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Thursday, June 2, 2016

At CPDM Section Conference in Italy, Peace/Security Researcher Applauds President Biya in the Fight against Boko Haram

On May 28, 2016, the CPDM in Italy held it Second Section Conference. During that conference, one of the keynote speakers Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah, peace and security researcher presented a paper on the "Menace of Territorial Integrity, Reaction of the Diasporas". In his presentation the researcher who hails from Donga Mantung in the North West Region focused on the efforts of the Ad hoc Committee charged mobilizing resources to support the country in the fight against Boko Haram. 
Harping on the evolution of the war against Boko Haram insurgents Blaise Nkfunkoh said that in his opinion the war is yielding fruits "thanks to the decisive action of our national armed forces and the President of the Republic His Excellency Paul Biya, who has chosen to confront this threat by taking the bull by the horns".He revealed that "according to the main theories of military strategies in situations of asymmetric warfare when groups move from one open strategies of attack to defensive strategies and hidden, it is a clear sign of their weakness". To him, Cameroon Armed forces will eradicate the presence of Boko Haram in northern Cameroon. This victory he added is determined by three concurring factors; namely: The action of surveillance, identification and monitoring by the air forces (air force) that crisscross the national territory day and night has helped to repel the attacks of Boko Haram.
The Second factor he emphasized is based on the management of land troops (Battle Field Management System) which allows the active coordination of all elements and enhances the action common. "Finally, the action of our marine forces in the Lake Chad area to protect and secure the people living in northern Cameroon".Blaise Nkfunkoh used the opportunity to commend the efforts deployed by the Head of the State His Excellency Paul Biya at the international level through his participation in the intergovernmental conference on the security issue, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria on May 4, 2016. He concluded that Investment Forum of May 17- 18 2016 is "the most obvious sign of the victory of our country against terrorism".

Here below is the Full Presentation in French

2nd Section Conference Rome Italy - 28th May 2016

By Mr. Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah
Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie.

1)    Etat des travaux au sein de la Commission ad Hoc chargé du suivi et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la Section RDPC Italie
By Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah
Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie

Dans la première partie de mon intervention, j’ai présenté l’état des travaux au sein de la Commission ad Hoc chargé du suivi et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la Section RDPC Italie. Sous l’invitation de son excellence Mr. DOMINIQUE ASSOMO, cette commission a été mise en place lors de la première conférence de section du RDPC Italie, qui s’est tenu a Udine le 6 Février 2016 avec pour but la récolte de dons en nature et en argent pour soutenir notre cher pays le Cameroun dans sa lutte contre le terrorisme international. Au cours de cette première réunion, trois personnes avaient été nommé comme membre de la Commission ad hoc et cette deuxième conférence a permis d’intégrer les membres de la commission, l’équipe passe ainsi de trois à sept membres.  
De décembre jusqu’à ce jour, la commission ad hoc s’est concentrée sur la définition de stratégies opératives pour la mise en place du projet qui se résument en trois points :
Considérant que nous avons 17 cellules en Italie, nous prévoyons d’impliquer de façon opérationnelles toutes les cellules.
Le deuxième point consisterait à vérifier la possibilité de faire une grande campagne auprès des supermarchés pour la récolte de denrées alimentaires.
Le dernier point consiste en une collecte de fonds à travers la réalisation d’initiatives auprès de nos membres et de tous les ressortissants camerounais en Italie.
Dans les semaines à venir nous comptons commencer effectivement avec les activités de notre commission.

II) Meeting Politique : rencontre avec les Militants de Rome :  «  ménace de l’intégrité territoriale, réaction de la diaspora »

By Blaise Nkfunkoh Ndamnsah
Commissaire au compte de la Section RDPC Italie et Responsable Opératif de la Commission Ad Hoc chargé du suivie et de la supervision de l’effort de guerre au sein de la section RDPC Italie


