Scientists May Have Found the Cure for HIV with Latest Discovery

A British man with HIV hopes to become the first in the world to be cured of the disease by using a pioneer­ing new therapy designed to eradicate the virus.

 

A team of British scientists may be on the brink of developing a cure for HIV.

 Researchers recently tested their pioneering therapy on the first of 50 participants in a clinical trial, The Sunday Times reported. Early tests on the first patient, a 44-year-old British social worker, show the virus is undetectable in the man's blood. 

 "This is one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV," Mark Samuels of Britain's National Institute for Health Research told The Sunday Times, Britain's largest-selling national Sunday newspaper.

 "We are exploring the real possibility of curing HIV," Samuels added. "This is a huge challenge and it's still early days, but the progress has been remarkable."

 Britain's National Health Service is backing the clinical trials, which are the result of a collaboration between the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and King's College London.

 The trial's first patient, who said he was gay but did not give his name, said he participated in the trial to help others with the disease.

 HIV, which stands for "human immunodeficiency virus," is mainly transmitted through sexual acts or by using infected needles. The virus weakens a person's immune system by destroying important T-cells that fight disease and infection.

 About 36.7 million people are living with HIV worldwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 2.1 million new cases were added in 2015, with nearly two-thirds of new infections occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, the CDC reported. 

 If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Around 1.1 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses last year. While antiretroviral therapies can help control HIV's effects on people's immune system, no effective cure exists yet.

 The British researchers' potential cure would mirror the effects of antiretroviral therapies in some ways. 

 In untreated patients, the HIV hijacks T-cells and turns them into virus-producing spawn that infect other T-cells. Antiretroviral therapies target and suppress this activity, but they still leave millions of dormant, infected T-cells lying in wait throughout the body.

 The new treatment would both suppress infections and kill the reservoir of dormant cells, The Sunday Times reported. 

 Sarah Fidler, a consultant physician and professor at Imperial College London, said medical tests of the potentially breakthrough therapy would continue for the next five years.

"It has worked in the laboratory and there is good evidence it will work in humans too," Fidler told the British newspaper. "But we must stress that we are still a long way from any actual therapy."

 

Source: YahooNews

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

Study Reveals Top Five Reasons Why Women Cheat on their Husbands

 A new research has explored the reasons why some women tend to cheat on their husbands, a grave sin that can break a home.

