Atiku blasts Jonathan on security

Atiku Abubakar on Friday blasts Goodluck Jonathan’s record on security, vowing that Boko Haram could be crushed easily if politicians chose to do so.

In an interview, he accused Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of lacking the political will to end the insurgency, which has killed thousands since 2009.
“This insurgency shouldn’t have lasted even six months,” he told AFP in Abuja and recalled sectarian religious violence in the northeast state of Yobe during his time in office.
“Within weeks we crushed it because we did not neglect military training and, of course, we did not lack the leadership and the capacity to take decisions,” he added.

Bayelsa kingdom commends PDP for endorsing Jonathan

The Epie Kingdom in Bayelsa State has come out to express satisfaction with the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

This was after the president was after the PDP, NEC, BoT, governors and others took a bold, politically sensible and socio-economically prudent decision to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office.

The mood of the kingdom and that of the entire Ijaw people was conveyed by its paramount ruler, King Malla Sasime in a statement on Monday the 22nd Sept that allowing someone from a minority ethnic group to rule again is a sign that Nigerian politics is developing.

The monarch said the actions of the National Executive Council of the PDP; the party’s governors’ forum and members of its Board of Trustees should be commended for such a ‘giant step’.

The monarch said, “The Epie Kingdom, which is President Jonathan’s second home is happy with the transformational strides of the President. It makes a lot of sense to recognise that fact, celebrate, rejoice and congratulate him for emerging as the PDP candidate for the 2015 election.

“PDP .”

While asking Jonathan not to relent in his mission to transform Nigeria, the king appealed to Nigerians to irrespective of political party to support the Jonathan led administration in fully transforming Nigeria.

Analyze this: Nigerian Politics 1

It is a drainer when you talk and think about it and talking about it has the potential of giving you a heart attack that no medicine can cure. It makes you live in a moment of anger and whatever the other person says will only make you angrier and for the destructive mind, it usually ends in mayhem, blackmail, counter blackmail, assassination, hooliganism, cheating, militancy, rituals etc.

7 Habits That Cause Belly Fat

Got this off the internet while trying to find a lazy way for one of my pals to get in shape and avoid getting "pregnant" due to his reckless "chewing" habit. I think it will help someone to take note of these and learn to be "disciplined". Although some persons see the bulging tommy/belly as a sign of enjoyment, others see it as a sign of sickness and discomfort and it is on that premise that I bring this to your notice.

Welcome to Banana Republic...!

Banana Republic is a political science term for a politically unstable country, whose economy is largely dependent on exporting a limited-resource product, e.g. bananas. It typically has stratified social classes, including a large, impoverished working class and a ruling plutocracy of business, political, and military elites. This politico-economic oligarchy controls the primary-sector productions to exploit the country's economy.

Analyze this: APC

Oouch!!!

You have got to be kidding me, PDP won the election over APC at Ekiti and with someone like Ayo Fayose (he was a major headline sometime back when he was once governor and it bothered on corruption) who we all thought the people of Ekiti will be wise enough to steer clear of. 
Many people swore Ayo Fayose and PDP will never get a vote of the Ekiti people.

Is Nigeria in Trouble???(an article from 2014)

This is an article I wrote in 2014 and it was during the era of PDP and the difficulties Nigerian's were  facing. I am sharing this article again today to ask if we are any better than we were in 2014? Read below..
"Ha.., how the mighty fall!!! How the mighty becomes a laughing stock in the eyes of the very ant, he lords it over. How the mighty rewrites every honest scripts and prints same with the ink of dishonesty and force it down the people's throat with evident thongs and thorns.

Now that Nigeria is here....

NOW THAT NIGERIA IS HERE....., one wonders how we got to this sorry state of a place. Over the last months, I have wondered at the various headlines that flooded the once sane nation of the most intellectually blessed people on the face of the earth and the realization that we may have met an unimaginable destiny makes it all the more scary as the expectations have become killer like.

There is Goodluck Jonathan, there is Boko Haram, there is the Ijaw republic, there is MEND, there is the Biafran agitators, there is Edwin Clark, there is CAN, there is Ayo Oritsejafor, there is Asari Dokubo, there is the NNPC, there is Diezani, there is Okonjo Iweala, there is Mama Peace, there is PDP, there is APC, there is Amaechi, there is Kwankwanso, there is Tinubu, there is Sanusi and the "empty stool of the Emir", there is the missing $20billion, there are political office holders and there are voltrons of the government in every space in Nigeria attacking anyone who dares to speak the truth and with these numbers of killer like distractions, you wonder at the unbelievable level of degradation and destruction we are headed, and it will only take a while and very short a while to see the results of these distractions.