Au cours du meeting politique, rencontre avec les militants de Rome, j’ai traité du thème : «  ménace de l’intégrité territoriale, réaction de la diaspora »
J’ai présenté l’évolution de la guerre contre le groupe Boko haram. A mon avis, l’effort de guerre est entrain de porter ses fruits grâce à l’action déterminante de nos forces armées nationales et au Président de la République Son excellence Paul Biya, qui a choisi d’affronter cette menace en prenant le taureau par les cornes.
Selon les principales théories de stratégies militaires en situation de guerres asymétriques quand les groupes passent d’une stratégies ouvertes d’attaque à des stratégies défensives et cachées, cela est le signe évident de leur affaiblissement. Je crois donc que nos forces seront en mesures d’éradiquer la présence de Boko Haram dans le Nord du Cameroun. Cette victoire est déterminée par trois facteurs concordants :
L’action de surveillance, d’identification et de monitorage des forces de l’armées de l’air (air force) qui sillonnent le territoire jour et nuit a permis de repousser les attaques de Boko haram. En second lieu, la gestion des troupes de terres (Battle Field Management system)  à travers un système informatique efficace de communication qui va du simple soldat sur le champ de bataille au commandant permet la coordination active de tous les éléments ce qui renforce l’action commune. Enfin, l’action de nos forces marines dans la région du lac Tchad permet de protéger et de sécuriser les populations vivant dans le nord du Cameroun.
Cette action conjointe de nos forces a éviter qu’à ce jour le groupe terroristique Boko Haram aie pu planter son drapeau de mort et de destruction sur le territoire de notre cher pays.
L’engagement du Chef de L’Etat son Excellence Paul Biya au niveau international non est plus à démontrer, cela s’est traduit en sa participation à la conférence intergouvernementale sur la question sécuritaire qui s’est tenue à Abuja au Nigéria le mois  3 e 4 mai 2016.
La tenue le 17 e 18  mai d’une importante conférence sur les potentialités d’ investissements au Cameroun est le signe encore plus évident de cette victoire de notre pays sur le terrorisme.



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

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Niger Delta Avengers Challenge Buhari to a War

Unrepentant Niger Delta Avengers have reiterated their commitment to the destruction of oil facilities in the south-south region against the defiant stand of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, said yesterday that in spite of the federal government’s deployment of fighter jets and the military in Delta State, it would not relent in its violent attacks on critical oil installations in the region.
The group, which said the heavy presence of the military would not stop them from their planned action that would shock the whole world, noted that Gbaramatu, now under military siege, was just one kingdom out the several Ijaw kingdoms spread across seven states.
The group, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Brig-Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, said emphatically, “it is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest”.
It alleged that some people (names withheld) benefitting from contracts for pipeline surveillance were behind the military invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.
It queried: “The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women, why unleash terror on the aged people of Gbaramatu? Must you waste all these innocent blood just to secure the pipeline surveillance job?”
The militant group berated the International Community and the United Nations for looking the other way while the military occupied the kingdom.
The NDA also took a swipe on Tompolo for accepting the treatment being meted on his people wondering whether he would still refer to them as criminals.
The railings of the militants provided the opportunity for the Nigerian Army of not wanting to embrace dialogue yesterday.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. J. Hamakim, at the ‘State of the Nation Conference’, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja yesterday said the Army had not ruled out dialogue with the group
Speaking on the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers in the oil rich region, Hamakim said that dialogue with the group was not yet a realistic option.
He was responding to a submission that government should explore dialogue with the Niger Delta militants instead of applying force that could further worsen the nation’s oil production in the region.



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

Lesson from Nigeria: Presidency Officially Reveal the Day Recovered Assets will be Publicly Published

 The Presidency has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has not rescinded his decision to publish the multi-billion stolen funds recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation's treasury.
President Buhari
 
Speaking on Channels Television’s programme, 'Sunrise Daily' on Monday, just a day after Nigeria marked its Democracy Day, Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said President Muhammadu Buhari has not rescinded his decision to publish the amounts that have been recovered by his administration from those who had allegedly looted the nation’s treasury.
 The conversation, 'Assessing Buhari’s One Year In Office' saw the President’s spokesman addressing several controversies generated by the President’s national broadcast on Sunday.
 It was reported that the President’s Democracy Day speech was widely criticised because it failed to address the promise to publish the amounts of funds that have been recovered and from whom they were recovered since the anti-corruption campaign started.
 Shehu expressed surprise that the issue had generated so much negative reactions from Nigerians, explaining that the President did not cancel his decision to announce the seizures that have been made.
“What he (President) said was that the Minister of Information will be making a pronouncement on this, and this is going to happen when work resumes on Tuesday.
“This is likely going to be out by Wednesday, or latest by Thursday. So nothing has changed from the position that there will be disclosure.
“The President has given the authorisation that these assets that have been taken back from those who took from the treasury be put out there. So my view is that nothing is lost.”
 He said that the directive by President is that “money on account” in the CBN should be disclosed. He explained that there were also many accounts that have been frozen by investigating agencies.
 He named the Police, EFCC, ICPC and the Office of the National Security Adviser among those handling the matter, so the Presidency expects “that there will be a snapshot of where they stand with the ongoing investigation and the recoveries when that disclosure is made.”
 