Other than disagreements arising from childlessness and the usual ‘irreconcilable differences’, there is hardly any other thing that has wrecked marriages than infidelity. Defined simply as the action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse, infidelity is an act that is engaged in by both men and women.
Even though it is widely believed that men are guiltier of this act, studies have shown that women are just as culpable as men, if not more.
A study by Dr. David Holmes, a psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, shows that women, more than ever, now have more extra-marital affairs than men, noting however that women are better at hiding their infidelity, they are a lot more likely to lie about it and a lot less likely to get caught.
It has been established that men are more daring when it comes to infidelity, and it is even a status symbol in some cycles while it is somewhat forbidden for a woman to even think about it, not to talk of doing it.
Holmes, in his post on Mail Online, said, “If you look at the studies into paternity, even conservative figures show that between eight and 15 per cent of children haven’t been fathered by the man who thinks he’s the biological parent. So, the biggest difference is that women are much better at keeping their affairs secret.”
That men cheat is not the gist, and some people have even adduced several reasons for their infidelity, including the fact that men are moved by what they see, thus, they are more likely to cheat because of s*x. But given that women are seen to be more reticent when it comes to their se*uality, it is therefore compelling to note the things that make women cheat on their husbands.
According to reports, whether such women do so because they are either not satisfied with their marriage entirely or they are not satisfied with it at all, the main reasons that have been found include unsatisfactory or lack of emotional care, arising from lack of attention and intimacy, revenge, feeling under-appreciated, boringness, low self esteem, peer pressure, financial independence, and of course s*xual dissatisfaction or the more serious one, s*xual addiction. These were the findings of Divorced Moms, which is an online community for divorced women and single mothers, where they share ideas and experiences.
s*x: This is one of the key reasons some women cheat on their husbands. Findings have shown that some women have extramarital s*xual relationship because they are not getting enough of good s*x, some do it because they are not getting any, maybe the refusal of the man to ‘touch them’ based on subsisting conflict and a lot of women do it out of emotional disconnection from their spouses.
Meanwhile, most women do not reach climax during s*xual intercourse, which on its own creates some discomfort for them, hence, there is the possibility for some to look for that s*xual satisfaction elsewhere and it is more likely if they have a waiting or willing ‘partner’ outside. It is equally not strange for some women to engage in extramarital affairs if their husbands have small manhood. This shows the importance of s*x in marriage.
According to Dr. Janne Lomasky, a United States-based psychologist, women who do not experience real climax during s*x may eventually lose interest in the relationship and look elsewhere for good s*x. She noted, however, that such women should communicate their needs to the husband or, they could seek the help of a s*x therapist instead of having another affair.
Revenge: It is interesting to note that some women engage in extramarital affairs to get back at their husbands, especially when such men had also cheated on them. Such women have been found to do it in style, pride and they see it as the best way to revenge the wrong done to them by the cheating husband. “Those who have been cheated before feel deceived, hurt, angry, sad and violated and it affects their relationship, mood, behaviour and the ability to trust the man, thus, they want to make such men feel the way they felt,” said Lomasky.
However, she advised that instead of cheating, they should resolve the issue and move on. “The biggest truth is that cheating never solves a problem; communication, assertiveness and increasing passion and romance in the relationship are a much better solution,” she added.
Lack of emotional connection or attention: It has been said that women are emotional beings who need constant attention and care from their spouses, thus, if their husbands do not show them the much needed intimacy and affection, some tend to look for it outside the marriage because it is in their genes to be cared for, and when they don’t get it, they look for it, which often compels them to fall into the waiting hands of other men. Lomasky notes, “Women deprived of attention, compliments and compassion usually have emotional affairs, which could lead to s*x, even though it could start with craving for attention and compassion that has been absent from their marriage.”
And it is almost the same thing when women feel under-appreciated. A simple ‘thank you’ or complimentary remarks could make the difference, and when women do not hear such, they feel bitter, pained, underappreciated and it could breed low self-esteem. Whereas, if they have friends who make them feel loved, that could be the beginning of an extramarital affair.
Boredom: Findings have shown that women love varieties and they want to be happy in marriage, but when they feel their spouse is not creative, more so if he used to be, some tend to have affairs. According to some women, new relationships are exciting, and it is more so because such men tend to do everything possible to impress the woman, as against what they had been used to with their husbands. According to Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University in US, women are more likely to have an affair because of loneliness.
And as established earlier, women want care, physical touch and attention, but when they have spouses who rarely spent time with them, some tend to seek attention from other sources.
Peer pressure: This is a term that is mostly used when talking about children, but it is heartwarming to note that older persons feel it too. To avoid being abused or discriminated against in some cycles, some women take to extramarital affairs so as ‘to belong’ because they have friends who do same. In such cases, it is the friends who put them through, find them a lover and teach them how to keep it away from their husbands.
According to Lomasky, a woman who earns her own money, while the husband earns his, may consider leaving an unhappy relationship, unlike those who depend on the husband. When a woman has been abused or is being cheated on by her husband, a woman who cannot bear such but has the capacity to pay her bills could seek comfort, care and attention from other men.
A psychologist, Dr. Bonke Omoteso, could not agree less with some of the reasons above. She said if a woman has a cheating husband, she could also cheat on the man to get back at him.
She added that if a woman is not sexually fulfilled, she might also consider extramarital affair, mainly because some men are not patient with their wives when it comes to s*xual intercourse. She said, “Some men just want to enjoy it and leave, which may not be pleasing to the woman. If it persists, such a woman could go outside the marriage to look for someone to satisfy her.
“Some women are nymphomaniacs, having abnormally excessive and uncontrollable s*xual desire, in which case one man cannot satisfy them. Such a woman could cheat on the husband.”
She pointed out that a husband’s actions could also compel the woman to consider having extramarital affairs. “If the man does not adequately provide for her, she might want to look for a man that could satisfy her materially and sexually, she added.
According to Omoteso, even though it is not scientific, it is worthy of note that there could be spiritual influences that could make a woman to do such, perhaps in a bid to break the marriage.