Articles have been written about how political and religious leaders have plunged the Nigeria nation into a state of pitiable degradation and pain. Criminality has taken center stage with supposed religious heads working hand in hand with the rogues they are supposed to tell the people to not be like. They are paid huge tithes and granted generous waivers on almost every sector of the economy and they keep leading the people to destruction.

We know that the criminality being displayed by these political office holders with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the helm of affairs is the newest level of low and has managed to bring humility, obedience, sincerity, godliness, decency, loyalty to God and nation down to the abyss.
Acts that warrants death or less still severe capital punishment are now being rewarded with juicy Contracts, Honorary awards, Praise singing, Political appointments, Presidential pardon etc; and as we even try to bring redress to these inhumane situations, we are by our own kind being slammed, threatened, imprisoned, rallied against, bullied, publicly beaten, questioned, made to believe we are insane etc....

Of late is the security situation that has become worse in few months with Billions of Naira being expended on security yielding no result but rather making the people ask in wonderment, "what the fuck is happening to our nation?, Is this really a plan to sabotage our national unity or are these idiots playing politics with the lives of 160million Nigerians for their own gain?".

Nigeria's military was sometime hailed as the best in this part of the world with a long list of humanitarian and support efforts provided to her sister nations. Hell, some Nigerian soldiers even become notoriously popular for having braved the deadliest streets and jungles of those nations in distress they took succour to.

HOW THE PRESIDENT FINDS TIME FROM HIS VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE TO SOCIALIZE AND FRATERNIZE IS AMAZING, AND THIS HAPPENS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE BLOOD SPILLED IN DARING ATTACKS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

Painful is the fact that right under the nose of the Nigerian Military with a Commander in Chief and inner ruling elites ranked as the highest paid and well looked after in terms of Financial, Social and Emotional compensation, insecurity thrives and in its wake hundreds of innocent souls are lost with some dieing daily in coordinated attacks, bomb blasts, insurgent attacks, political thuggery, road accidents etc and when this happens, our dear overfed and overly compensated leaders, take to the pages of newspapers, television stations, radio airwaves to "Express Shock, Condemn the attacks and Promise to put an end to the problems", and they go on to do nothing until such other time they want to repeat the "ECP" circle associated with incompetent and heartless leaders.

I wasn't around when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, but I was around when Democracy day was born with a date put aside to celebrate a demonstration of crazy Legislative, Judicial and Executive highhandedness where leaders becomes answerable to the linings of their pockets and the deepness of their purses.
The people who are the kingmakers have now become dogs that wait to kill themselves over the scrubs that fall from the tables of the kings they make. The people have become broken to extents that these kings lord it over them and make them jump through the hoops to beg for a bean cake in the midst of plenty.

We still have the Chibok girls in abduction while President Jonathan's step daughter post pictures of her honeymoon for the world to see; some schools are in strike protesting hike in school fees while our leaders still are able to transfer millions of Naira to overseas accounts for their children to enjoy the best education; Pensioners still die waiting to collect less than 2% of their annual salaries as pension while governors collect over N2m monthly; People are slaughtered and roasted on daily basis in North East while, the President still takes time out to campaign for his return to power based on false results.

It is a shame that we are no longer allowed to know what happens around us.
It is a shame that the army, police and other security agencies have become so powerful when it comes to enforcing illegal actions against the people and powerless against the true enemies of the state.
It is a shame how we are and how terribly deprived we have become with the government fighting the people and labeling the people they are meant to protect as the enemy.
It is a shame how when we try to make a difference, we are seen as trouble makers and tagged enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ijaw people.
It is a shame that whistle blowers are tagged terrorist and sponsors of terrorist because they did the needful by blowing the whistle on the inadequacies of the government that swore to the protect the people before they got there only to start destroying them.
It is a shame that the people have no right whatsoever to gather peacefully.
It is a shame that the supposed elders who should be knowledgeable in affairs of leadership have become criminally senile and corrupt and are now principalities standing against the progress of Nigeria.
It is a shame that known criminals, terrorist, killers, embezzlers, corrupt officials, thugs and lowlifes are now holding sway in corridors of power.  
It is a shame that to be heard and taken seriously in Nigeria, one must bear arms and slay innocent blood.
It is a shame where we are as a Nation and people and now that Nigeria is here.....What is a poor ordinary Nigerian to do?













