Cameroonians Must Hear This.....Lastest Gossips from Cameroon on FECAFOOD #Writampen

Country people, when I said sometimes ago that Popol is a man who springs surprises, some people said it was an overstatement. Have you heard that latest? Massa Jo was infront of the Special Criminal Court to give a detail account of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His accomplice Adioum de Garoua is expected too soon. Affair “Nkap” c’est trop serieux”. Remember Popol gave PM Yankee only one month to give him a detail report on who did what in Brazil.

  Boum! Boum! Don’t joke with Popol. He maybe slow bit always steady. Massa Jo, I have been informed was called up as witness. Witness to who, ekiee was he not the President?  Hahahahaha after Tombi, the machine has gone baaam, baaaam.

Massa Jo, it should be recalled promised to tell his portion of the truth in a Press Conference, yet did nothing. Now he has to face the judges. These guys are taking Cameroonians for granted.  I once told you the incident that happened in Brazil where Massa Jo told his boss Adoum Garoua Bolaya (Minister of Sports) that he (Massa Jo) was minister of Sports, Adoum was Divisional Delegate for Sports somewhere in one of the enclaved area. Na last time be time. Time has finally come for Massa Jo to tell Cameroonians what he has been normalizing for three years.

I was even disappointed that Popol could behave like Nkwame Nkruma of Ghana, Robert Gue of Cote D’Ivoire or Late Mbobutu Seseko of Zaire after the catastrophic trip to Brazil.

The story goes that in 1972, the late Nkwame Nkruma had to dissolve the Ghanaian national team due to poor performances. Remember that in 1994, Zaire qualified for the World Cup and when they suffered a 9-0 defeat from Yugoslavia, 2-0 defeat from Scotland etc. the players returned to Zaire after the humiliation, and were picked from the airport directly to the military barrack to be taught lessons on patriotism. Those who never returned to Zaire are still in exile today. Mbobuto did not only dissolve the team but he also changed the lions of Zaire to the leopards of Zaire. Robert Gue in 1994 did a similar thing to the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire they were humiliated by the low rated Togo national side. The elephants did not moved to the second round. On returning home, General Robert Gue, by then Head of state ordered they should be taken directly to the military barracks on grounds that they needed protection because the fans were angry. But it was until they got to the military barrack that they understood the importance of patriotism.

Poor Cameroon! I am sure the judges will laugh at Massa Jo and Adoum Garoua when they will tell them what happened that they were scattering dishes in one hotel restaurant over gombo.I hope all the 250 delegates who chopped government gombo should pay back everything into the treasury and even spent some time in Kondengui. This FECAFOOD is a real chop pot. 



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

Tanzania President John Magufuli Sets Standards, Spearheads Cleanup Campaign #CleanCommunityProgram

John Magufuli leading by example

 Humanity they say is found in actions. One person who has truly demonstrated that humanity is found in action is John Magufuli, the President of Tanzania. As part of his country’s Independence Day celebration, Tanzanian President swept and pulled out garbage. Millions are said to have joined John Magufuli in his humanitarian action to clean up their neigbourhod. It is no more news that a month ago President Magufuli cancelled traditional Independence Day celebrations, which usually include a military parade and concert, saying it would be "shameful" to spend huge sums of money while the country was facing a serious cholera outbreak. Commentators have long described him as a man of character and conscience. The photo of Mr. John Magufuli cleaning up the street as a way to combat Ebola has gone viral on the net.

