Looking Glass: Failure of the Presidential Limousine at 44th National Day

On May 20, 2016, the Presidential limousine went epileptic just at the moment the President of the Republic of Cameroon was about to perform his traditional review of the troops, as part of civil and military parade of the 44th Unity Day. Elements of the Presidential Guard had to push the car as the population watched helplessly.

The incredible scene suddenly went viral on the net minutes after the incident. Social networks were of no exception. Some Cameroonians did not hesitate to make a connection between the incident and the governance of Paul Biya. "This incident is a reflection of how Cameroon is governed," wrote a user on his Facebook page.

That was the image of Cameroon, the image to remember of the 44^th National Day festivities was the failure of the Presidential limousine as usual the photo continue to make rounds on the social media. To many facebookers "the magnificent Mercedes 600 of the Presidency is like Cameroon, if we want it to work it should be given good care”.

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

Data from EgyptAir Flight MS804 indicates in-flight fire; wreckage and remains found in Mediterranean

CAIRO, May 20 (UPI) -- Data transmitted by EgyptAir Flight MS804 suggests that some kind of fire started aboard the missing jetliner before it dropped from radar screens, authorities said Friday.
AvHerald.com first reported Friday that the data shows smoke was detected in a bathroom near the cockpit. NBC News reported that it had confirmed the system alerts.
The Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting (ACARS) system automatically sent several messages concerning the alarm, as investigators try to determine what happened on the plane before it disappeared.
Earlier Friday, investigators said they had located plane wreckage and human remains from the flight in the Mediterranean Sea.
Parts of the plane were found in the water about 180 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt, the Egyptian military said. Both Egyptian Gen. Mohammed Samir and Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said two airline passenger seats, items of luggage and a body part were found.
While Samir said there is "no doubt" this debris belongs to MS804, Kammenos cautioned official confirmation has not yet been made. The airline had to retract information Thursday after announcing wreckage from the plane had been found, only to later learn it didn't come from the Airbus 320.
Flight MS804, traveling from Paris to Cairo with 66 people on board, is believed to have crashed into the sea as it entered Egyptian airspace early Thursday. The search for the plane has centered on the area of the Mediterranean Sea between the Greek island of Crete and the Egyptian coast. The plane's flight recorder, or black box, has not been recovered.
"Egyptian aircraft and navy vessels have found personal belongings of passengers and parts of the wreckage 290 kilometers [180 miles] north of Alexandria," a spokesman for the Egyptian military said.
Though no deaths have been confirmed from the crash, a statement from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said, "The presidency, with utmost sadness and regret, mourns the victims on aboard the EgyptAir flight who were killed after the plane crashed in the Mediterranean."
The European Space Agency said Friday a satellite detected what could be an oil slick from the plane on the surface of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The area coincides with the search area where the plane is believed to have disappeared.
The U.S. Navy joined the search Thursday afternoon, and a plane from its Sicily air base spotted several floating objects, including luggage and what is believed to be a passenger seat, a Greek rescue official told ABC News.
A potential issue in the investigation is the United States' level of involvement in the search for the plane and the investigation into the cause of the crash. After an EgyptAir flight crashed off the coast of Massachusetts in 1999, killing 217 people, the joint investigation by Egypt and the United States was marked by distrust and a lack of cooperation.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board concluded first officer Gameel al-Batouti was to blame for the crash, while Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority, noting a perceived lack of cultural sensitivity on the part of the NTSB, blamed mechanical failure and exonerated al-Batouti.
The search Friday followed a day of conflicting statements by officials. Debris found floating in the water Thursday was initially identified as parts of the plane by EgyptAir Vice Chairman Ahmed Adel, until he retracted his comments hours later.
Egyptian officials hinted terrorism may have been a factor in the incident. Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fahty said the possibility "of having a terror attack is higher than having a technical" failure, but U.S. officials noted no indications of an explosion were observed by government satellites.
The plane carried 56 passengers, two pilots, five cabin crew members and three security personnel. There were 30 Egyptians on board, as well as 15 from France, two from Iraq, and one each from Britain, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria and Canada. U.S. officials confirmed there were no Americans aboard the plane.
The plane left Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris at 11:09 p.m. Wednesday night, and last had contact with Greek air traffic control personnel at 2:48 a.m. Thursday. A futile attempt to contact the plane occurred at 3:27 a.m., and 12 minutes later the plane disappeared from radar screens as it left Greek airspace and entered Egyptian airspace
Kammenos said the plane made "sudden swerves" as it descended, but the Egyptian military said it received no distress signals from the pilot.