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

Popular Veteran Nollywood Actor, Elder Maya is Dead

A popular Nollywood actor known for his great interpretation of roles has died after battling liver-related problems.

Martins Njubigbo aka Elder Maya

 

A veteran Nollywood actor, Martins Njubuigbo, popularly called Elder Maya has died. The news of his death is coming months after battling liver-related ailment. 

 The sad news was made public by actor and producer, Yomi Fabiyi last night.

 He wrote: "RIP Elder Mayah. You were a veteran and a hard working one at that. Journey well papa. My concerns and sympathy with his families and close colleagues. #SAVENIGERIAMOVIEINDUSTRY register shares in the grief of AGN."

 

 

Following news that the veteran actor had serious liver-related problem, his colleagues rallied round to raise some funds for his treatment after it was diagnosed. Sadly, he could not survive.

 The actor was known for his many roles as a chief priest. He will be missed by many.

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

Liberian Man Vows to Divorce Wife for President Buhari's Daughter

A Liberian man has generated a lot of wild criticisms and media reactions after he publicly vowed to divorce his wife in order to marry President Muhammadu Buhari's daughter.

 

Liberian man identified as Mike Khailelu Jabateh, has become a viral sensation online and social media, after he took to his Facebook page and made a shocking comment, saying that he is set to divorce his Guinean woman in a bid to marry President Buhari's daughter, Zahra.

 "I don't have to travel America to live better life. Some guy feel that when you are in Africa your life is miserable or you are in hell.

"Thank God for my connection with president Buhari daughter," he wrote.

 "I will divorce my Guinean woman and marry president Buhari daughter. Divorce is better than unhappiness," he captioned a photo of himself and his wife.

His posts has since gone viral with mixed reactions and criticisms, as many online commenters are telling him to wake up from his dreams.

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

Independence Day: Nigeria at 56 - by Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan's former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has written yet another interesting piece to Nigerians. It's a must read.

Reuben Abati

 

As Nigeria marks its 56th Independence Anniversary, very few Nigerians would expect any form of celebration or excitement. Independence from colonial rule in 1960 has brought the country so much to be cheerful about, but 56 years later, also a lot of regrets.

 

I am not one of those who imagine that we would probably have been better off if we had remained under British rule, but that there are some Nigerians who still entertain such impossible thought indicates the depth of the people’s anxiety about Nigeria’s post-colonial reality.

 

The big issues are well-known: the failure of leadership, corruption, and perpetual anxiety about the future. Every October 1, Nigeria is described as “a crippled giant”, a “toddler”, “a broken nation”. And the various editorials, year after year sound so repetitive as they focus on an economy that is not working, the failure of public infrastructure, leadership crisis, the bad habits of the political elite, religious and ethnic violence, disunity, national insecurity, and so on.

 

As we mark October 1 this year, we should perhaps avoid the beaten path and draw attention to the reasons why we should be happy with our country and proud to be Nigerians. Whatever problems we may have, hope is not lost. We are still the country of some of the most talented people in the world.

 

Nigerians are gifted, hardworking and in many ways exceptional. This is the country of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Jelani Aliyu, Chimamanda Adichie, Philip Emeagwali, Kanu Nwankwo…It is the land of great achievers of all time in all fields of human endeavour. It is the heroism of the talented Nigerian who has put this country’s name on the global map that I remember as I think of Nigeria at 56.

 

I also look around and admire the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youth. Those young men and women who are excelling and whose distinction inspires some level of confidence in the Nigerian system. For more than 20 years, we have been lamenting that the Nigerian education system has failed, collapsed or to use the usual phrase, “fallen”. But this same system continues to produce young men and women with amazing talents. With a better education system, the harvest could have been richer and better, but oh come on, the entrepreneurial ingenuity of the Nigerian youth, their sheer brilliance and industry reassure us that if we could get it right, this country will yet attain much greater heights.

