok school girl after clarifications were made with the school authorities.



When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Stop Calling Me Mama G - Patience Ozokwor Warns as She Becomes Born-again

 Reports have it that Patience Ozokwor who mostly played 'wicked' roles in Nigerians films and who is believed to be harsh in reality is now a born-again christian.


Patience Ozokwor
Veteran Nollywood star, Patience Ozokwor aka Mama G and Susu who is popularly known for her 'Wicked Mother-in-Law' roles in movies is now a born-again christian, who now goes about preaching in various churches and crusades.
Starttells caught up with her at a crusade organised by St. Marks Anglican Church in Eziobodo Village of Imo State, where she shared her salvation experience.
According to her, she normally organises a personal retreat for herself in the first few days of the new year, when it was time to have her 2016 retreat, she heard the voice of the Holy Spirit telling her to fast for 21 days, she complained that she have so many projects to handle; endorsements and movies to shoot within that period, and the Lord extended it to a 30 days fast due to her complaints.
During this fasting period, the Lord revealed to her, how she will be a voice for him all over the world, how people's attention will be channeled from her image on Nollywood to the gospel.
She said one of the things God warned her on, was her dressing and appearance. She said that putting on make-ups, wearing Jewelry and putting on trouser as a Lady is wrong, she said that she has been preaching to colleagues in Nollywood, but God told her to put off her dreads, to stop wearing jewelries and trousers, that she could have gone to hell, if she died December 31, 2015 despite the preaching she's been doing, just because of her appearance.
She asked the Holy Spirit to prove to her, give strong reasons, why that was a sin, and spirit of God replied that she should browse about it, that testimonies of personal revelations God gave to people are all over the internet, and all of them are saying virtually the same thing, that she should find those informations to help her life.
She made mention of her social class, how the creme de la creame of the society, will attend her funeral and how such event won't be a reflection of the position of her soul.
She subsequently got to the internet and read testimonies of God's encounter with people, she read about an Igbo woman God encountered, and a woman called Margaret from Edo State, who could have gone to Hell for hating her Husband. She said that people in Church is making God cry, due to their dressing, their loose life and conduct.
After that encounter, she gave herself to spirit filled pastors for follow-up. She further outlined what makes God weep, from Galatians 5: 16-20.
She also took time to explain how a parent-children relationship ought to be.
On this, she said that some of the terrible things children do, is a mirror of what their parents do. She went on to cite an example of a Pastor's wife, buying short dress for her daughter, but will still come to the church and condemn such dressing.
When asked about her Nollywood life, Patience Ozokwor narrated that the Holy Spirit has not specifically directed her to quit or to not. She said that she has not shot any movie since that encounter in January, that she used to get an average of 1.5 Million Naira weekly, but that God has miraculously been providing her daily bread.
She warned that it will be harder for colleagues in the movie industry, with permanent tattoos and eyebrows when they eventually encounter Christ. She also said that she should stop being referred to as Mama G, as that name was for when she was in the world.
We went further to ask about her immediate family reactions to her new found faith, to which she answered that her daughter was upset with her, telling her that spirituality is a thing of the heart, and it doesn't need to affect her dress code. Patience Ozokwor replied her daughter that she should be left alone with her Jesus. The brother also thought that she was mad, on hearing the news, and had to call her to confirm that she is mentally sound.
She also said that she is happy her son who plays football in Europe is now born-again. Among other things she pointed was her Anglican Church and SU history, How Christian Association of Nigeria gave her a bible and many other things.
She also talked about a Muslim leader, who said they have Nigeria in their hands, Fulani Herdsmen, and their deadly strategies. She cited example with Turkey (Istanbul) a Christian turned Muslim country.
She also said that Islam is ready to take over the world, but our problem is that Christians can easily lose their faith for money.