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

Controversy Surrounding the Assault on a Mbororo Student at Hope Institute, Ndu:

 

Sky Fm Ndu reported that "the proprietor of Hope Institute Ndu has debunked allegations that his teacher battered a female student on Monday May 17. He made this declaration while talking to sky FM in the school campus this May 19. He rather said Awau Julire has had anger problems ever since she enrolled in the school. According to his investigation after the incident, the over two hundred students who were present during the match pass practice attested to the fact that she wounded herself with a stick with which she wanted to hit the said teacher with after telling him in his face that he is not qualified to teach her(Bantar Heskey is an ex student of the school).Other witness includes PA Tantoh "Patience",a contractor and his labourers who are construction works around the field at former NCC. In the course of the brawl she removed a peg used to tether goats and began swinging it above her head moving towards the teacher ready to stick. In the process she lost concentration and the stick hit her forehead and she started bleeding. Seeing the danger at hand the teacher escaped. This the principal said is not the first incident. A similar situation arose in February during FENASCO games while Hope was playing against JMBC. She rushed into the bush and got a stick to attack a student from JMBC after she made a comment about their school. The principal was an eyewitness and later Awau was confronted and she said she does not know why she gets angry so quickly. The proprietor who is also a Rev pastor decided to counsel her under a special anger therapy. He went further to reveal that she has never written an exam in the school. Everytime exams approaches, she will say she is not well. He further said her school fees have not yet been paid by the council and so she is a "would be" student of the institution. The issue he said will be laid to rest at the police station on Monday May 23rd".

On the other hand, Martin-Luther of Frontier Telegraph  has also reacted that "This information is biased and one-sided. A good journalist will go to the Awawu girl to get her own side of the story before hurrying to publish information said to have been broadcast over a certain Sky FM radio. It was the prorietor, we learn, who went to the radio, and this reporter should have gone to the principal in question. We hurry to add that we also contacted the various actors, accused and complainants and we gathered that the Principal, Mr. Zacks Yembe sounded misinformed, and regretted it when he was informed by one of the female lecturers that the Hensky Bantar man actually verbally assaulted this girl for not marching well. She reportedly retorted that no one will discourage her from trying, and that Hensky as not the one who assigned her. Hensky reportedly revisited some political past referring to Awawu as an agent of a certain "Old Woman"(MP) for whom she has been working to make people register into the elctoral list. She again lashed out at Hensky who threatened to remove her eye if she keeps retorting to him. She again dared him by saying he has no "O"level for over 10 years and cannot teach her...At this juncture, Hensky pulled out a peg and slahed it on her forehead wounding her. At ths juncture, the D.M. grabbed him, shouting "Are u mad"? Awawu attempted dashing at Hensky, but was held down by a female teacher and other female students around. It was even the bike boys who rushed her to hospital. Curiously, Hensky called the medical doctor on duty, a certain Wepngong , and proof is that he almot refusing establishing a medical certificate fore the bleeding Awawu. He asked her "What will u benefit is Ivo goes to prison"? It was only after the pressure put by the MP that he established the Med. Cert. The phoographer who took pictures of the bleeding Awaawu had earlier costed all at 1500frs, just to later refuse to print them. When pressured, she asked for 2500, but the MP , and Mayor Ndu, seeing that the assailant had been trying to close all evidences, had to depend on images from Android. Mr. Principal of Hope Institude confessed that the Hensky assailant is no way to be found! He even dissociated himself from the Hensky act. Now, he reportedly goes to Sky FM and even says she was never a student of Hope Institude, just to defend this political guy, in fear the diabolic cpdm will seal his school if he does not defend this barbarian. We will unveil the naked truth....soonest!!! The Sons of Southern Cameroons"

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

EgyptAir Flight MS804 disappears off radar with 66 on board; no sign of debris

 CAIRO, May 19 (UPI) -- What was earlier believed to be wreckage from EgyptAir Flight MS804, discovered floating in the Mediterranean Sea, did not come from the missing jetliner, an airline official said Thursday afternoon.