 

We are in every way, a blessed country. Beautiful flora and fauna: the poor fortunes of the national currency has not affected that. Abundant mineral resources: we only need to manage these better and properly. Travel round Nigeria: our diversity is inspiring. And when you attend any social event in Nigeria, watch out for the gaiety, the beauty of cultural expressions and the capacity of the average Nigerian to force drama out of every situation. When people talk about Nigeria from a distance, they tend to focus on the negatives: the high crime rate and the mismanagement of resources, but no one denies the fact that this country has what it takes in every regard to be as great as it once was and still be greater. That is what I think of as I reflect on Nigeria at 56.

 

We are also a country of resilient people. It is what keeps us going. There may have been a sudden rise in reported cases of suicide in recent times, but most Nigerians are fighters. They are ready to survive under any situation. They are determined. They never lose hope. They have this special ability to cover up their frustrations, dress up nicely and go to the church or the mosque or other places of worship, and dance and pray and ask God to take control. This may be a form of temporary escapism, but the confidence with which the average leaves everything to God and draws strength from so doing is a unique national characteristic.

 

We are still the biggest market in Africa. Many investors may have shut down their businesses and fled the country due to the current economic recession, but as surely as night follows day, they will return. The Nigerian market boasts of over 200 million people who need all kinds of services. This country will always be a destination for those who want to sell and buy and invest. We may be weak, but we are still a giant nation.

 

There may be violence in the North East and other parts of the country, but Nigerians are generally peace-loving and hospitable. As we celebrate Nigeria at 56, we should remember that this country has survived a civil war; it has survived religious and ethnic violence. It has remained one entity despite calls for its dismemberment.

 

What is required is a re-dedication to the ideals of unity and national progress. This is not a task for the leaders alone, but for all Nigerians, young and old, male and female. We must collectively resolve to make this country work and to ensure that the forces of good do not allow negative forces to overwhelm a nation which has the potential to become one of the greatest nations on earth. People make nations. But too many Nigerians are experts at the blame game. We shift responsibilities. We fail to act as true citizens.

 

And the greatest irony of it all is our religiousity and the gap between private and public morality. When you see religious Nigerians, they can quote the Holy Books with such expertise you’d think they have deposited those books inside their brains. When they pray, they do so with such fervour, you would assume they have a direct telephone line to God. When they wear religious garments, they put up a mien that encourages you to lower your guard. But at other times, they do not translate their religious piety into daily life. This is a part of our national persona that is at the root of all the problems we face.

 

Our institutions still need to be strengthened. The failure of institutions accounts largely for the spread of despair in the land. We also need to give full effect to the words of our national anthem. The second stanza in particular is a prayer that should be reflected upon for the precision with which it captures our main national needs. “Oh God of creation/Direct our noble cause/Guide our leaders right/Help our youth the truth to know/In love and honesty to grow/And living just and true/Great lofty heights attain/To build a nation where peace/And justice shall reign.”

 

Independence day should be a day of citizen pride. It should be a day of sober reflection. It should be a moment when the entire nation should pause, and look back and look forward into the future. Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation may have begun in October 1960, but our history goes far back into the past, even long before the Amalgamation of 1914. We are a nation of different peoples, cultures and ethnicity brought together by destiny, and circumstances and colonialism. To transform this into real nationhood is the main challenge we have faced since 1960. As we mark Nigeria’s 56th independence anniversary, let no one blame the British for the various fault lines that continue to affect our nation. The British ruled Nigeria for 46 years (1914-1960). We have been in charge of our own affairs for 56 years: that is long enough for us to get our acts together as a people and as a nation.

 

Leadership counts – sincere, honest and purposeful leadership, that is. It is the duty of leaders to show the people the way. Too many Nigerian leaders have no idea in what direction the people should be led, and this has been an abiding source of all-round confusion. I began this piece promising not to complain as Nigeria turns 56, but it is hard I suppose not to do so. But let no one despair. Surely, it shall be well with Nigeria.