One Year Lost
 
The presidential spokesman disagreed with the view by some Nigerians that the Buhari administration had lost one year, as it has failed to achieve some of what it promised to achieve in the first year.
“The President had focus; he knew what to do from the beginning. He identified the problems of this country, putting the security of the country on top of the heap.
“He said repeatedly, ‘this country must be secured, there must be peace in this country for you to develop and manage it very well.'
“And I think that he has done for this country what others had failed to do for four to five years in which they had allowed problems like Boko Haram to fester.
“A street protest in Maiduguri had grown into a city-wide phenomenon, a problem for neighbouring states and all of the Lake Chad, in fact, a global phenomenon with the linkage to ISIS.
“President Buhari within one year is about to bring Boko Haram to a closure. This is massive,” he said.


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

Meet the Prophet Who Gave 32 Cars to Nollywood Stars and Others

 The Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly Abuja, Joshua Iginla, who gave out 32 cars to selected Nollywood actors and cash other gifts has opened up on why he made the move on his birthday.
Pastor Iginla
 We reported it here earlier last week that an Abuja-based man-of-God, Pastor Joshua Iginla of Champions Royal Assembly in Kubwa Abuja, gave out 32 cars including 16 SUVs to se­lected Nollywood actors and cash gifts among others to the less-privileged at his birthday celebration which was held at his church premises on May 22nd. 
 In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the senior pastor of Champions Royal Assembly who gave out 32 cars, has opened up on why he made the move on his birthday.
 "It doesn’t matter to me if I trek home as I have given even the car that I personally drive. I can only drive one car and live in one house at a time. This understanding is what has taught me that when I die, others will inherit my assets. The beauty of life is not in its duration but in its donation.
"I have not seen some of the ben­eficiaries before in my life or spoken to them. I’m seeing many of them for the first time today. I am seeing Jide Kosoko for the first time," he said.
 Speaking on why he annually doles out posh cars to Nollywood acts, he said it was because many of them are poor but many people er­roneously think they are rich because of the kind of wealthy roles some of them play in the movies.
 "So this is my own way of correct­ing the wrong impression," Iginla said, adding that the fruits of Nollywood artistes are being reaped by pirates and challenged government to do some­thing to arrest it: "Nollywood actors and actresses are our ambassadors; they have projected the image of this country positively and so they deserve to be treated well," he said.
 Iginla also gave out cash running into several millions of naira to the aged, widows, orphanages and also offered scholarship to orphans from nursery school to university level.
 Recall that Pastor Iginla had in 2015 given 18 cars and millions of naira out as his birth­day gift and has been increasing the tally on a yearly basis.
 The beneficiaries of Iginla’s car gifts included; Prince Jide Kosoko, Francis Duru, Alex Usifo, Ngozi Osondu, Thelma Nwosu and Sun­day Omobolanle aka Aluwe.


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

Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum in Serious Trouble as UK Detectives Gather Evidence Against Her

 It is going to be hard and difficult times ahead for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as UK investigators land in Nigeria to gather evidence for her prosecution.
                                       Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke
 Some investigators from the United Kingdom have visited Nigeria to gather evidence as part of the ongoing probe and preparation for the arraignment of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
 Diezani is under investigation over the missing $20billion oil cash, phoney crude oil lifting contracts, $115million poll bribery money, the $1.092b Malabu oil deal and the N5.2billion ($25m) oil cash paid by an Indian oil firm for an oil block.
 According to a report by The Nation, the UK team inspected the former minister’s multi-billion naira mansion, her £600,000 exotic wrist watch and gold and diamond jewelry which have been confiscated.
 It would be recalled that Mrs Alison-Madueke and four others were arrested in London on October 2, 2015 by the National Crime Agency( NCA). The NCA said all the suspects were released on “conditional police bail, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas”.
 Also, a London (Westminster Magistrate’s Court) on Marylebone Road had approved the seizure of $41,000 (£27,000) cash from Mrs Alison-Madueke and restricted her movement.
 Diezani has also been implicated in a $115m (N23, 299,705,000billion) 2015 poll bribery scandal involving some Independent National Election Commission officials, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and the bank’s Head of Operations, Martin Izuogbe in connection with the scandal.
 With the way things are going, a prophet is not needed to forecast what the future holds for the former minister.

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

Monday, May 30, 2016

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

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

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


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

Former Chadian President Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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










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

Sunday, May 29, 2016

The Mandela Washington Fellows Cameroon Empowers NW Youths

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
























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

Saturday, May 28, 2016

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

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


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

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

'Tomato Ebola' Hits Nigeria

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


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

Here are the Seven Appointed CPDM Divisional Coordinators for NW

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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

One Freed Chibok Girl Still Cause for Shame, not Celebration

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

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

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


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