EgyptAir Vice Chairman Ahmed Adel said a statement he made earlier about the debris coming from the passenger jet was not accurate.
"We stand corrected on finding the wreckage because what we identified is not a part of our plane. So the search and rescue is still going on," he said.
The correction means the search for the missing Airbus 320 continues. The 12-year-old Cairo-bound jetliner disappeared from radar shortly after it entered Egyptian airspace around 2:45 a.m. Thursday. Controllers last spoke to the pilot about 25 minutes before the plane disappeared, with no suggestion of a problem, Constantine Litzerakos, Greek civil aviation chief, told Antenna TV.
The plane left Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport around 11:09 p.m. Wednesday.
A Greek Ministry of Defense official told ABC News that before contact with the aircraft was lost, it made a 90-degree left turn, then a 360-degree turn before dropping 20,000 feet in altitude.
Rescue teams were sent to look for the plane and any possible survivors. The U.S. Navy joined the search, launching from an air base in Sicily Thursday afternoon.
The plane carried 56 passengers, two pilots, five cabin crew members and three security personnel. There were 30 Egyptians on board, as well as 15 from France, two from Iraq, and one each from Britain, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria and Canada.
The official cause of the crash is not yet known but investigators have said terrorism is possible, as is a mechanical malfunction. U.S. officials said earlier Thursday that they were also looking into the possibility of a bomb on board.
The possibility of terrorism was hinted at by a statement from the office of French President Francois Hollande Thursday, which said a "crisis cell" was "actioned immediately."
Greece sent military aircraft and a frigate to search for the plane. A directive from Egypt's National Security Council, issued after a meeting of the council with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, ordered Egyptian military aircraft and vessels to continue search efforts.
Search and recovery teams will continue to look for the jetliner's "black boxes" -- conflicting reports which emit a beacon signal for about 30 days after a crash. The boxes provide critical technical data from the flight as well as voice recordings from the cockpit.
The Paris prosecutor's office initiated an inquiry into the plane's disappearance, the newspaper Le Figaro reported.

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

#BringBackOurGirls Group Played Key Role in the Rescue of Chibokgirl - NUJ Reveals

 The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the #BringBackOurGirls movement over the rescue of Amina Ali, one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

BBOG Group led by Oby Ezekwesili

 In a statement released on Friday, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has commended the #BringBackOurGirls group over the rescue of Amina Ali, one of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, adding that the group's vigorous campaign drew the attention of the world to the plight of the girls.

 The NUJ also commended the military, but advised that more efforts be channeled in rescuing the remaining girls in captivity.

 "The Nigeria Union of Journalists welcomes with some relief, the rescue of one of the 219 school girls abducted over two years ago in Chibok, by Boko Haram.

 "Amina Ali was rescued by members of the Chibok Vigilante Group on Tuesday night in Bale Village on the edge of Sambisa Forest Regrettably, Amina who was taken away at the age of 17, is said to have been married off and is now a nursing mother, with a baby of 4 months.

"In her testimony to members of the Chibok Community, Amina claimed that six of her school mates have died while in captivity while the rest were still being held by Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa Forest. It is a soothing relief to have Amina back because the development gives hope that the remaining abductees may in no distant future regain their freedom.

"The NUJ gives credit and salutes the organisers of #Bring Back our Girls campaign whose tenacity and mobilization brought international attention to the plight of the abducted girls and the aggrieved Chibok Community. Their relentless campaign is unparalleled and we commend them for every success recorded on the Chibok Girls.

"We also commend the Nigerian Military for their efforts so far in trying to bring back these girls, and urge for a more earnest and conscientious action in this regard.

"It is pertinent to reiterate that educated girls play very important roles in the development of their country. They can easily brighten the future of their country by good upbringing of their children, and it is in the light of above that NUJ calls for more concerted efforts at having the remaining girls back home safety," the statement read.