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

Climate Change Mitigation: How Great Green Wall is Helping Africa

Source: African Development Bank Group

Tangem Elvis Paul: Coordinator

Stronger partnerships, sound national policies, more funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation, research, community involvement and sensitization are key to realizing the goals of the Great Green Wall initiative in Africa.
The initiative, a pan-African proposal to “green” the continent from West to East intends to fight desertification. The project, which began five years ago, aims to tackle poverty and degradation of soils in the Sahel-Saharan region, on the 8,000-kilometre-long strip of land stretching from Dakar to Djibouti.  
Speakers at COP21during the debate on the initiative noted that urgent measures must be put in place to reverse desertification and save human life as those living in the Saharan-Sahelian region are among the poorest and most vulnerable to climatic variability and land degradation.
“The livelihoods of 100 million people are in danger. We are aware that due to heat and drought, 40 million Africans from this region migrate to North Africa and later to Europe. Some die during the long journeys. We should solve this problem,” said African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina.
Adesina singled out agriculture as a key component of changing the livelihoods of millions in the region together with other initiatives.
“There is a correlation between the effects of climate change – like the shrinking of Lake Chad, which was 25,000 square kilometres in 1967 but is now less than 2,500 – and the loss of livelihoods, radicalization, terrorism, forced migration, insecurity, poverty and deaths,” Adesina said.
He announced that AfDB has released US $12 billion and will mobilise an additional US $50 billion to provide clean energy in Africa including in the Sahara-Sahel region.
“We are providing an additional $4 billion and leveraging an extra $40 billion to provide water in the affected areas. The problem has forced girls to drop out of school to look for water. If we don’t provide alternatives to the problems, people will still cut down the trees we are planting. This is because 75 per cent of deforestation is due to charcoal burning,” Adesina said.
Ministers for Environment and Agriculture from Africa attended the function and emphasized the need for political goodwill, good governance and transparency to ensure the Great Green Wall project succeeds.
Kenya’s Environment Minister Judi Wakhungu concurred with her colleagues, calling on individual member countries to do their part so that the project does not fail.
The Ministers revealed that their countries have embarked on projects to plant millions of trees in addition to implementing other related projects to avert the crisis.
“In Kenya, we are using the water from the El Niño rains we are getting now to plant trees not only in drylands, but across the nation to realize the 10 per cent UN ceiling for forest cover and to secure our future,” Wakhungu said.
Amedi Camara, Mauritania’s Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, noted that youth and women, who are hardest hit by degraded lands, are migrating to cities where they wind up doing menial jobs and living in slums.
“We need rapid innovation and adaptation skills to reverse the effects of forced migration, malnutrition due to competition for resources,” he said.
François Lompo, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, Sanitation and Food Security in Burkina Faso, said the Great Green Wall project has helped end social unrest in his country.
Mustafa Ali Alifei, Chad’s Minister of Environment and Fishing, said the Sahara-Sahel deserts hosts 50 per cent of the country’s population, but the project has given hope to a majority of them who had previously lost hope for a better future.
Laura Tuck, Vice-President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank, said that 300 million people in East and West Africa live in drylands. The World Bank, she said, will continue financing the initiative.
“The project is doing wonders. Most land is being rehabilitated and used for farming. We have already bumped $4.4 billion into the project and pledge more $1.9 billion. This successful project is the best African and global answer to climate change and we will replicate it worldwide,” she said.
Representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Global Environment Fund (GEF) all pledged more funding for the project and called for innovation, knowledge-sharing to make the project succeed and increase resilience to climate change.
The project has adopted the rural development approach where community members are sensitized to plant trees, manage them and practice agriculture on rehabilitated lands to secure their livelihoods.
The residents of the region rely heavily on healthy ecosystems for rain-fed agriculture, fisheries and livestock management to sustain their livelihoods.
The economic activities which employ 90 per cent of the locals constitute the primary sectors of employment in the region and generate at least 40 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most of the countries.
Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan are members of the Great Green Wall initiative, whose integrated ecosystem management approach was adopted by the African Union Commission (AUC) in 2007. Ghana has applied to join.

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

2016 Budgetary Session: Over FCFA 1 Billion to Transform Bamenda II Council Area

Balick Awah Fidelis

Councilors of the Bamenda II Council, Mankon have adopted the sum of FCFA 1 002 000 000 (one billion and 2 million) as budget for 2016. The councilors during the session prioritize the acquisition of a (caterpillar) road grader as one of the top projects for 2016. The ambitious budget of the Bamenda II council has been described by many as a trump card given the the municipality harbors the largest portion of Bamenda city in terms of land and population. Addressing councilors at the session, Balick Awah Fidelis, mayor of the Bamenda II Council said the budget is just a plan of how the council will spend the money that is available. In a retrospective of the year 2015, Balick Awah Fidelis said last year, the Bamenda II Council carried out rehabilitation and grading of some roads in the council area. The 1^st Assistant SDO for Mezam called on the councilors to work in collaboration with council staff to realize the budget which he described as very ambitious.

Small Money Big Change, a programme initiated by the Bamenda II council in 2014 was applauded for registering the highest gains in communities. The second phase which kick starts in January 2016 was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm by the councilors and population. Councilors were advised to submit project proposals. Also it was also revealed during that session that the council registered 5603 birth certificates, 536 marriages and 450 deaths. (Coming Soon: Balick Awah’s 2015 Blue Print)  

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

Donald Trump's Call for Ban on Muslim Immigrants Receives Wide Condemnation

 American entrepreneur and billionaire, Donald Trump has fallen under wide criticisms on his proposed policy to ban Islamic immigrants from visiting the United States of America.

Donald Trump

 

Republican presidential hopeful, Donald Trump has provoked condemnation from across the political spectrum, by saying Muslims should be banned from entering the US.
Republicans, Democrats, Muslim leaders, the UN and foreign leaders criticised the call as dangerous and divisive.
Mr Trump said many Muslims nursed a "hatred" towards America. He said they should be banned "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on".
His campaign manager said that would apply to "everybody" - would-be immigrants and tourists. But Mr Trump told Fox News it would "not apply to people living in the country", adding that Muslims serving in the US military would "come home".

 A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister David Cameron called the remarks “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong.”
“The prime minister has been very clear that, as we look at how we tackle extremism and this poisonous ideology, what politicians need to do is look at ways they can bring communities together and make clear that these terrorists are not representative of Islam and indeed what they are doing is a perversion of Islam,” she said.
Mr Trump's statement was delivered as the US comes to terms with its deadliest terror attack since 9/11.
Last week a Muslim couple, believed to have been radicalised, opened fire and killed 14 people at a health centre in San Bernardino.

 Mr Trump's proposed ban prompted a horrified reaction from Republicans and others.

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

Scramble for Holy Condom Sparks Controversy in Kenya

Church proceedings came to a halt after a controversial pastor reportedly anointed condoms for distribution among his members to be used in their homes.