@ejemai 
 

Mark Zuckerberg donates 18million Facebook shares worth $970million

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were the most generous American philanthropists in 2013, with a donation of 18 million shares of Facebook stock, valued at more than $970 million, to a Silicon Valley nonprofit in December.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported Monday that Zuckerberg’s donation was the largest charitable gift on the public record in 2013 and put the young couple at the top of the magazine’s annual list of 50 most generous Americans in 2013.

The top 50 contributors made donations last year totaling $7.7 billion, plus pledges of $2.9 billion.
The Chronicle’s editor says the most significant fact from the list was the amount of money coming from living donors, which totaled about the same amount as the two previous years combined.
“It’s a sure sign that the economy is getting better and people are getting a lot less cautious,” said Stacy Palmer, Chronicle editor.

Some of the nation’s biggest givers do not appear on the 2013 list, not because they stopped being generous, but because their donations in 2013 were counted as pledges in previous years.
For example, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, gave their foundation slightly more than $181.3 million last year, but they were paying off a pledge of about $3.3 billion they made in 2004. CNN-founder Ted Turner and Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett also made large gifts toward previous pledges.

It took gifts totaling at least $37.5 million to make the list this year. Forty-two of the top 50 made gifts of $50 million or more.
Thirty made big gifts to colleges and universities, but Palmer noted most college gifts went to science and research this year, not to buildings, as in previous years.

Ten of the 50 made the list because of bequests after their deaths, including the second biggest giver in 2013, George Mitchell, a Galveston, Texas, man who made his fortune in energy and real estate.

At No. 3 were Nike chairman Philip Knight and his wife, Penelope, of Portland, Ore., who made a $500 million challenge grant to Oregon Health & Science University Foundation for cancer research. The Knight pledge requires the university match it within the next two years.

No. 4 was philanthropist and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who made gifts totaling $452 million in 2013 to arts, education, environment, public health and other causes.

Nineteen people or couples on the list have signed the Giving Pledge, started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2010. More than 120 of the world’s wealthiest individuals and families have pledged to give at least half their wealth to charity since the movement began.

Although most people on the list were prominent wealthy people who have given generously in the past, Palmer said a few were surprises, including Jack MacDonald, a Seattle lawyer, who gave $139 million to three nonprofits upon his death.

Facts about Libya under Gaddafi that you probably did not know about!

Here are some Facts you probably do not know about Libya under Muammar Gaddafi:

• There was  no electricity bills in Libya; electricity is free … for all its citizens.
• There was  no interest on loans, banks in Libya are state-owned and loans given to all its citizens at 0% interest by law.
• If a Libyan is unable to find employment after graduation, the state would  pay the average salary of the profession as if he or she is employed until employment is found.
• Should Libyans want to take up a farming career, they receive farm land, a house, equipment, seed and livestock to kick start their farms –this was all for free.
• Gaddafi carried out the world’s largest irrigation project, known as the Great Man-Made River project, to make water readily available throughout the desert country.
• A home was considered a human right in Libya. (In Qaddafi’s Green Book it states: “The house is a basic need of both the individual and the family, therefore it should not be owned by others.”)
• All newlyweds in Libya would receive 60,000 Dinar (US$ 50,000 ) by the government to buy their first apartment so to help start a family.
• A portion of Libyan oil sales is or was  credited directly to the bank accounts of all Libyan citizens.
• A mother who gives birth to a child would  receive US $5,000.
• When a Libyan buys a car, the government would  subsidizes 50% of the price.
• The price of petrol in Libya was  $0.14 per liter.
• For $ 0.15, a Libyan local could  purchase 40 loaves of bread.
• Education and medical treatments was all  free in Libya. Libya can boast one of the finest health care systems in the Arab and African World. All people have access to doctors, hospitals, clinics and medicines, completely free of charge.
• If Libyans cannot find the education or medical facilities they need in Libya, the government would fund  them to go abroad for it – not only free but they get US $2,300/month accommodation and car allowance.
• 25% of Libyans have a university degree. Before Gaddafi only 25% of Libyans were literate. Today the figure is 87%.
• Libya had  no external debt and its reserves amount to $150 billion – though much of this is now frozen globally.

Gaddafi wrote, “They want to do to Libya what they did to Iraq and what they are itching to do to Iran. They want to take back the oil, which was nationalized by these country’s revolutions. They want to re-establish military bases that were shut down by the revolutions and to install client regimes that will subordinate the country’s wealth and labor to imperialist corporate interests. All else is lies and deception.”