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

Chibok Community Lambast Government, Media Over Treatment of Rescued Girl

The Chibok community has blasted the government as well as the media for the derogatory 'Boko Haram Wife' tag given to the firstly rescued Chibok girl.

Amina Nkeki

 

Members of Chibok community have decried what they described as the inhuman treatment meted upon their daughter, Amina Nkeki, who was abducted in 2014 and found on Tuesday.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, representatives of the community condemned the description of a Boko Haram suspect, Mohammed Hayatu, caught alongside Amina, as her husband.
The chairman of Chibok Community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea, said Mr. Hayatu should rather have been reported as their daughter’s exploiter.
“We condemn, in strong terms, the calling of Mohammad Hayyatu as Boko Haram husband of our daughter,” he said.
“Upon confirmation by the Nigerian Military, he should be referred to as a: “Boko Haram sexual exploiter.

“Amina had no husband and who ever that was rescued with her should not be referred to as her husband for any reason,” Mr. Hosea stated.
He added that Ms. Amina should have been treated as an individual different from Mr. Hayyatu.

“They should be treated separately until Amina is fully rehabilitated.
“Even if he is also abducted and forced to marry her, he should not be referred to in any way as her husband, because there was never consent in getting her with a baby,” Mr. Hosea said.
Mr. Hosea who was speaking at a meeting organised by the Bring Back Our Girls Group, called for the immediate investigation of Mr. Hayatu’s role with Boko Haram, and his relationship with Amina.
“We are strongly calling on government to set up a team of expert investigators to investigate Mohammad Hayatu’s involvement into Boko Haram that led him to be the sexual exploiter of our daughter Amina so as to allow the law to take its proper course,” he said.
“He should be treated based on what investigations will reveal not to conclude from start that he was also abducted,” he stated.

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

Second Girl Rescued by Nigerian Troops NOT Part of Abducted Chibok Schoolgirls

Two parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have disclosed that they are doubtful about the identity of a second girl, Serah Luka, who was reportedly rescued by Nigerian troops.

Rescued schoolgirl, Serah Luka

 

One of the of parents of the abducted Chibok girls, Lawan Hannah who is the secretary of the Parents Association of the Abducted Girls from Chibok, say they are doubtful about the identity of a second girl, Serah Luka, reportedly rescued by Nigerian troops, saying the army ought to have brought the rescued girl to Chibok for identification before releasing her name and photograph to the public.

 

According to Haruna Mutali, a community leader in Chibok, their background checks have revealed that this second returnee, Miss Serah Luka, was an SSS 1 learner at GSS Chibok, who was abducted by the insurgents in her home in Madagali.

 

 

 

A community leader, Pogu Bitrus, told the Associated Press (AFP) on Friday that Ms. Luka was not on the list of 218 students still missing from the mass abduction, adding that the number 157 on the list was not Serah Luka, and suggested that the rescued girl may have been visiting older sisters at the school the night of the kidnapping, according to the news agency.

 

Also, Yakubu Nkeki, the head of the Chibok Abducted Girls Parents group, told the AFP that his records showed only two girls with the surname Luka. "These are Kauna Luka Yana and Naomi Luka Dzakwa. Among the list of parents we have only four priests and none of them is Luka.

 

"Among the girls none of them is from Madagali (in Adamawa State). They were either from Chibok, Damboa, Askira and Uba (all in Borno state). So I can say… that this girl is not among the abducted Chibok girls," he was quoted as saying.

 

"We appeal to the humanity in us to stay positively focused on emerging developments. We wish to advice caution in disseminating information too promptly, as we appeal that we respect the human dignity of our returnees and their loved ones, as we engage on this topic.

"We commend the gallant Nigerian army, the Civilian JTF, and the other security forces. We are strongly with you, as through great sacrifice you annihilate the insurgents, return our compatriots, reclaim our territories, and restore peace and normality especially in northeast Nigeria," a statement obtained by SaharaReporters read

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

Rescued Chibok Girl Finally Arrives Aso Rock to Meet President Buhari

 One of the missing Chibok Girls rescued yesterday is in Aso rock at the moment to meet President Muhammadu Buhari.