A man of God in Kenya, Pastor Paul Sanyangore , has caused another uproar in that country after he blessed condoms for his church members during a service, reports Nehanda Radio.
According to the reports, there was almost a stampede as church members , both married and singles, rushed to get the anointed condoms from the Pastor who is regarded as one of the most controversial in the East African country.
Justifying his actions, Pastor Sanyangore was said to have told reporters that a woman brought the condoms for him to anoint so she could use with her husband who had abandoned her for two years and only went back to her few days earlier.
“I prophesied to a certain woman that her husband would return two years after his mysterious disappearance. I am not sure but during the week, the husband called her telling her he would come back home.
"She came to church and during prayer time, she took the condoms out and handed them to my assistant asking if they were okay to use when her husband returns.
"I saw nothing wrong in her using them with her husband after two years of absence. Who knows what he was doing there so it is better to be safe.
"When I prayed for the condoms, some women came out and wanted to have them."

 Most churches in the country are skeptical about such issues and the pastor says its high time such issues be incorporated into churches. Sanyangore famed for several miracles is on record saying God heals any diseases and the condom gospel puts him on the spotlight.
“God heals and protects but people should always be on the lookout. A woman comes to church but the husband . HIV is a reality which we should all be aware of. We preach but some do not repent,” he said

The preacher is known for several and controversial miracles such as resurrection miracles, miracle money and oil among others. A number of celebrities have also frequented his church for spiritual services

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

Arms Deal Scandal in Nigeria: Where Was Lucky Goodluck Jonathan?

Culled from the Daily Sun.

This piece looks into the arms deal scam that has rocked Nigeria in recent times with several billions being allegedly shared during the Goodluck Jonathan led administration.

The Presidency is a prize with a heavy price. As a result, when things go wrong, to use the words of Hans Morgenthau,”the virtues of the politician can easily become vices when they are brought to bear upon the statesman’s task.” This is why the burden of national unity rests heaviest on the man who holds the le- vers of power-the authority. This is why by all accounts former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan must answer questions on what he knows or doesn’t know about the current astonishing and chilling revelations on the $2.1 billion arms procurement by the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col.Sambo Dasuki (retd) under his presidency. The tate-tales that are trailing the disbursement of the money and the characters involved, sums up an incredible putrid story of how Nigeria continues to rank in the top bracket of the World’s most corrupt countries.
The hefty amounts involved are mindblowing for which nothing should be left to chances, and no individual, no matter how big, should be spared, if found remotely or directly connected with the scam. This is a scandal from which box office movie can be made. It is a rip-off of unspeakable dimension. Already, as we all know, this is a running story for which Dasuki, the star at the heart of the scandal has been taken in by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after weeks of siege to his Abuja residence by the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS).

 Also in EFCC custody over the same matter, are former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of state for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, ex-Defence Minister, Haliru Mohammed and others. Many more are likely to be in EFCC net in the days and weeks ahead. From the names already manipulated in the scam, and questioned by the EFCC operatives, as regards their role, is Dokpesi’s receipt of a hefty N2.1bn of the share. He didn’t deny it. And Bafarawa’s share is even bigger, N4.6bn.
That of Yuguda is put at N1.5bn from the office of the ex-NSA, for unstated purpose, and another N775m from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also for unspecified purpose. The former Defence minister’s son, Abba is also caught in the web, having allegedly received N600m in the name of Bam Properties Limited. But these are just few of the puzzling issues in this arms scandal. But, by far the gordian knots to untie are these questions: Is it true that former President Jonathan was in full knowledge of these transanctions of $2.1bn arms purchase, and indeed, approved them for Dasuki? Dasuki had earlier said that all approvals were made by Jonathan, put differently, did Dasuki apply and received $1bn on March 27, 2014, and $200m on May 2014 and another $200m same day, up from $250m which he reportedly requested for?.
It was also alleged that Dasuki in January this year received $100m. These monies, we are told, were sourced from outside the budgetary provisions for security, in addition to the $1bn loan that Jonathan administration had secured to fight insurgency in the North. Was it also true that the former President’s senior special assistant (Administration), Matt Aikhiobere wrote the covering letter conveying the presidential approval, contrary to ex-president’s denial last month from far away Washington DC, USA?
We recall that Jonathan had said that his government never awarded any contract in the range of US$2bn. He queried:, “where did the money come from? Repeatedly he said, “I did not award any contract of $2bn for arms procurement. But the 13-man panel set up by President Buhari had found that questionable deals took place, involving a revolving door of high-profile corruption. And that extra- budgetary spending was secured by Jonathan, amounting to N643.8bn, and additional foreign component of $2.2bn, all managed and super- vised by ex-NSA were used for the illicit deals.
Only last month, Dasuki was widely quoted to have said, “I have a lot to tell Nigerians”. Now, between Jonathan and Dasuki, who do we believe? Is it not rationally difficult to believe how one man, in this case, Dasuki could have disbursed such stupendous amount of money without the approval of the President and Commander in Chief? That’s why I ask: where was Jonathan when all these were happening?
If Jonathan was unaware while all of these took place under his watch as President, that casts a big question mark on his character as president. And the following questions will logically suffice: was Jonathan as President simple-minded and naïve? Was he, in local parlance a waka just pass President who never gave attention to important things happening around him? Or was he a ‘Unclad man’ with no real presidential power? Better still, was Jonathan a ‘pretender to the throne’, an apprentice to a master,in this case, Dasuki? Or was he hypnotized or afraid?
You see, Jonathan will be doing himself a lot of harm if he fails to speak up on everything he knew about this scandal. Even though many Political leaders in a democracy are not seen as leaders of creative thought, the best of them are those who respond prudently when things go wrong, but the worst, the most unsuccessful among them don’t care because they don’t trust their own guts, and end up leaving no worthy legacy.
Let’s go back in time: Those who voiced apprehension that Jonathan was not his own man, that he was indeed “clueless” would claim they have been vindicated in the present scandal swirling around his presidency. What we are witnessing now could well be a portrait of an ex-President who got power but never knew how to exercise it. From the look of things, the impression one gets from Jonathan presidency was that of a man who couldn’t measure up in the scale of power, neither was he influenced by it. He was sim- ply a prisoner in his own presidential palace. That’s a tragedy that will be better captured by historians when the time comes.
This is a lesson to those in power now. It’s important for a president to know when and how to use power and when to put it in check. The power to achieve results is always there for any prudent president to use. But that oxygen that sustains is not every president that knows how to get it. That’s why what works for one country doesn’t seem to work for the other.
Good leadership requires human qualities beyond the conventional notion of authority. Power brings responsibility. How Dasuki became “a clearing house” of financial matters, including disbursement of funds for election campaign expenses mirrors a failure of Jonathan as President. I say this because, as every political historian will tell you, the most important decision a President makes is what he wants to do with the office he has been elected into, and what range of issues he chooses to recognize. The question here is: Did Jonathan know exactly what he wanted to do with presidential power? I don’t think he knew.
The essence of presidential leadership is to recognise the challenge of the office and believe in your own gut even when you make mistakes. It’s better that way because there are always useful lessons in failure. By that time this whole arms deal scandal is over, we will know whether Jonathan was there or a puppet imprisoned by his own inadequacies.