When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Monday, May 23, 2016

That Groundbreaking Speech by Yaah Patience Tamfu at CPDM USA Section Conference



Dear Comrades;
Dear Invitees;
Ladies and Gentlemen,         

     Today is a very bright day for our party, CPDM -USA.  We are finally here in Houston; the city where our militancy began in the United States under the leadership of our distinguished senior comrade, Jude Eze Okafor, founder of CPDM USA. We are here not only to hold the first Section Conference under my leadership, but to celebrate our unofficial creation of our party in the United States of America, which started here in Houston. Comrades we areequally here today to celebrateCameroon’s National Day, May 20th, in the South Central Subsection---newly-created in November 2016 with its headquarters in Houston, Texas. Further, we want to express our profound gratitude tofirst, our comrades in the South Central Subsection for accepting the privilege to host our first-ever Section Conference and secondly, we thank all our militants who have made an enormous sacrifice by exchanging their time and money for militancy. We are highly honored by your presence, to say the least. And on behalf of the Section, I say thank you to each and every one present here today. And to those who are not with us today, I pray they make it in the next conference. The state of our party here in the United States is Strong. Our party is the best party because of its democratic values.
    
Fellow Comrades, during the elections of last year, my team ran on the following platform: (a) to grow
Yaah Patience Tamfu Section President
the militancy of the party (b) to enable Cameroonians obtain Dual Citizenship (c) to create structures that will facilitate the Section’s activities (d) to lobby for a Permanent Diaspora Seat in the Cameroon Parliament and Senate and, (f) to lobby for Consular Offices in Houston and Atlanta in order to attend to the growing needs of Cameroonians and Corporations in these areas that can do business in Cameroon.

Dear Comrades and Distinguished Invitees, these are some of the things that our Section intends to pursue and we hope that together, we can enable all of the above items and many more that may come out during this conference.
So far, we have already set up committees that are working diligently to address some of our projects; and these committees shall form the basis of our party structure here in the United States. The following committees are now in existence: Political Affairs, Health, Economic and Investment, Education, Science and Technology, Youth, Project etc. We encourage militants with specific expertise to join any of our vibrant committees so they could express their opinions from within. I will not expand on any of the committee initiatives because their Chairs shall be presenting elaborate reports on their respective projects.
 Whenever Cameroonians in the diaspora request for the government of Cameroon to address critical issues that they face, and it is addressed, we owe the government gratitude. This is the reason why we are extending gratitude to the Cameroon governmentfor extending to Cameroonians in the Diaspora, a Diaspora Voting Rights, to Cameroonians living abroad. With this act, Cameroonians abroad can now participate and effect a change by voting for candidates of their choice whom they believe can bring desired changes that will enhance the livelihood of Cameroonians. In light of many other changes to come, the Section Bureau has therefore adopted a New Vision; to act as facilitators across party lines, to enable investors to come with businesses to develop our Cameroon. That is why the theme of this conference is ‘CPDM USA: facilitator of healthcare and development in Cameroon.’As Cameroonians, whether you belong to the CPDM-ruling party or not, you must imbibe the spirit of patriotism, paramount in nation-building.
     The CPDM is undoubtedly the strongest party in Cameroon today and in the diaspora. We intends to make it even stronger by acting as facilitators or enablers to positive changes and development.We intend to bring more investors to Cameroon and make our great Country a better place for our citizens. In order to help CPDM-USA achieve its goals, theleadership of the Section is therefore calling on all militants, to be united, devoted, and to remain focused and determined their initiative to build a one and indivisible party and Cameroon. All Branch Presidents must hold their monthly meetings and report to the subsection. So too shall the Subsections hold meetings and report to the Section. The Section in its turn needs to transmit the activities of the branches, subsections, and sections to the Central Committee. This is what we call Party Activism.
     Finally, we want to conclude by reiterating that this Conference is to celebrate our National Day, the 20th unofficial celebration of our party’s militancy in the UnitedStates of America, championed by our hero, Mr. Jude Eze Okafor. I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of my Bureau, to encourage all Subsection leaders to organize their respective Subsection conferences. Let us celebrate this remarkable moment as we deliberate and reflect on the important issues affecting our great party, the CPDM. Once more you are all welcomed to this conference and I

Wish everyone an enjoyable rest of conference.

 Long Live the Republic of Cameroon,

Long Live the CPDM party

Yaah Patience Tamfu
Section President
CPDM-USA





When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)