 President Muhammadu Buhari is to finally meet Amina Ali Nkeki, one of the missing Chibok school girl who escaped yesterday from the hands of Boko Haram. The lucky woman is already in Aso Rock waiting for the president.

 She arrived in the company of her mother, the Borno State Governor, Shittima Kashim, the National Security Adviser, NSA and the presidential adviser to the prersident on Social Matters, Maryam Uwais.

 The girl’s face was covered with wrapper to present her from public view.

 

More details later...

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

19-year-old Rescued Chibok Schoolgirl Spotted with Her Baby & Boko Haram Husband (Photos)

 Members of the civilian JTF in Borno state has rescued one of the 219 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram from their school hostel in 2014.

 

We earlier reported it here today that 19-year-old Amina Ali Mkeki, who is one of the Chibok schoolgirls infamously kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in 2014, was rescued today near the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

 

Amina was found in the Kulakeita area in the company of her Boko Haram husband, and was immediately rescued by the military joint task force who handed her over to Nigerian troops in Damboa, Bornu.

 

 

She reportedly told the soldiers that six of the girls have died, while the others have been married off to Boko Haram commanders, and that they were all still in Sambisa Forest as of the time of her rescue.

 

 

The rescued girl is currently in transit on her way to Maiduguri the Borno state capital where the state governor is expected to receive her from Nigerian troops.

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

How the CIA Got Nelson Mandela Arrested, New Evidence Reveal

 A new evidence has revealed the role the CIA played in the arrest of Nelson Mandela leading to his incarceration for 27 years.
Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela
A new article by the Sunday Times has revealed how a tip from a CIA spy to authorities in apartheid-era South Africa led to Nelson Mandela’s 1962 arrest, beginning the leader’s 27 years behind bars.
The information was made public by Donald Rickard, a former US vice-consul in Durban and CIA operative, to British film director John Irvin.
This information is coming as Irvin’s new film “Mandela’s Gun”, about the months before the anti-apartheid icon’s arrest, is due to be screened at the Cannes film festival this week.
According to an article by James Sanders, who said he was asked by Irvin to investigate the issue, said the director travelled to the US earlier this year and interviewed Rickard.
Rickard explained how Mandela was arrested as he travelled between Durban and Johannesburg but did not explain how he had learnt where he would be.
“I found out when he was coming down and how he was coming… that’s where I was involved and that’s where Mandela was caught,” Rickard was quoted as saying.
He added that Mandela was “completely under the control of the Soviet Union”.
“He could have incited a war in South Africa, the United States would have to get involved, grudgingly, and things could have gone to hell,” Rickard added.
We were teetering on the brink here and it had to be stopped, which meant Mandela had to be stopped. And I put a stop to it.”
Rickard, who was reportedly employed by the CIA until 1978, died in March, two weeks after talking to Irvin.
Mandela was eventually freed from prison in 1990 and went on to become South Africa’s president between 1994 and 1999 before dying in 2013 aged 95.

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

Looking Glass: BAPCCUL Creates the Unexpected in Ndu at EGM

 Members of the Bamenda Police Cooperative Credit Union LTD (BAPCCUL) of Ndu and Mbot gathered on May 18, 2016 in Ndu to take stock of their activities in what is known in the microfinance sector as Education General Meeting (EGM). The meeting which took place at the Ndu branch office was groundbreaking given the massive turned out. Welcoming members and would-be members, Musa Shey Nfor, President of BAPCCUL disclosed that withing a very short time, BAPCCUL has recorded giant strides in the Ndu and Mbot branches. Harping on the statics, and growth, Musa Shey Nfor said that there was a geometrical increase given that Ndu branch moved from 670 members in 2015 to 1050 in 2016 with total savings of 271 million in 2015 to 350 million in 2016.
Mbot branch, he revealed recorded a breaking record as membership increased from 277 members in 2015 to 461 members in 2016. He also revealed that BAPCCUL will be expanding it tentacles to Nwa in the days ahead with the opening of a new branch office. Moving into the rural areas and providing remedy to poverty related issues, he added is one of the main objectives of the union. The Nkambe Branch is expected to hold it EGM on May 19, 2016 at CamCCUL building. 