 

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

Nigerian Troops Intercept Fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists

 Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have encountered a massive loss after they were ambushed by Nigerian troops in the course of which several lives were lost.

Fleeing Boko Haram terrorists attempting to escape from military onslaught in Sambisa Forest, Borno state through Pulka were intercepted and decisively dealt with by troops in blocking position in the area.

During the encounter, many of the terrorists were killed, while one was captured alive.  The troops also recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun, several rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunitions, 47 rifle magazines, 36 hand grenades and quite a number of Shilka gun empty shells.  In a related development, troops have also dealt another decisive blow to the Boko Haram terrorists at Buni Yadi general area on Monday afternoon. At an encounter, the troops recovered a Toyota Hilux, two boxes of 7.62mm ammunitions and some Improvised Explosive making Devices cords.

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

Free Me From DSS Detention - Radio Biafra Director Nnamdi Kanu Begs Abuja Court

 Embattled Radio Biafra director, Nnamdi Kanu, has cried out to an Abuja court asking Justice Adeniyi Ademola to grant him bail as he is dying in detention.

Nnamdi Kanu raising his hands in support to his supporters during his last appearance in Abuja Court

At the Federal High Court in Abuja, Director of Radio Biafra, ‎Nnamdi Kanu, has asked Justice Adeniyi Ademola, to set aside an ex-parte order procured by the Department of State Services (DSS) to keep him in detention, and also grant him bail.

Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obetta, urged the court to grant him three reliefs. One of the reliefs was that the court admit his client to bail, and that ‎it should strike out the charge of terrorism against him.

According to TheCable, the DSS had procured an ex parte order from the federal high court‎ granting it permission to hold the director of Radio Biafra for 90 days. This was ‎after a chief magistrate court in Abuja granted him bail.

Obetta argued that Kanu had perfected his bail conditions as of October 21, six days after he was arraigned,‎ but the DSS refused to release him. He, therefore, asked the court to set aside the order granting the DSS permission to keep Kanu in detention for 90 days, and grant him bail.

The counsel also pointed out that the DSS flouted the order of the magistrate court and 'abused court process' by running to the high court to procure an order to keep his client in detention.

Meanwhile, the DSS counsel, ‎M. U. Ndakwo, was unable to respond to Obetta’s argument as Ademola, the judge, called for an adjournment.

 

The case was then adjourned to December 14.

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

Joseph Owona to Appear Before the Special Criminal Court

The former President of the Normalization Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation-FECAFOOT has been summoned to appear before the Special Criminal Court. Joseph Owona is expected to give an account of the money spent at the 2014 Brazilian World Cup expedition and the African Cup of Nation 2015. The Special Criminal Court issued the convocation letter on December 7, 2015. Sacked from government on the evening of 8 December 2004 when he was the all-powerful Minister of Education, Owona was left in the cold for 8 years before the arrest of Iya Mohammed landed him at FECAFOOT. Between 2013 and 2015 managed FCFA billions, bought new cars with a bodyguard, driver, and a huge salary with exorbitant benefits.