 

About the Author:

Reuben Abati is a columnist in The Guardian and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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

Horror at GTC Mbah(Kumbo) as Lightening Stroke 7 Students

An atmosphere of uncertainty looms at GTC Mbah in Kumbo central sub division as lightening is reported to have stroke seven students. Tangwa Lawrence in a Facebook post recounted that the lightening destroyed electricity line and the cables used in wiring the school. The incident which occurred on September 27 at midday affected four girls and three boys. The victims, according to reports were immediately covered with soil to release electron charges from their bodies, before being transferred to the health facility where they were being taken care of by medics.

Informed of the indent, the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education for Bui, Asah Mbenkum William visited the scene and victims.

 Latest reports say the students are responding to medical treatment.






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

Looking Glass: The Euphoria that Saluted the Official Handing Over, Inauguration of Maternity Block at Ndu

On December 26, 2012, fire consumed the maternity block and the pharmacy section of the Ndu District Hospital in Donga Mantung Division. Four years after the fire incident, Ndu District Hospital bounces back with an ultra modern maternity block funded by DANA Petroleum LTD, an exploration company based Ndian Division in the South West Region. 

There was fanfare and ecstasy at the Ndu District Hospital as the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division officially performed the inauguration rite of the newly constructed block to host the maternity funded by DANA Petroleum LTD. Holding the ribbon from left to right beside Donga Mantung SDO were the Chief Executive Officer of DANA Petroleum, the Mayor of Ndu, the Member of Parliament for Donga Mantung Centre, the Divisional Officer for Ndu, the Country Representative of Toprock, HRH the Fon of Ndu, the chief Executive Officer of Harmony Ventures, the District Medical Officer and the Divisional Delegate for Public Works for Donga Mantung Division. 

Singing and dancing skyrocketed when the keys of the edifice were handed to Donga Mantung SDO, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard by the CEO of DANA Petroleum LTD, Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi. It was the Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah, the Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Ventures (contractor) who earlier on handed the keys of the newly constructed edifice to the funder. Drum beats and sounds echoed into the hills of Ndu as pregnant women, mothers, fathers and would-be mothers and fathers showed signs of relief on their faces for a dream come true.

Donga Mantung SDO described the support as a mark of sustainable development. To Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard, DANA Petroleum LTD has moved out of the madding crowd to impact lives in communities. He urged other elites to emulate the example of Tamfu Simon to lobby for projects that can impact lives in their communities. 

What they Said:

HRH The Fon of Ndu (Wiya Clan Head)

In his words, HRH the Fon of Ndu expressed gratitude to DANA Petroleum LTD for the timely support that will go a long way to impact lives positively in his fondoms and the municipality. He equally expressed gratitude to those who ceded their land for the construction project as well as everyone who was involved in the chain. The fon of Ndu particularly thanked Tamfu Simon of SNH for lobbying for the funding. The Wiya Clan head also used the opportunity to pour showers of praises on Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah for putting in place the edifice. 

Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab (Mayor of Ndu) 

On his part the Mayor of Ndu, Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab reminded the population that the gift from DANA Petroleum was life-saving one. He lauded the company for moving out of their area of intervention to Ndu municipality to fund a project that will go a long way to improve on the living conditions of the population. Like Oliver Twist, Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugab expressed the need the Ndu District hospital to have a mortuary. He used the occasion to extend a hand of need to TOPROCK and DANA Petroleum LTD. He said the people of Ndu will never forget the laudable efforts deployed by Tamfu Simon to lobby and obtain funding for the construction project. “I should like to thank Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah who won the contract and as you can all see has done a very good job”, he continued. Prospects, he added are high at that the collaboration between the population of Ndu and DANA, TOPROCK will change lives positively in the municipality. He applauded all the stakeholders that were involved in the planning and execution of the project and promised that the Ndu council will make sure that flowers are planted and the edifice will be put into judicious use. In a satirical tone the mayor said even those who have stopped giving birth may bounce back while those who were not yet married will hurriedly do so to enjoy the facilities. To the medical staff, he prescribed hard work and diligence. 

Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi (CEO of DANA Petroleum LTD)

Ta Nformi Ralph Manyi, the Chief Executive Officer of DANA Petroleum told the population of Ndu that by financing the project, his company is playing government role to make sure that benefits from petroleum is shared nationwide. He also added that though from the initial stage, the project was to be financed by two companies, the withdrawal of one partner did push DANA Petroleum to pack out but rather, they took the heavy responsibility to fund the project. He said at DANA Petroleum, one of their objectives is to provide support to communities as part of its corporate social responsibility. And it is thanks to Tamfu Simon that DANA Petroleum which is based in Ndian had to move out of its area of intervention to finance the Maternity Block at Ndu District hospital. He expressed gratitude to the Divisional Officer of Ndu, the Divisional Delegate of Public Works for Donga Mantung and Ta Shey Gadima Mejamah for the wonderful job, and supervision. In his concluding statement, Ta Shey Ralph Manyi said the relationship between DANA and Ndu municipality is on a good footing.  

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

Lesson from Nigeria: An Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari

A Nigerian has bared his mind on what he thinks is frustrating foreign investment in the country as Nigeria battles recession.

 

President Muhamamdu Buhari

 

Your Excellency

 

I listened to your speech on NTA news and followed newspaper reports of it, and noted with interest your directive to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, and other relevant agencies to cut down bureaucratic bottlenecks on new investments in order to get the economy out of recession.

 

You are right Mr. President that the economy needs to attract local and foreign investments to create jobs and improve opportunities for all.  But how can this be Mr. President, when an appointed officer in your government can keep a project worth N68 billion cash investment and over N110 billion total annual concession fees, during the life of the project, on his desk for more than six months with no consequence? What does such a situation say to the investors we are trying to attract?

 

The concession of the National Theatre fallow land for purposes of fully implementing the over 40-year-old National Theatre master plan by re-development of the areas around the National Theatre into an entertainment city, is the project. It will include a five-star hotel, water park, shopping complex, cultural arcade, office blocks, power plant, waste disposal facility and rehabilitation of the main bowl of the National Theatre which will remain under management of the Federal Government.

 

The following events illustrate the recent journey of the project:

 

May 25, 2015

 

Letter of notification issued to the preferred bidder, and the reserved bidder as directed by ICRC.

 

November 2015

 

PPP agreements fully negotiated by a joint negotiating team including National Theatre, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, under the oversight of the ICRC, submitted to Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice approved the draft agreement subject to revisions, which were fully reflected.  At the same time, Final Business Case with draft agreements were submitted to ICRC for compliance review.

 

March 11, 2016

 

ICRC issued Final Certificate of Compliance based on Final Business Case, indicating that the project had complied with ICRC Act and the National Policy on PPP and requesting the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture to present the project to FEC.

 

The project has remained with the Minister and has not been presented to FEC by the Supervising Minister; rather the Minister is by all means maneuvering to bring his preferred company into the project. Is this the change the nation voted for?

 

Mr. President, how do we attract investments with this kind of deliberate frustration of current investors in a concluded bid?  

 

************************

 

Written by Tijani Abdusalam-Ogueyi

 

tijani.ogueyi@gmail.com

 

***************

Premium Times

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

Hillary Clinton Wins Round One of US Presidential Debate as Donald Trump is Trumped

Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton prevailed yesterday night as she outclassed Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

 

Hillary Clinton was deemed the winner of Monday night's debate by 62% of voters who tuned in to watch, while just 27% said they thought Donald Trump had the better night, according to a CNN/ORC Poll of voters who watched the debate.

 That drubbing is similar to Mitt Romney's dominant performance over President Barack Obama in the first 2012 presidential debate.

 Voters who watched said Clinton expressed her views more clearly than Trump and had a better understanding of the issues by a margin of more than 2-to-1. Clinton also was seen as having done a better job addressing concerns voters might have about her potential presidency by a 57% to 35% margin, and as the stronger leader by a 56% to 39% margin.