Photo Credit: Gibip Bernard

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

Biya’s Investment Forum will Yield Little!

 By Felix Teche Nyamusa, SDF 2018 presidential hopeful (pending primaries)

 

Countries, history reveals, that blossom, put in place a sincere business democratic environment.
In Cameroon the CPDM ruling government is barely anticipating sufficiency of electric energy to say the least. Road transportation infrastructure is primitive. Good governance is absent as elections are regularly channeled to see President Paul Biya (who had forged over 34 years in power) and his party (CPDM) to continuously stay in power to the chagrin of SDF and many a genuine opposition party.
The press in Cameroon particularly the publics’ press is stifled to sing the ruling party praises. Private business unlike in forward looking communities had till date been caged. Thus only the government civil service some how works.
President Biya who is also national president of the ruling CPDM usurps the powers of the judiciary and legislature arms of government.
Cameroonians in large numbers flee the country because of Biya/CPDM regime misrule and sequel lack of paying jobs and/ or opportunities
- A historic legal component of the country - the Anglophones courtesy “SCNC” are clamoring for “secession” blaming it on none respect of union terms by the ruling clan. The Boko Haram insurgents in the North have lingered in the country due to bad governance. Insurgents emanating from central Africa Republic are huge havoc in the East region.
Thus a big portion of convincing prosperity potential will only be arrived at when a veritable foundation stone is put at tackling these preventable worries. Further, national elections are due in 2018; Mr. Biya and his CPDM party have all along been struggling to precipitate the polls to take their adversaries off guard. The country supposed independent elections body “ELECAM” is but a Biya/CPDM appointed personnel structure that dances to CPDM party expectations.
Hence Cameroon is largely at explosion limit if good governance structural-changes are not immediately put in place. The aforementioned silliness explains why Cameroon has largely remained backward in socio-economy for all this time (about 35 years) of CPDM rule.
Thus the 17 May, 2016 Biya Economic investors’ forum in Yaounde is part of the routine time and money waste character of the CPDM government with little or no profit accruing to Cameroon from it !

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

Lesson from Nigeria: Good News! Buhari to Increase the Salaries of Civil Servants by Over 50%

 The Federal Government is currently taking measures to attend to the proposal for the salary increment of civil servants with certain conditions to satisfy.

Muhammadu Buhari

 Three days to the threatened mass action against government’s increase in the price of petrol, indications emerged yesterday that the Federal Government would meet organised labour today in Abuja over the issue, dangling a carrot before labour leaders.
The Guardian learnt that at the meeting slated for 3:00 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Government will be coming to the parley with the proposal for a new minimum wage that is fixed at N45, 000. But the increase comes with some provisons including reduction in the number of civil servants and merging ministries and agencies.
Indeed, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba confirmed the scheduled meeting saying he got a text message inviting him and other labour leaders to the meeting.
A source in the Presidency told a correspondent that ministers had been told to lead the initiative on the downsizing. Also, the Efficiency Unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is saddled with coming up with cost reduction strategies is working on the template for the reduction.
The Federal Government would also be relying on the report of the Steve Oronsaiye’s panel on the rationalisation of the civil service in the streamlining process.
It was also learnt that though government said it would not devalue the naira, it would indeed embark on what it termed ‘appropriate’ value of the national currency, which may be in the region of N283 to the dollar.
Meanwhile, fuel scarcity persisted in most of the major cities of the country yesterday despite hopes that petrol would be available since government at the last Federal Executive Council meeting raised the pump price of petrol to N145 per litre.Yet, some outlets are retailing for as high as between N150 and N175 per litre.
A visit to some areas in Lagos showed that most petrol stations were under lock and key, with only one or two selling the product for N145 per litre.
In a related development, the Arewa Defence League (ADL) has called on Nigerians to stand by the current administration over the recent increase in pump price of petrol, saying the increase is not meant to worsen the sufferings of the masses but aimed at ensuring availability and sustainability of the product.