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

How Things Fell Apart for Prof. Edward Edukat Tafah at UBa (Writtam-pen)

Prof. Edward Edukat Tafah

I salute you all. Last week your Writam-pen got interested in the University of Bamenda when news headlines and commentaries described how the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda was humiliated at the Bamenda Congress Hall. I was shocked by the fact that Bamenda has not changed. Chai Bamemda people wuna like shuipe, shuipe too much. Many of those who prophesized the sacking of Prof. Edukat Tafah Edward were seen smiling as the man who entered the Bamenda Congress with a lot of authority left snatching and chopping fingers. Barely one hour after his dismissal, news spread how Prof. Edukat was placed under house arrest. His detractors kept telling everyone that care to listen that Gendarmes have surrounded his residence; others say he is under house arrest yet nobody said he too deserves to be protected. But let me be kind to those who wished him bad by reminding them that they also earn the right to suggest that Prof. Edukat did some great work too.

The truth is that your Writtam-pen has observed that during the days of Edukat at the University of Bamenda, the right thing isn’t always been the popular thing, no matter how good the presentation is.  Have you ever asked yourself why the Minister of Higher has never attended any graduation ceremony at the University of Bamenda? Your Writtam-pen is aware that Prof. Jacque Fame Ndongo toured all state institutions to inaugurate university building, but failed to show up in Bamenda.If you can imagine that Prof. Jacque Fame Ndongo attended the graduation ceremony in Kumba, then surely you will know what your Writta-pen is talking about. Could it be Prof. Edukat forgot that when you pay your tides, Yaounde blesses you well, well. I am struck by the telling points, to the effect that what we just witnessed was not a “Plot”. After all, what sort of plot doesn’t have leaders (or rather those who were described as such weren’t leading anyone), a common purpose, a plan or anything that could be described as a policy agenda. This is so because the nature of what Prof. Edukat was trying to achieve was unplottable. The near impossibility of any purpose and the lack of tools to achieve them defined the uselessness of facts that he was a Japanese handbrake. Do you know what happens around university cycles? It is a huge wheel of fortunate that could sustain self without any external support. Just calculate this one, HND at FCFA 300.000 times 2000 students. Please don’t tell anyone I said it. Private students at ENS say they no more pay the required 50.000 but hundreds of thousands. Whatever, welcome and bye-bye the economist.

I want to believe that Prof. Edukat was a good university don but a real embarrassment to the system and the Yaounde cronies. I have often heard people say that every time he goes on air, (crtv) Yaounde panics and catches cold. The last time I got him on air, he said all the lists from Ministers were rejected. This was his reaction to a question on whether politicians and ministers always try to influence admissions. Implicitly, he was insinuating that he would reject instructions from Jacque Fame Ndongo. To confirm, he rejected instructions from his boss to absorb HiTL students on waiting list. These students we gathered are a hot potato in the hands of Prof. Akenji, the newly appointed VC.

But what have they not said about Prof. Edukat. Some say he was sacked because he backed an unpopular list in Mbengwi during the CPDM reorganization, others say an audit had stormed UBa, MIDENO at midnight to cross-check issues. Another school holds that it is because he wanted to decentralize the University of Bamenda, while expressionists say it is because he had transferred the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicines to Mankon (precisely Bamenda General Hospital) when the Bamenda man needed a University Teaching Hospital like is the case with CHU/CUSS Yde...Chai Bamenda wuna go kill man etc etc.

The only plan that existed seems to have been an attempt to summon spirits from the vasty deep to get rid of the VC. But, though any man or woman can summon spirits, only an organised one can ensure they arrive. Now that Prof. has left university of the Future, where is UBa?
 

 (Up Next: Your Writtam-pen Visits the Hot Potato files Prof. Akenji will meet at UBa)

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

OPINION: The Matyrisation Of Nnamdi Kanu - by Dele Momodu (Must Read)

 Ovation magazine boss, Dele Momodu has aired his opinion about the rampaging cases of pro-Biafra protests in the country caused by the detention of the director of the controversial Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

 

Fellow Nigerians, the roof is on fire. And the owners of the house should not sleep and snore lest they get badly burnt. Please, let no one treat or dismiss this Biafra controversy as humbug because it is very serious and has the potential of spiralling out of control and snowballing into an unprecedented conflagration of unquenchable propensities. War has never been a tea party.
I was about seven years old when the Nigerian civil war broke out in July 1967. I was a child but not too young not to know and understand some of what was happening. I certainly felt the tremor of it even in far-away Ile-Ife. We knew something was definitely wrong when we suddenly noticed the inexplicable disappearance of our neighbours and family friends.

 The most painful for us in my own home was the forceful separation from our prayer warrior and spiritual Guru, Papa Fineface. Papa Fineface had migrated from the Eastern part of Nigeria to Ile-Ife many years earlier. Suddenly like a wisp of smoke he was gone! At that time, we called such citizens of Nigeria from that part, Ibo. Much later, I somehow learnt that the people should actually be addressed as Igbo. Well, we continued to use the two names interchangeably till today.
The civil war that started like a joke raged on for about three years and sent many innocent casualties, running into millions, into despair and sorrow. Hundreds of thousands went on a journey of no return to their Maker. Many more lost their limbs and other vital body parts. Others parted ways with all their worldly possessions. Some still carry the scars of war till this day, more than 45 years after the war ended.
The post war trauma is certainly even far worse. I have read many Nigerian civil war accounts, as I grew older, in newspapers, books, novels and memoirs. By any of the accounts, the pogrom was maniacal and the extent of man’s inhumanity to man was heartrending. Unfortunately, History is no longer a compulsory subject in our school curriculum.