 The gap was smaller on which candidate appeared more sincere and authentic, though still broke in Clinton's favor, with 53% saying she was more sincere vs. 40% who felt Trump did better on that score. Trump topped Clinton 56% to 33% as the debater who spent more time attacking their opponent.

 Although the survey suggested debate watchers were more apt to describe themselves as Democrats than the overall pool of voters, even independents who watched deemed Clinton the winner, 54% vs. 33% who thought Trump did the best job in the debate.

 And the survey suggests Clinton outperformed the expectations of those who watched. While pre-debate interviews indicated these watchers expected Clinton to win by a 26-point margin, that grew to 35 points in the post-debate survey.

 About half in the poll say the debate did not have an effect on their voting plans, 47% said it didn't make a difference, but those who say they were moved by it tilted in Clinton's direction, 34% said the debate made them more apt to vote for Clinton, 18% more likely to back Trump.

 On the issues, voters who watched broadly say Clinton would do a better job handling foreign policy, 62% to 35%, and most think she would be the better candidate to handle terrorism, 54% to 43% who prefer Trump. But on the economy, the split is much closer, with 51% saying they favor Clinton's approach vs. 47% who prefer Trump.

Most debate watchers came away from Monday's face-off with doubts about Trump's ability to handle the presidency. Overall, 55% say they didn't think Trump would be able to handle the job of president, 43% said they thought he would. Among political independents who watched the debate, it's a near-even split, 50% say he can handle it, 49% that he can't.

And voters who watched were more apt to see Trump's attacks on Clinton as unfair than they were to see her critiques that way. About two-thirds of debate viewers, 67%, said Clinton's critiques of Trump were fair, while just 51% said the same of Trump.

Assessments of Trump's attacks on Clinton were sharply split by gender, with 58% of men seeing them as fair compared with 44% of women who watched on Monday. There was almost no gender divide in perceptions of whether Clinton's attacks were fair.

The CNN/ORC post-debate poll includes interviews with 521 registered voters who watched the September 26 debate. Results among debate-watchers have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Respondents were originally interviewed as part of a September 23-25 telephone survey of a random sample of Americans, and indicated they planned to watch the debate and would be willing to be re-interviewed when it was over.

 

- CNN

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

APC Crisis: John Oyegun Replies Tinubu Over Implicating Allegations

 Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the APC is not a happy man following implicating allegations leveled against him by the Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu

 The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has finally spoken following allegations levelled against him by the National Leaders of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the Ondo State governorship primary.

 Tinubu had on Sunday asked Oyegun to immediately resign for rejecting the report of the Appeal Panel set up by the party to review the outcome of the primary in the state and instead submitted the name of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the governorship candidate of the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 Replying to the accusation, Oyegun who spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said: “Asiwaju is a well respected leader of the APC and as such, I cannot be heard speaking evil against him,” he then added: “you know we have a crucial election here in Edo which is my priority right now.

“I don’t want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all worked hard for this. So may be after the election if there is need, I will speak if there is no need, I will relax.

“But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primary must be taken seriously.”

 He further said: “I believe that if the primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I don’t play with these things at all. Everybody knows me and I don’t joke with my credibility and I have tried to maintain it.

“Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader and we all hold him in high esteem, so I will never join issues with him.

“But may be after the Edo elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised. So there is no problem at all.

“Edo is the focus for now and as you know this is my state, so it is a very serious election for us. So I want to be allowed to remain focused; then after the election we can speak.”

 Another estranged Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank has backed Tinubu's call for Oyegun's resignation.

 Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Frank said “Based on this weighty allegations from our national leader and founding father of the party, I want to restate my earlier position that we must call for an emergency NEC meeting.

“If Oyegun knows that he has nothing to hide and that whatever Tinubu has said about him is not true, I am challenging him to immediately call for an emergency NEC meeting to enable us come together face to face and look ourselves in the face and tell ourselves the truth and see how we can resolve this internal crisis. If we cannot resolve this crisis now, we may never be able to resolve it,” he said.

 He threatened to mobilise members of the party to demonstrate against the Oyegun-led leadership if after 14 days the party had not summoned a NEC meeting.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to Mr. President because it has gotten to a situation where he can no longer be silent on the party’s internal issues. The president must speak out and save our party. He is the leader of the party and must not leave the party in the hands of these people that cannot resolve one crisis.