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

What Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh Told US Senate

On May 10, 2016, Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh presented his testimony to the US Senate; foreign Relations Committee. Excepts

Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh

"Democracy and good governance should be a central component of any counter terrorism and stabilization strategy in Sub­ Saharan Africa....
Discontent with governments that are viewed as illegitimate or ineffective is a fertile ground for recruitment as disaffected individuals may easily embrace extremism hoping to access a better life, political power or voice and the resources linked to these attributes in
transition environments.....
Oppressed citizens and marginalized groups that are denied access to basic public goods and services and opportunities are more vulnerable to extremist appeals and indoctrination by non ­state actors who in return promise to fulfill their needs.....
Autocratic regimes should not get a pass from the international community solely because they are good partners in the fight against terrorism. Shrinking political space, frequent and overt violations of citizen rights and freedoms, and the undermining of constitutional rule and meaningful elections breed discontent and disaffection that form the fertile ground for recruiters and perpetrators of violence and extremism....
Good partners in countering violent extremism and terrorism can and should be good performers in democratic governance. These two principles are not mutually exclusive;in fact they are mutually reinforcing....
Africans of this generation are jittery and extremely fearful of reliving the experience of the Cold War era during which dictatorships thrived amidst grave human deprivation and gross human rights abuses just because some leaders were allies of the West at the time. The fight against terrorism should not become a substitute for the Cold War paradigm of this century with regards to sub­Saharan Africa....
Efforts to counter violent extremism and terrorism in sub­Saharan Africa must, therefore, address poor governance as part of the overall strategy...."

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

Boko Haram Remains a Threat French President Says

Speaking in Abuja, Capital of Nigeria on May 14, 2016  French President Francios Hollande saiddeclared the Islamist group Boko Haram "is still a threat," despite "impressive results" in the fight against the insurgents in Nigeria. President Francois Hollande however acknowledged the effort deployed. To him, the results so far obtained by the multi taskforce are “impressive” but "this terrorist group, however, still remains a threat," said Mr. Holland during a press briefing. French President attended the 2^nd Regional Security Summit alongside Muhammadu Buhari and the heads of state of neighboring countries of Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad and Niger and others. It is believed that the discussions during the meeting would focus on how to end the Islamist insurgency and abuses of Boko Haram, whose ties with the jihadist group Islamic State "alarmed" the UN. The effective deployment of a military taskforce, supported by the African Union and which includes 8,500 men from Nigeria and neighboring countries, should also be in the focus of the summit.

Nigerian President encourages the deployment of this force, which should already be released in July. Since the arrival of Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria a year ago, the army has stepped up military victories against Boko Haram, leading the president to announce that the Islamist group was "technically" won. It should be recalled that since 2009, more than 20 000 deaths have been recorded. Reports say though Boko Haram has resolved to suicide bombings, the Sambisa forest in the (northeast) remains a fallback stronghold for the insurgents, and the factors contributing to the emergence of Boko Haram

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

Boko Haram is Worst Threat to Development, International Peace/Security Researcher Says

Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah

 Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah, a Cameroonian Peace and Security Researcher based in Italy has urged Cameroonians to remain focused in building sustainable peace if they expect to attain any meaningful development especially in the context of the war against Boko Haram insurgents.

In one of his publications titled “Cameroonian officers and commanders participating in a joint Cross National Research on asymmetric warfare operations: old wars versus new wars-the war against Boko Haram”, he outlines all the necessary views and concepts, conceives and articulates goals that lift people out of their pretty preoccupations, carries them above the conflicts that are threatening to tear the society apart and unites them in the pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts which he (the author) finds in peace building for sustainable development.

According to the Peace and Security Researcher, very often Cameroonians think that poverty is only about being hungry, naked and homeless. But the worst form of poverty is when people have nobody who can provide ideas or who could support innovative ideas that could lead to sustainable actions around the world. For sometimes now, he observed Cameroonians have been eager to know what the Cameroonian Diasporas could contribute towards Vision 2035. It is on this premise that the researcher notes that getting involved in peace and security that could guarantee a more stable world, peaceful environment and mutual co-existence is the most effective way to fight poverty and boost efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals.