 Therefore, there is no point blaming those beating the drums of war. Most of them were either too young to appreciate the horror of the war or worse still had not even been born at the end of the war. It is therefore easy for them to romanticise the ideals which they fight for and issue a call to arms even though they know nothing about the horrible plight that they would want to plunge their people and their country into.

 If they could just travel down memory lane and see for themselves what the true meaning of war is and why it should never ever be contemplated on our shores again, maybe they will begin to see some sense and reason. It is a shocking shame that despite the graphic images of sectarian violence that we have witnessed all over the world in recent times, in other climes, those in the know who have lived abroad and had access to such information and images will still feel that they must unleash similar violence on their own country and people.
The reason for the preamble thus far is to settle one fact; that I knew a bit about the Biafran war even if I did not experience it directly. This is why all men and women of good conscience should urgently reach out to the young folks stoking the embers of revolution, secession, war, or whatever they wish to call it and beg them profusely to kindly perish the thought. Such ideas have no place in Nigeria of the 21st century.

 We thought that they had been consigned to the dustbin of history but alas that is not the case probably because that history has been denied the propagators of these ill-thought and ill-conceived notions. The bigger plea should even go to the Federal Government of Nigeria. My reason is simple. The government is about to pour petrol and explosives into the towering inferno by reacting angrily to a battle that is in its infancy and can still be nipped in the bud without casualties.
As for me and our house, we did not know of anyone called Nnamdi Kanu until he was arrested and locked up during a visit to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom a few months ago. At the very best, some people knew him as the founder of a pirate radio station called Radio Biafra. I’ve never tuned in to it and so wouldn’t know what profanities it disseminated that led to the government chasing its owners.

I’m aware that even about 20 years ago, when I participated in the Radio Freedom (later changed to Radio Kudirat) from the same United Kingdom, it was impossible to track us down. We communicated with the central operations, located in a Scandinavian country, remotely by telephone. The rest was left to the engineers to sort out.
Today, technology has become even more advanced and volatile. The whizz-kids of science are on the rampage. And don’t forget that the Igbo people are naturally brilliant in all spheres of human endeavour. They are endowed with genes that we could liken to those of Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Pythagoras, and Bertrand Russell combined.

 If the Black man would ever venture into Space exploration, I’m sure of the shock that awaits us; an Igbo would not only land on the moon, he would have a permanent abode there and a shop to sell all common needs to us. Such is the dynamism of the Igbo geniuses that I often refer to them as the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans of Africa all rolled into one.
It is usually an exercise in futility to ban anyone or anything. I was once told by my former Literature teacher at the then University of Ife, Okot p’Bitek, who was a visiting Professor from Uganda, about how one of his controversial works, Song of Lawino, was ostracised by Government because of its atheistic proclivity but all that it did was that many readers rushed out in search of the book and soon it was all sold out. Many reprints came thereafter and the literary giant was smiling all the way to the bank whilst the object of the ban was roundly defeated.

 The same thing happened to Salman Rushdie when he released a book of complete heresy The Satanic Verses, according to Muslims in 1989 and a Fatwa was placed on his head. That was what attracted people like me to find, buy and read this much-talked about work of esoteric literature. As a matter of fact, when I could not get a copy to buy initially, I had to photocopy the only one in circulation which was owned by my boss for life, Mr Mike Awoyinfa of the Weekend Concord fame. I still bought an original copy much later. The hype generated against the book actually worked wonders in its favour. Salman Rushdie, from relative obscurity became a household name from then onwards.
I will give only one more example nearer to home. When Professor Wole Soyinka released his prison memoirs titled The Man Died, Nigeria’s military authorities frowned at its rambunctious flavour and clamped down on it pronto but the attempt failed woefully. As a young man, the day I bought my personal copy would rank amongst my happiest days on earth. I had heard too many fabulous stories about Soyinka’s socio-political exploits and could not wait to settle down and savour the breezy work. Soyinka became my idol henceforth.
I have cited these examples in order to demonstrate the pointlessness and uselessness of locking up Nnamdi Kanu. What the government needed to do was to meet him on the field of ideas and pummel him with superior logic. They should have allowed him even to come on national television and explain his new concept of Biafranism.

 He should show the world if he was more brilliant and braver than our Oxford-trained Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who fought gallantly before absconding to safety while leaving behind a tale of woes. Nnamdi would have been asked to justify the claims in certain quarters that the Igbos are treated like second class citizens in Nigeria. I would have wished to be told that Azikiwe, Ekwueme, Okadigbo, Enwerem, Wabara, Soludo, Okonjo-Iwealla, Pius Anyim, Ezekwesili, Nnaji, Emefiele, Ovia, Elumelu, Kachikwu, Onu, Ngige, Onyiuke, Onyeama, and others are from Planet Mars.
Some of what Mr Kanu advocates are not much different from the current battles the Government is waging, especially against Boko Haram, corruption and societal decay. I am not even sure that the Government or those presently pursuing him have bothered to read the mission statement of Radio Biafra. I hereby produce it below:
“The ONLY PURPOSE for the existence of Radio Biafra London is to set a largely misinformed public free from the twin evil of tyrannical rule of a cabal of ill-educated and institutionally corrupt men and women and the sponsored sectarian killings directed against Christian Southerners living in Northern Nigeria by terrorists operating in the name of Islam. It will also serve to articulate a solution to the plight of impoverished and confused Igbo families abandoned by their leaders in Northern Nigeria to a fate worse than those endured by black slaves in plantations in the Americas.
Radio Biafra London will use and deploy every available resource to campaign for the rights of all oppressed indigenous peoples of Southern Nigeria to determine how they wish to structure their societies and live their lives. Radio Biafra London would broadcast debates on issues of national and international importance affecting the lives and rights of the indigenous peoples of Biafra and indeed indigenous people of all ethnic persuasions in Nigeria.
Radio Biafra London further wishes to give advance warning to all looters, embezzlers, kidnappers, sponsors of terrorism, child traffickers, corrupt judges, crooked university lecturers, murderous Nigerian security forces and all thieving individuals masquerading as public officials who steal public funds thereby preventing developmental projects from impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary people.