“Every party member is loyal to the president and he should see the need to immediately call for an emergency NEC meeting to enable us come together and look at these allegations.

“They are not just mere allegations, but very critical ones which must be looked into by the party and a position taken.

“If we don’t do something, even APC supporters in Ondo State will sabotage the process for us because they are not happy. We must do everything possible to bring every aggrieved person together. If we don’t take emergency steps to resolve these issues, we will have ourselves to blame.

“I am giving Oyegun 14 days from today to convene a NEC meeting. If he fails to do so, I will mobilise members to demonstrate at the secretariat. I have started mobilising NEC members to ensure that the APC leadership is made to do the right thing and summon a NEC meeting.

“Today, God has practically vindicated me in my struggle to save my party the APC. It is very clear that I was one of the first persons in the party who took the bull by the horn and said there are issues and a brewing crisis in the party. Then, I was alone as nobody saw where I was coming from.

“This crisis started when the issue of the National Assembly came up and I foresaw it then because of the decision the party took at that time against their party members, especially against the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“I foresaw the danger at that time when the party closed its eyes to the injustice against these two persons at that time. I came out to shout and nobody listened to me.

“When my immediate boss, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, left to become the Minister of Information, I was supposed to step into his shoes as acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, but they fought me for their own selfish interests because they knew that I am one person who will not allow them to do certain things.

“They deprived me of performing my duties and assigned my job to themselves, saying only Oyegun and the National Secretary can speak for the party. How is that possible in a political party that wants to allow justice to prevail?” he demanded to know.

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

Leaders Summit on Refugees: This Is What President Paul Biya Told the World

 Statement by H.E. Paul Biya at the Leaders Summit on Refugees, held on September 20, 2016 under the initiative of President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The President of the United States of America,

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

The Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Permit me, first and foremost, to add my voice to those of previous speakers to thank President Barack Obama and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for their welcome initiative to convene this summit.

The refugee issue, as we all know, is one of the major challenges of our century. I will spare you the statistics which have already been mentioned here, and which show that the problem is serious. Given the magnitude of this human tragedy which pricks our collective conscience, we have a historic responsibility, namely to take action. My   country will not shirk that responsibility.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

True to its tradition of hospitality and solidarity, and by virtue of its stability, Cameroon is a haven for people seeking peace and safe refuge.

To date, my country hosts more than 350 000 refugees of different nationalities. To cope with this influx, my Government has taken measures to provide decent living conditions for them. In recent years, refugee camps have been set up in collaboration with the UNHCR to settle Nigerian refugees fleeing the atrocities of the Boko Haram sect, and those from the Central African Republic faced with political instability. Minawao Camp alone, for instance, hosts over 80 000 Nigerian refugees.

At these reception sites, the refugees enjoy basic social services provided by the Cameroon Government, friendly countries, the UNHCR and humanitarian organizations. Facilities are offered, particularly in education, at all levels.

Healthwise, the Cameroon Government recently signed a framework agreement with the UNHCR to jointly provide care to refugees in our local hospitals.

Regarding protection, measures have been taken to issue secured identity cards to persons eligible for refugee status.

Despite the huge financial impact of implementing these measures, we will continue with and increase our assistance to refugees and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in Cameroon’s Far-North Region, who are also fleeing the atrocities of the Boko Haram terrorist organization. 

At this juncture, I would like to appeal for increased international community support to countries, which like Cameroon, are hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees on their territories.

Also, let me draw the attention of the distinguished personalities here present to the situation of some areas of my country which are ravaged by terrorism, and where reconstruction will require substantial resources. Such is the price to pay for the resettlement of the affected people.

I would like to conclude with acknowledgements.

My very sincere thanks go to all friendly countries for their constant support to our fight against terrorism.

We thank them as well as International organizations and civil society. We particularly appreciate their support for our determination to provide to persons in distress, dignified reception and living conditions, and to their children, access to education.  

Thank you.

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