NIGERIA SHINES IN NEW FIFA RANKINGS

Hmmm, Nigeria has moved ten places upwards in the latest FIFA ranking, making the Super Eagles No 3 in Africa and No 34 in the world. The Eagles occupied the 44th position before the Brazil 2014 world cup. 

Nigeria is not the only country that has moved up the board, Germany ranks No 1 after defeating Argentina in the World cup finals, making the south American Country No 2. Meanwhile Netherlands moved 12 places upwards ranking No 3 in the world. 

In Africa Algeria and Cote d'Ivoir ranked 24th and 25th respectively making then No 1 & 2 in Africa.

Other countries like Ghana dropped one place to finish in 38th place and fifth in Africa with Egypt holding onto the 36th. while Belgium (5) and Uruguay (6) follows but the world cup hosts Brazil dropped four places to finish 7th after a tragic end. England also dropped ten places to finish in 20th place after their first round elimination.

ISREAL HALTS FIRE FOR FIVE HOURS IN GAZA

After 9days of incessant air strikes from Isreal into Gaza, Isreal has decided to stop the air strikes for 5hours to allow residents stock up supplies. 

According to the statement the Isrealis said, it would hold fire from 10:00 to 15:00 (07:00-12:00 GMT), to allow residents to stock up on supplies. Isreal said the ceasefire had been requested by the UN and other international organisations. But Isreal maintained that they would respond "firmly and decisively" should the humanitarian window be used by militants "for the purpose of launching attacks against Israeli civilian or military targets".

It is reported that the Isreali attacks has killed over 200 people and injured over 1500 since July 8.

Meanwhile Hamas is said to be considering the UN truce proposal, Hamas is reported as saying "The proposal is being studied and when a decision has been taken it will be announced officially in a statement.

JONATHAN SEEKS $1 BILLION TO BATTLE INSECURITY

The President today sought the approval of the Nigerian legislature to enable him borrow $1 Billion to battle the on going insurgency in the country. The request was presented to the house via a letter dated 15th July, 2014. 

The letter which reads in part says, "You are no doubt cognisant of the on-going and serious security challenges which the nation is facing as typified by the Boko-Haram terrorist threat," "For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion."

The presidential letter stated that the funding would be used to advance training, equipments, and other urgent needs for the security forces.

It is necessary to note that the country's 2014 budget already allots close to $6 billion for security and also the financial aid Nigeria received from countries like China and others.

NB says it is expedient for one to ask why do we still seek for more fund when other people are POCKETING THE MONEY? At whose expense do we borrow? 

TAMBUWAL ASKS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH BOKO HARAM

It has been over 90 days since the Chibok Girls were abducted, some key officials feel it is about time we consider negotiating with the deadly sect as an option not submission. 

The Speaker of the House of Representative Aminu Tambuwal who met with Members of BringBackOurGirls campaigners on Tuesday has asked the Presidency to negotiate with the Boko Haram sect if that is what it takes to bring the girls home safely. Hon. Tambuwal said

"If negotiations is what would bring back for example Chibok girls, for Goodness sake, lets negotiate and save the children. Negotiation is not submitting......you are not just submitting, you are not. It is a strategy. So let's get these girls out and then if you want to confront them you go ahead and confront them and take them head on but whatever we need to do, we must do as a government to bring back these girls safely & alive" he said.
The speaker also urged the campaigners not to relent in their efforts and should also demand accountability from the government.

GEJ'S MEETING WITH CHIBOK PARENTS CANCELLED.

When Malala said GEJ had promised to meet the Chibok parents it sure came as a surprise but i also sensed alot of drama too. My instincts do not fail me, the drama may have started a bit too early as the first meeting with the Chibok parents was cancelled. 

According to reports, the BringBackOurGirls campaigners said it was not ideal for only 12 parents to meet with the president , that more parents should be involved in the meeting but the Federal Government believes the campaigners are more interested in showmanship than the plight of the children.

The presidency said Malala nearly missed her flight while pleading with the leadership of the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign to allow the 12 parents to meet with the President since they were already in Abuja.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Publicity, Dr Doyin Okupe, said the president has asked that a fresh letter be written to the parents to enable them meet next week.

Will Bring You the story as it Unfolds. R101news..

NYANYA BOMB BLAST : INTERPOL HANDSOVER EXTRADITED AMINU OGWUCHE

Aminu Sadiq arriving in the company of INTERPOL at Nigeria Airport

The Master mind of the April 14th, Nyanya bomb blast in Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche(pictured above) which killed over 70 people has been extradited to Nigeria from Sudan. 