 These looters and workers of iniquity will be named and shamed. There will be no hiding place for common thieves who use the cover of high political offices to steal in the name of Nigerian politics. For Radio Biafra London, there will be nothing like no-go-areas in what can be reported, discussed and analysed. The governing principle of the Public-Right-To-Know of the issues affecting their lives will be rigorously upheld.”
There is a constitutional right to freedom of speech. It is only when it begins to tear at the very fabric of society that the right needs to be curtailed. There are many more voices agitating for a Biafra. They include Biafra Foundation (Voice of Biafra International), Biafra Liberation in Exile, Biafra Liberation in Europe, Lower Niger Congress, Biafra Liberation Council, Biafra State Coalition, Eastern Mandate Union and Bilie Human Rights Initiative. Some of them have been in existence for some time before Kanu’s Radio Biafra. Is the government going to muzzle all of these nebulous organisations?
The government should have called the bluff of those calling for the State of Biafra by doing what the British government recently did to the Scots in the matter of agitating for an independent Scotland when they allowed the Scottish referendum. All they need to do is to ask the Igbos to vote and determine where they want to belong, Biafra or Nigeria! I seriously doubt if majority of Igbo people would leave certainty for uncertainty.
The terrible danger of incarcerating Mr Nnamdi Kanu is the unnecessary apotheosis he is certain to enjoy if anything untoward happens to him. Except there is ample evidence to suggest and convince the government that he and his collaborators have procured arms and ammunition to wage war against Nigeria, I think he should not have been detained for this long. Whilst it may seem that he openly solicited for arms to wage war at the World Igbo Conference in Los Angeles in September 2015 it does not seem that this was an appeal made in earnest or more importantly that he was taken seriously by his audience.

I do not believe that this is sufficient evidence to lock him up at this time. Indeed it shows that he is merely craving attention to his cause which unwittingly has been granted to him on a large scale by his unfortunate incarceration by overzealousness. If care is not taken we will have a situation where you may cut off one head of the Hydra only for many more to spring up. We must not allow that to happen!
Mr Kanu and his disciples have the right to dream of their Biafran Eldorado but how many Igbos share that belief is what we don’t know scientifically and we need to know. A people cannot be suppressed forever if the majority wish to go their separate ways but I’m reasonably convinced that there was no cause for alarm until the government reacted angrily against a motley crowd of agitators when it should have downplayed their relevance.
It is not too late to enter into dialogue with our dear Brother, Mr Kanu who has demonstrated clearly that he is now gradually amassing a willing, if not ready, army to help prosecute his proselytising mission…

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

List of Top 100 University Ranking in Nigeriabby NUC, University of Ibadan Number 1

 A recent rating of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria has put the premier university ahead of its counterparts.

The National University Commission (NUC), has released its annual university rankings and named University of Ibadan in Oyo state as the top tertiary institution in Nigeria.
The body, which is responsible for accreditation of schools, put University of Lagos in second place and rated Covenant University as the best private university, placing it on the 13th position..
 

 