Finally, the gold bullion held by the Libyan Central Bank (March 2011) was among the 25 largest reserves in the world, as reported by the Financial Times, citing the International Monetary Fund. This provided Libya a critical lifeline after billions of Libya’s assets were seized by the United States and the 27 member states of the European Union.

Many believe the NATO-led invasion of Libya was/is about oil and a vast wealth of other natural resources. Yet another critical element that few are aware of is the fact that Gaddafi had planned to introduce a single African currency made from gold. [Of this proposed African currency] Dr James Thring stated, “It’s one of these things that you have to plan almost in secret, because as soon as you say you’re going to change over from the dollar to something else, you’re going to be targeted … There were two conferences on this, in 1986 and 2000, organized by Gaddafi. … Most countries in Africa were keen.” This would have eradicated the US Dollar and Euro as trade currencies for Africa.

Culled from CNN ireport
Whatever we are seeing no in Nigeria is as a result of the OIL and there are these persons who are sworn to make sure we never become free.

January Transfer Window Day 29: All the Latest News and Rumours From Around the Premier League

January is coming to a close, and Premier League clubs are now having to move fast to secure big name arrivals and seal departures.

Here is a round up of all the latest transfer news surrounding Premier League clubs

1. Liverpool Make Progress for Konoplyanka

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful of signing Ukranian star Yevhen Konoplyanka before the transfer window closes.

Liverpool are in talks with Dnipro over a move in the region of £16 million for the 24-year-old, whose front-line versatility would be hugely beneficial to Liverpool's title challenge.

"Hopefully we can have a major signing before the window shuts and if we can do that we will be set up for the remaining games," Rodgers stated after Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Everton.

Konoplyanka scored against England at Wembley in 2012 and has been targeted by the Reds following their loss to Chelsea for the signature of Basel's Mohamed Salah.

2. City Bid for Mangala to Test Porto's Resolve

talkSPORT believe that Porto have held talks with wanted centre-back Eliaqium Mangala to stop the player form possibly moving to Manchester City.

City reportedly tabled a bid in the region of £38 million for the 22-year-old, showing the desire to beat rivals Chelsea and Manchester United to the Frenchman's signature.

Porto are reportedly reluctant to sell the Frenchman in January, preferring to keep the player on board for the remainder of the campaign with a view to a summer move instead.

Mangala has been linked with a host of European clubs and only time will tell how long the Portuguese champions are able to keep him.

3. Arsenal Hold Talks Over Draxler Move

One of the biggest January transfer stories could be on the horizon after Sky Sports confirmed that Arsenal representatives were in Germany to discuss a move for Julian Draxler.

The 20-year-old German international has a £37 million release clause in the Schalke contract he signed last summer, but Arsenal are looking to agree a deal closer to £30 million.

Arsene Wenger has remained hopeful of drafting in another big name after last summer's acquisition of Mesut Ozil, recently stating, "I hope we have something to tell you because we lost a few players now," when asked about prospective transfers.

Draxler is one of Europe's most sought after youngsters and Arsenal are looking to move quickly to beat the transfer deadline - not to mention possible rivals for Draxler's signature.

4. United and Southampton Face Competition in Astori Race

Manchester United and Southampton have been tracking Cagliari defender Davide Astori this month, but they have now been joined in the race for the Italian's signature by Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg.

talkSPORT report that Zenit are targeting Astori in the remaining days of January, which could prompt both Premier League clubs to also make their move.

United manager David Moyes was spotted watching the player in Cagliari's match with Juventus earlier this month, while the Saints have had a long standing interest in the Italian international.

At 27, Astori is arguably due for a big move after impressing for so long in Serie A, and with a host of clubs interested and Champions' League availability, he'd look like a shrewd January acquisition.

5. Ince Continues to Court Premier League Clubs, With Hull and Sunderland on His Radar

Blackpool's Thomas Ince is one of the most in demand players in England currently, and has already spoken to several clubs about a potential move.

According to BBC Sport, the latest clubs to hold talks with the young winger are Hull City and Sunderland - who were due for discussions on Wednesday.

The 21 year old is mooted to be brought in on loan to his next destination, while seeing out the remaining six months on his Blackpool contract.

Ince has already spoken to Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Stoke and Monaco about leaving Bloomfield Road - while Ince's former club Liverpool recently also entered the frame.