The 29 year old was arrested in Sudan May 14th where he was taking refugee. He was handed over to Nigerian securities by INTERPOL

NB says I hope we dont let him escape again.

GOVERNOR MURTALA NYAKO IMPEACHED

The desire for PDP to take over Nigeria is fast materializing, as the Number of states being controlled by APC has fallen to 14.

This afternoon, 18 out of the 24 members of the Adamawa House of Assemly, impeached Governor Nyako on the premise he was found guilty of gross misconduct and financial impropriety. 

The investigation which was carried out by a 7 man committe found the governor guilty of all 16 allegations of misconduct brought against him. The deputy governor Bala Ngilari also sent in his resgination letter which the house of assembly accepted. 

It is gathered that the house moved a motion for the speaker of the house Umaru Fintiri of the PDP to be sworn in as acting governor later today. 

I hear Governor Nyako may be contesting his sudden removal in court, lets see how it goes.

NETANYAHU'S SPEECH TO GAZA

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gave this following speech in front of the Knesset-To Ismail Haniya, and the leaders and operatives of Hamas some few days ago:

We, the people of Israel, owe you a huge debt of gratitude. You have succeeded where we have failed. Because never before, in the history of the modern State of Israel, has the Jewish people been so united, like one person with one heart. You stole three of our most precious children, and slaughtered them in cold blood. But before we could discover the horrible truth, we had 18 days of pain and anxiety while we searched for them, during which our nation united as never before, in prayer, in hopes, in mutual support.

And now, as you continue to launch deadly missiles indiscriminately , intended to maim and murder as many civilians as possible, while you take cowardly refuge behind your own civilians - you continue to inspire us to hold strongly onto our newly discovered unity. Whatever disputes we Jews may have with each other, we now know that we have one common goal: we will defeat you.

But we are offering you now one last chance. Within 24 hours , all rocket fire - and I mean all rocket fire - will cease. Completely. Forever.

I give you formal notice that our tanks are massed at the Gaza border, with artillery and air support at the ready. We have already dropped leaflets over the northern parts of the Gaza strip, warning civilians of our impending arrival, and that they should evacuate southward, forthwith. If you fail to meet our ultimatum, we are coming in, and, with God's help, this time we will not leave. Every centimetre of land that we conquer will be annexed to Israel, so that there will never be another attack launched at our civilians from there.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE PASSES VOTE-OF-CONFIDENCE IN GEJ FOR 2015 ELCTION

The Bid for a second term agenda by the Jonathanian administration may have begun as members of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives on Monday passed a vote-of-confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan. The lawmakers also endorsed him for second term in office come 2015.

House Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting they had with Jonathan and some state governors elected on the party’s platform.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was however absent at the meeting attended by his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.

Adeola-Akande said, “We are PDP caucus of the House of Representatives. A meeting like this is not strange because we met with the President who is our party leader. We deliberated on issues affecting our party. The House caucus on our own decided to pass a vote-of-confidence in Mr. President and also endorse him for second term.”

When asked whether President Jonathan accepted the endorsement, she said:

“We did the endorsement and we are urging him to run for second term.” Asked why Tambuwal was not at the meeting, the House Leader said the Speaker should speak for himself. CONTINUE BELOW......

MALALA SPURS PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ACTION, PROMISE TO MEET CHIBOK PARENTS

Malala Yousafzai, the 17 years old activist met with President Goodluck Jonathan over the Chibok Girls who are still missing. After a close door meeting with Mr president, Malala said she was able to convince President Jonathan to visit the victims families which will serve as a source of encouragement to them. In her words, Malala said,

"I met with the parents of these girls who are still under the abduction of Boko Haram and they were crying and hopeless. But still, they have this hope that there is still someone who can help them. They asked me if there is any chance for them to meet the President because at this time, they need the President’s support, so I asked the President if it is possible for him to go and see them to encourage them and the President did promise me that he will meet the parents of these girls.
“I spoke to the President about the girls who complained that they could not go to school despite the fact that they want to become doctors, engineers and teachers. But the government is not providing them any facility. They also need health facility, security and the government is not doing anything.

Malala also donated $200,000 for the kidnapped girls. More Pictures below....