According to Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah, Cameroon expects much from the Diasporas in order to guarantee peace, security and sustainable development at this point in time that the country is at war with the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram. He believes that incorporating research knowledge into peace building efforts is a key element to guaranteeing sustainable peace. It should be noted that Blaise has lectured and participated in several symposiums, workshops and universities on peace and security. Some of these include “Cameroonian Forces combating terrorism, case of Boko Haram, cultural and military lessons learned at the 13^th Biennial Conference of ERGOMAS Open University of Israel, Ra’anana, June 2015. Peace and Security in Africa: A critical analysis of the African Peace and Security Architecture. Lectures to Masters Students on Human Rights and Multilevel governance, University of Padova-Italy, 2015; Human Rights Challenges in Peace Keeping Operations: From Cooperation to Confrontation, African Union, African States and the ICC, Lectures to Masters Students on Human Rights and Multilevel Governance, University of Padova-Italy (2015). “Armed Forces and Operations in Asymmetric Warfare Environment” Torino (Italy 2015). Summer School on the United Nations: Youth Competencies for the Challenges of the Globalized world. Cultural mediation and International Protection systems: the case of CARA Refugee Centre in Gradisca D’isonzo-Italy organized by the United Nation Association of Slovenia (Ljubljana 2014). Author: Protection of Asylum Seekers and the role of cultural mediation in Italy: An analysis of the CARA Refugee Centre. Co-author-Diversity and Cultural Issues in Multinational Military Operations, Case of the Italian-Slovenian-Hungarian Trilateral Brigade.

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

NOWEFU Elective General Assembly: The Process Has Started

Look at the attributions of Honorary President General

On the recommendations of North West Governor Adolph Lele Lafrique Divisional bureaus of the North West Fons Union-NOWEFU have started holding extra ordinary General Assemblies in a bid to revue and adopt NOWEFU new constitution. The process started with the Menchum Fons Union on April 30, 2016. Sources say following attempts by the outgoing executive of NOWEFU to manipulate the constitution, North West Governor instructed all senior Divisional Officers to adopt the new constitution in order to put an end to the present stalemate.

The main aim we gathered is for the traditional rulers to scrape the post of Honorary President General which carries along with it sweeping powers.

It is expected that Fon Teche will hand over power to the Fon of Nkambe soon. This is so because HRH Fon Ibrahim Japbfu Nfor was endorsed pending elective general assembly. Sources say the 83 fons of Menchum had endorsed the candidature of the fon of Nkambe, this The Eye gathered is sign of victory. The fons of Menchum also strategized on how they could grab some major positions in the Fon of Nkambe led executive. As momentum gathers ahead of NOWEFU Elective General Assembly, prospects are high at that by June ending, NOWEFU should have a new exco.

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

Lesson from Nigeria: President Buhari to Announce Amount Recovered from Looted Funds by May 29

 As the President Buhari-led administration gets set to mark one year in power, the president will mark a major milestone in a major disclosure it plans to make to Nigerians.



Nigerians should be ready for a shocker by the end of the month as President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to disclose to Nigerians the amount his government has so far recovered from those who looted the nation’s treasury on May 29.
Buhari disclosed this in an interview he granted some journalists before he departed London. He had attended an Anti-Corruption Summit organised by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.
“So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this. This is because of all Nigerians are getting from the mass media, because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC or DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th,” the President told his interviewers.
When asked whether he will also publish the names of the looters, Buhari replied, “Yes, eventually, it has to be done because we want to successfully prosecute them. But you know you cannot go to the courts unless you have documents for prosecution.
“People signed for these monies into their personal accounts, their banks gave statements that the money is there, when it came, how much and so on.”
When asked to react to the allegation that his administration’s anti-corruption war is selective, the President said such accusation was against the law enforcement agencies.
He however assured Nigerians that he has not been interfering in the work of the agencies.
He said a critical assessment of those who are being detained for corruption cases would show that they cut across board.
His administration will be one year on that day having been inaugurated as the nation’s President on May 29, 2015.

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