6. Chelsea Hopeful Kroos Can be Lampard's Long-Term replacement

Chelsea's midfield has undergone some serious surgery in January and more change could be on the horizon as they look to replace Frank Lampard with Bayern's Toni Kroos, according to Caught Offside.

Lampard may not be offered a new deal this summer by boss Jose Mourinho and German maestro Kroos seems like a perfect replacement.

Chelsea have signed both Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic this month, but after Juan Mata, Michael Essien and Kevin de Bruyne made their way out of Stamford Bridge, there may be room for an extra arrival to add more quality to the Blues' squad.

The German international is a regular in the European Champions' starting line-up, but he does face huge competition for places in the Bayern squad. With a contract expiring in 18 months time, the time might be right to tempt Bayern's resolve with an offer for the 24-year-old star.

7. Otamendi Looks to Premier League After Valencia Move Collapses

Porto's Argentine centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has long been linked with a move to England, and a deal could yet be possible for him to bring him to the Premier League in January following the breakdown of his loan move to financially stricken Valencia.

Valencia's potential takeover by billionaire Peter Lim has yet to be finalised, and as a result, Porto and Los Che have been unable to reach an agreement - a development that could alert England's top clubs.

The Express report that Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are on alert to bring in the 25-year-old before Friday's deadline.

Otamendi moved to Porto for £3.5 million in 2010 and has 16 international caps to his name. It is thought the defender is looking to move to increase his chances of representing Argentina at this summer's World Cup.

Both Otamendi and his French team-mate Eliaquim Mangala have been rumoured to be moving to the Premier League for several months.

8. Possible Permanent Villa Move for Bertrand

Aston Villa's on loan left-back Ryan Bertrand has refused to rule out a permanent stay at Villa Park after this season, according to the Evening Standard.

The 24-year-old England international joined this month from Chelsea, after finding himself further down the pecking order this season following good form at left-back from Cesar Azpilicueta. The presence of Ashley Cole at Stamford Bridge also made it difficult for Bertrand to make an impression.

Bertrand told the Birmingham Mail that he is not thinking about his long term future, but didn't rule out a potential permanent transfer.

"I'm just here to concentrate on each game as it comes and to get back playing regularly."

Speaking of a transfer, he said; "I'll leave all that stuff until the end of the season. You can't rule anything out. It's important, first and foremost, that my performances are good enough. I need to concentrate on each game."

Bertrand is set to make his home debut for Villa tonight, in a derby against West Brom.

9. Canaries Consider Ciani Loan Deal

Norwich City are looking to create competition for places amongst their back four in the second half of the season and are said to be considering a loan move for Lazio defender Michael Ciani.

The French centre-back is understood to be a loan target for Canaries boss Chris Hughton, according to The Mirror, who is looking to provide cover for the injured Michael Turner.

The 29-year-old has made 13 Serie A appearances for the Rome club this term, with a solitary goal to his name against Milan.

10. West Brom Boss Looks to Bolster Attack With Ings Swoop

After offloading Shane Long to Hull City, and with a potential long term ban for Nicolas Anelka for his controversial gesture, West Bromwich Albion may encounter striking problems in the coming weeks.

A solution to Pepe Mel's problems could be Burnley striker Danny Ings, who has netted 15 Championship goals so far this term.

The Mirror reported that Ings has been watched by Baggies scout Stuart White and the Midlands club may test the second tier high flyers with a bid in the region of £6 million.

Burnley are unlikely to want to sell, as missing the goals of the England Under-21 star would dent their hopes of promotion to the Premier League. However, if West Brom swoop quickly and appropriately, Ings could be on his way to the top flight sooner than he thought.

11. Fulham Closing in on Prolific Greek Star

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen is making progress in a race against time to secure the signature of Olympiakos forward Kostas Mitroglou.

Goal.com report that the striker, who has impressed both domestically and in the Champions' League this season, could be on his way to Craven Cottage for a joint-club-record fee of £11.5 million.

Mitroglou has already bagged a hat-trick against Anderlecht in this season's Champions' League group stages, and has built a reputation as being one of Europe's most in-form strikers.

The Greek international has been capped 28 times by his country, and is sure to impress at this summer's World Cup following a sumptuous start to the current campaign. His 14 goals in 12 games for Olympiakos helped them go top of the Superliga before a recent knee injury kept him on the sidelines.

Previously linked with Liverpool and other big name clubs, Fulham are now front-runners for Mitroglou's signature, with a rumoured £2 million additional pay packet offer for one of Europe's hottest properties.

Source: ftbpro