WHY I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE ONGOING CONFERENCE- SAYS YOUNGEST DELEGATE

Many of us do not know her but this is Yadoma Bukar Mandara(pictured above), She is 24 years old and the youngest delegate at the on going National Conference. she is the last daughter of the late philanthropist and politician, Bukar Umaru Mandara, who was the Zanna Dujima of Borno. The 2011 graduate of Environmental Biology from the University of Maiduguri.

In an interview with premium times she expressed her disappointment towards some of the activities in the on going National Conference. Read in-parts the interview:

PT: During the conference did you see some of your delegate colleagues as being selfish in their contributions to the debate on the president’s speech and the reports of the committees?

Yadoma: Of course! In a conference of about 492 people you should expect some people to be selfish or push their interest first before the interest of the country. Of course some people are being selfish, biased and sentimental in their contributions.

PT: Were you disappointed?

Yadoma: I’m very much disappointed as a Nigerian but I will say I am glad I came here. If not for anything, I have learnt the political structure of Nigeria and the way things are and why this country is having serious issues in moving forward. I am disappointed as a young person. I told them when I stood up to speak the other day that I was a bit disappointed the way things were going. One of them was asking me why I was disappointed but I was so down and depressed that day that I couldn’t continue. There were points I broke down.

WORD FOR TODAY

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

Helen Keller

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

Maya Angelou

NB Says be courageous and do something good today. Have a lovely day lovelies.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI VISITS NIGERIA TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CHIBOK GIRLS

Malala Yousafzai, Girl education activist who survived an assassination attempt by the Talibans has arrived Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to campaign for the release of the Girls Kidnapped in April. Malala is in Nigeria for a three day visit to Join the million voices all over the country to seek the release of the girls. Malala also celebrated her 17 year old birthday in Transcorp Hilton hotel in Dinner organised for her and she had these to say,

“On my 17th birthday my wish is to see every child go to school and I want to see my Nigerian sisters being released from their abduction and I want them to be free to go to school and continue their education,” she said .

The Managing Director of NAN, Ima Niboro, presented a birthday card and flowers to Malala on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Thank you Malala for coming to Nigeria, Mr. President personally signed this card, he shares your vision, your dreams and your ambitions and he is happy that you are here,” Niboro told Malala. CONTINUE...

BOKO HARAM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY ON LAGOS BLAST

In a recent video released by the Boko Haram, the deadly sect has taken responsibility of the blast which occured in Abuja(Emmab Plaza) and Lagos(Creek road, Apapa) respectively on the 25th June. The attack in lagos was certainly the first in the city were over 21 million people resides.

According to the video obtained by AFP, Abubakar Shekau, said I ordered (the bomber) who went and detonated it,". Shekau is also quoted as saying, "You said it was a fire incident. Well, if you hide it from people you can't hide it from Allah," .
The Blast in Lagos and Abuja are said to be minutes apart. According to the manager of the Folayiwo depot, the suicide bomber was a female. Authorities said the blasts on Creek road were an accident caused by a gas canister, but the security sources told Reuters that was a coverup meant to avoid panic in the southwestern city of 21 million people. At least two people were killed in the attack.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WOLE SOYINKA AS HE TURNS 80 TODAY

Happy Birthday to a man who mastered the art of writing, Wole Soyinka. This legend was born this day in 1934. The first African to be awarded the Nobel Laureate Prize in 1986. HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY SIR.

ARMY GENERALS POCKET N6 BILLION UN PEACEKEEPING MONEY

An anonymous petition has been written by concerned Nigerian soldiers who claim that the Nigerian Army owes its officials who have served in various United Nations peacekeeping operations over $43 million, according to Sahara Reporters.

The document also indicts the United Nations, which it alleges may have collaborated with cheating Nigerian army chiefs to divert the allowances of the peacekeepers into their own pockets.

“It is on record and verifiable that over 3,950 troops who participated in Peace Support Operations in Liberia and Sudan between 2013 to 2014 are still been [owed] various months of allowances amounting to over $43.23m US Dollars which is equivalent to N6,919,168,000:00 Billion Nigerian Naira to date,” the petition said.

The petition warned that in view of the present security situation in the country, 3,950 soldiers being owed such a staggering amount could revolt “and this will not be good for our country.”

Continue Below to see full text...