Below is the 2015 Top 100 NUC University Ranking in Nigeria.
2015 TOP 100 University In Nigeria by NUC
1. University of Ibadan, UI
2. University of Lagos, Unilag
3. University of Benin, Uniben
4. Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU
5. Ahmadu Bello University, Abu
6. University of Ilorin, Unilorin
7. University of Jos, Unijos
8. University of Port Harcourt, Uniport
9. University of Maiduguri, Unimaid
10. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
11. Lagos State University, Lasu
12. Federal University of Technology, Futo
13. Covenant University, CU
14. University of Nigeria, UNN
15. Federal University of Technology, Futa
16. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik
17. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Esut
18. Pan African University
19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. lautech
20. Modibbo Adama University of Technology
21. African University of Science and Technology
22. University of Uyo, Uniuyo
23. Bayero University Kano, Buk
24. Ambrose Alli University, AAU
25. Redeemer’s University,
26. Babcock University
27. Federal University of Technology,
28. University of Calabar, Unical
29. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
30. Ajayi Crowther University
31. Bowen University
32. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rsust
33. Lead City University
34. Crawford University
35. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU
36. Abia State University, Absu
37. Usmanu Danfodio University,
38. Igbinedion University
39. Imo State University, Imsu
40. Niger Delta University
41. Bells University of Technology
42. Kwara State University
43. Nasarawa State University
44. Caleb University
45. Obong University Obong
46. Adekunle Ajasin University
47. Ekiti State University,
48. American University of Nigeria
49. Joseph Ayo Babalola University
50. Veritas University Abuja
51. Afe Babalola University
52. Kaduna State University Kaduna
53. Osun State University Oshogbo …
54. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University Katsina
55. Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ndufu-Alike
56. Salem University Lokoja
57. Novena University Ogume
58. Achievers University, Owo Owo
59. Benson Idahosa University Benin City
60. Ebonyi State University Abakaliki
61. University of Abuja Abuja
62. University of Mkar Mkar
63. Madonna University Okija
64. Bingham University Auta Balifi
65. Plateau State University Bokkos
66. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun
67. Federal University, Dutse Dutse
68. Nigerian Turkish Nile University Abuja
69. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
70. Landmark University Omu-Aran
71. Delta State University, Abraka Abraka
72. University of Agriculture, Makurdi Makurdi
73. Renaissance University Enugu
74. Federal University, Otuoke Otuoke
75. Tai Solarin University of Education Ijebu-Ode …
76. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Oye …
77. Kano State University of Technology Wudil
78. Tansian University Umunya …
79. Akwa Ibom State University Uyo
80. Baze University Abuja
81. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero
82. Benue State University Makurdi
83. Adeleke University Ede
84. Ondo State University of Science & Technology Okitipupa
85. Kogi State University Anyigba
86. Western Delta University Oghara
87. Federal University, Wukari Wukari
88. Paul University Awka
89. Caritas University Enugu
90. Federal University, Lafia Lafia
91. Cross River University of Science & Technology Calabar
92. Fountain University Oshogbo
93. Al-Hikmah University Ilorin
94. Godfrey Okoye University Ugwuomu-Nike
95. Oduduwa University Ile Ife
96. Anambra State University Uli
97. Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye …
98. Federal University, Lokoja Lokoja
99. Federal University, Kashere Kashere
100. Rhema University Obeama-Asa

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

United Nation Hears Petition on Repressive Social Media Bill in Nigeria

 Source: SaharaReporters

The petition filed by SERAP to the United Nations over the proposed bill by the senate to gag the social media is currently being attended to by a UN agency.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye is considering the urgent appeal against the bill repressive social media bill known as ‘A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith’, rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has confirmed.

In a statement today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said that, “SERAP can confirm that the Office of the Special Rapporteur is now considering our petition. We have received communication from Marcelo Daher at the Office of the Special Rapporteur to this effect. The Special Rapporteur has also requested a copy of the bill, which SERAP has promptly sent to Marcelo Daher.”
“SERAP appreciates the prompt attention to this matter by the Office of the Special Rapporteur. We urge the UN to pursue this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by ensuring that the Nigerian Senate is not allowed to strangulate media freedom and social media in the country,” the group said.

 

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

Babangida Finally Speaks On Jonathan's Administration

 Ex Military President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida has finally aired his view on former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

Former Presidents; Ibrahim Babangida and Goodluck Jonathan

The former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, has finally spoken up on the administration of the immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan.

 The retired general, who spoke with The Interview magazine in the December 2015 edition as published by The Cable, said the lapses with Jonathan was that he was “inexperience” rather than “incompetent” that some Nigerians alleged.

 Babangida, who described Jonathan as a very pleasant person, said he meant well for Nigeria.

 When the former military president was asked about his view that Jonathan is a good person but was “incompetent,” he said: “If you use inexperience, I will buy that.”

 He declined to comment on whom he actually voted for between Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, who was declared the winner of the presidential poll. Recall that the relationship between Babangida and Buhari was not so great as history has it that, it was Babangida who usurp the government of Buhari in 1985 in a bloodless coup.

 When Babangida was asked if he played a double game by showing support for both Jonathan and Buhari during their visit to him, he explained that he was “intelligent enough” to know that he had “only one vote.”

 Speaking further with the magazine on a wide range of issues, especially the failed military coup of 1990 at Dodan Barracks, which was the seat of power then, and how he was saved by his late wife, Maryam. Babangida who denied being saved by his then chief of army staff, late Gen Sani Abacha, and reports that he hid in a bunker to elude from coup plotters said: “They obviously didn’t have a lot of experience.”

 

“It was during the fasting period. We were still in Dodan Barracks then. My wife got up from sleep and said she had noticed very unusual movement of troops from one end to the other. So she woke me up and said I should look through the window. I found troops moving from one end to the other.

 “The next thing I heard was shooting going on. We tried to put a small party together. It was about 1.30am. Then the guards, the bodyguards said let’s check out of this place. I was a bit stubborn. I told them I was not leaving. It didn’t occur to me that we had a bunker at Dodan Barracks. We had, but it didn’t occur to me to use it. And so, they came. I said the only thing I would concede to, I would evacuate my family. My wife had her last born, who was just a few months old, with her. So they evacuated them to a safe house. It was the house of one of the officers working with me.

 “So I remained with a few bodyguards. We decided to get out and move around. We went to a safe house around Surulere. I had a bodyguard, Omuah. We just moved in there. From there, we established communication. I later established communication with Abacha, Raji Rasaki (who was governor of Lagos then) and the other. They had mobilised their troops.

 Babangida maintained that “Abacha didn’t save my life in the Orkar coup. We worked together to crush Orkar’s coup.”

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