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS VERY BLAND AND UNINSPIRING

And this week Etcetera shared his thoughts on the Change of the National Anthem as suggested by the CONFAB. Read what he had to say:

After hearing of the proposal of some delegates at the ongoing confab that we should revert to the old national anthem, I sat by my piano and played both anthems. Playing and singing to the current anthem “Arise O’ Compatriot” was basically easy because I had done that countless times and I wasn’t even looking at the piano keys as I sang through the verses. I downloaded the lyrics of the old anthem just to be sure I was singing the right words. I know the tune by heart because my dad frequently sang it to me when I was a little school boy. And I felt nothing as usual singing it. But right from the first line of the old anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee,” I felt a strange sense of pride and patriotism. I felt very strange because like every Nigerian, I am saddened that as a country, we have lost our way. We are a giant tied to undeveloped nations, and kept in bondage by our leaders whose corruption and greed demonstrate a lack of love for their own people.

NIGERIA POLICE UNCOVERS PLANS BY TERRORIST TO ATTACK ABUJA

The Nigerian police today uncovered plots by terrorist to disrupt activities in Abuja. According to the statement released by the police it reads thus:

Credible intelligence reports at the disposal of the Nigeria Police indicate that terrorists have perfected plot to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector. The attacks which are intended to cause panic amongst Abuja residents and visitors alike are planned to be perpetrated through suicide bombings, or through the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in luggage, bags, cans, and other receptacles. The Police High Command therefore, while ordering FCT Commissioner of Police in particular and other CPs in adjoining States to beef-up security at major parks around Abuja and its environs, enjoins the general public, particularly those within and outside the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to be roundly vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, movements or activities to the Security Forces without delay.

Meanwhile, the Police Authorities enjoin citizens not to panic as the Security Forces are working round the clock to neutralize and effectively deal with the threat.

IS NIGERIA BECOMING THE NEXT IRAQ

Culled from PRI where they interviewed Nigerian Journalist and Lawyer Chude Jideonwo
It's just shy of a hundred days since 276 girls in northern Nigeria were abducted by Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group. And Nigeria has seen more bombings and abductions since the girls vanished.
Just yesterday, Nigerian officials announced that another group of girls and women, who were abducted a few weeks ago, actually managed to escape. But journalist and lawyer Chude Jideonwo says it's difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in Nigeria's many kidnapping cases.

"Three weeks ago, when these girls were kidnapped in a village called Damboa, the Nigerian security forces denied the reports that more women had been kidnapped," Jideonwo says. "So it was really strange to see the same forces now say that the women, that hadn't been kidnapped, had been released. It symbolizes the confusion behind the rescue efforts."

Jideonwo says the fate of the 276 girls kidnapped in mid-April, the ones who gained worldwide attention, is equally unclear. In May, Nigeria's chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the armed forces knew the exact location of the missing girls. But last week, another military spokesperson admitted Nigerian officials did not know where the girls were. CONTINUE AFTER THE CUT

MBGN and Other Pageants Should be Banned-Etecetra Writes

Women have always demanded respect from men. Not only should they demand it, I think they deserve it. But why make them scamper around in G-strings and bikinis showing off their bodies, knowing that men are going to go “gaga” and lick their lips.
Every year, thousands of girls compete in various beauty pageants across Nigeria. While the organisers may believe that they are helping our girls to feel “beautiful,” they are also in many other ways causing significant damage to the self-esteem and body perception of other girls. The girl who won may feel as beautiful as the prettiest woman ever created, but what about the girls who didn’t win? How do they feel? I spoke with some past contestants of one of the pageants (the girls that didn’t win) and asked them why they think they didn’t win, and this is what some of them said, “Because I wasn’t pretty enough,” “Because the organisers didn’t like me,” “Because it is a racket and who knows what she has offered,” etc. Things like this inspire jealousy, low self-esteem, and other self destructive behaviours such as self isolation, social anxiety, eating disorder, drug abuse, personality disorder, bitterness and social phobia among our girls.

Beauty pageants in Nigeria should be sanctioned. Where do we draw the line between “beauty pageant” and “prostitution?” These pageant organisers and agencies are doing nothing but exploiting our girls in order to make money. The society is becoming so twisted and our sense of right and wrong is becoming so skewed. You gather politicians and paedophiles to watch girls in G-strings and bikinis wriggling their waists all in the name of making a show for TV. Are the contestants always meant to lie about their beliefs and relationship status in order to get a good score? Have we totally lost sight of what is morally right and wrong?

Beauty contests seem pointless to me. To tell a woman to submit to someone else’s definition of beauty is crazy. So when the contest is over and someone wins, does that immediately make them more beautiful than the rest? Are they more beautiful according to a panel of judges? I think it is a sick idea and the money spent organizing these beauty contests can be more useful for other causes. CONTINUE AFTER THE CUT