Friday, April 29, 2016

NYSC to deploy serving Doctors and other health workers to IDP camps

Director General of the National Youth Services Corp, Brigadier General Suleiman Zakari Kazaure said yesterday that Doctors, Nurses and other medical Corp members will be deployed to all the major Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps across the country.

'Cattle herdsmen, the new Boko Haram'? - Ruben Abati


“No matter how far the town, there is another beyond it” – Fulani Proverb

There has been so much emotionalism developing around the subject of the recent clashes between nomadic pastoralists and farmers, and the seeming emergence of the former as the new Boko 

Haram, forbidding not Western education this time, but the right of other Nigerians to live in peace and dignity, and to have control over their own geographical territory. From Benue, to the Plateau, Nasarawa, to the South West, the Delta, and the Eastern parts of the country, there have been very disturbing reports of nomadic pastoralists killing at will, raping women, and sacking communities, and escaping with their impunity, unchecked, as the security agencies either look the other way or prove incapable of enforcing the law. The outrage South of the Sahel is understandable. It is argued, rightly or wrongly, that the nomadic pastoralist has been overtaken by a certain sense of unbridled arrogance arising from that notorious na-my-brother-dey-power mentality and the assumption that “the Fulani cattle” must drink water, by all means, from the Atlantic ocean.

It is this emotional ethnicization of the crisis that should serve as a wake up call for the authorities, and compel the relevant agencies to treat this as a national emergency deserving of pro-active measures and responses. It is not enough to issue a non-committal press statement or make righteous noises and assume that the problem will resolve itself. Farmer-pastoralist conflict poses a threat to national security. It is linked to a 

number of complex factors, including, power, history, citizenship rights and access to land. Femi Fani-Kayode in a recent piece has warned about Nigeria being “on the road to Kigali”, thus referring to the genocide that hobbled Rwanda in the 90s as the Hutus and the Tutsis drew the sword against each other. Fani-Kayode needs not travel all the way to Rwanda. Ethnic hate has done so much damage in Nigeria already; all we need is to learn from history and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

Ethnic hate, serving as sub-text to the January 1966 and July 1966 coups, for example, set the stage for the civil war of 1967 -70. The root of Igbo-Hausa/Fulani acrimony can be traced back to that season when Igbos were slaughtered in the North, the Hausa/Fulani were slaughtered in the East and Nigeria found itself in the grip of a “To Thy Tents, O Israel” chorus. Ethnic hate also led to the Tiv riots, crisis in the Middle Belt since then, and the perpetual pitching of one ethnic group against the other in Nigeria’s underdeveloped politics. We should be careful.

We need to remind ourselves that the current friction between the pastoralists and their farming host communities is one of such potential factors that can further tear the nation apart. N

igeria cannot afford a second civil war, or mass-scale genocide. Today, every other Nigerian is afraid either of the Boko Haram or the nomadic pastoralist. It is not likely that the populations south of the Sahel will continue to stand idly by and allow herdsmen to trample upon their lands, destroy their crops, kill, maim and rape and then get away with it. A resort to self-help such as occurred in 1966, could have serious national security implications. With the economy in crisis, with anger in the land, and the people feeling disappointed, we cannot afford any evil trigger to deepen the nation’s woes. So, the state cannot afford to be aloof or indifferent.

Nomadic pastoralism is at the heart of the Fulani cultural lifestyle, and that is why there has been so much labeling of the Fulani in the emerging narrative, whereas the violent herdsmen certainly do not represent Fulani interest. For centuries, the Fulani, living across West Africa, have herded cattle from one part to the other, across borders. In Nigeria, the migration is seasonal or cyclical: as the dry season begins in the North, the herdsmen travel with their livestock down south in search of pasture and water, and to avoid seasonal diseases. After about six months, with the onset of the rainy season and farming in the S

outh, they travel back to the North. Along the route, they sometimes settle down, develop a relationship with the farming communities and function as transhumance pastoralists, in fact, many herders used to pay homage to the local hosts, but over time, the politics of power, identity, and access to land as well as differences in culture, lifestyle and religion began to cause friction. It is an old problem that has gotten worse as the sedentary farmers whose land is violated by the nomads complain and the local power elite who are soon displaced by the settling nomad fight back in protest, thus creating a relationship fuelled by fear and mutual suspicion.

The new phenomenon of the nomadic pastoralist now behaving as a conquering group of invaders, ready to inflict terror, and not ready to ask for permission for land use, is where the big problem lies. The bigger problem perhaps is the refusal of the nomadic pastoralist to give up an old tradition that has become antiquated in modern times, or perhaps in urgent need of modernization and reform. And to insist on that old mode on the grounds that the life of a cow is more important than that of a human being is worse than the Boko Haram phenomenon. There are Nigerians, including the Fulani, who consider the lives of 

human beings far more important. Even if there is an ironic interdependence between the pastoralist and the farmer: both provide food, both trade with each other, the farms provide grass and crop fodder, the cattle provide manure: the disruption of this economic interdependence and its replacement by fierce competition for space, power and resources is the source of the present tragedy.

The politicization of the relationship between the pastoralist and the farmer as an extension of national politics, and the failure of Nigeria’s leadership elite, is part of it. Most of the herdsmen making the long seasonal or cyclical journey North to South and back, now wielding sophisticated guns, with rounds of ammunition, are actually hired economic agents. The real herdsmen are big men in high places; the ones with the resources to buy herds of cattle, and hand over guns to their boys on the roads of Nigeria. That is the source of the arrogance, the impunity, and the meanness of the herdsmen. That is why you’d find herdsmen with cattle and goats on major expressways and no security agent will stop them. It is also why they go to the airports and actually herd cattle across the runway.

A few years ago, there was a head-on collision between a cow 

and an aircraft at the Port Harcourt International Airport. Rather than get the herdsmen arrested, airport staff, including the security agents on duty were busy scrambling for a share of free meat. The people to talk to are those men in high places, and this includes an emerging crowd of non-Fulani investors in the cattle-rearing business (yes!), whose support and acquiescence allows this kind of madness to happen in 21stCentury Nigeria.

There used to be in Northern Nigeria, a Grazing Reserves Law.

Soyinka blasts Buhari's reaction to herdsmen's killings

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has expressed his disappointment at President Muhammadu Buhari for his reaction to increasing attacks and killings by herdsmen in several states in the country.
In an address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism on Wednesday said he was shocked by the President’s claim that the attacks would soon be over,Punch reports.

'A vengeful mind in Authority, its downside, karma and the way forward'

“He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is halfway there. He who blames no one has arrived” Chinese proverb.
During Nigeria’s 2015 election which President Muhammad Buhari won and became the president of Nigeria, the massive votes he got from his supporters were in anticipation that he being on the helm of affairs will change how Nigeria was governed as perceived by many to be bedridden by corruption, nepotism and insincere fight against insurgents. To many Buhari was the messiah that will save them from their problems but what many didn’t took into account was the party that sponsored him and what forces brought the APC party bulwark together and gave it the chance of winning the election against the incumbent.
Every well-meaning Nigerian was optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari at the start of his tenure will take Nigeria to the dream land, insurgency and ethno-religious tension would all be tackled, considering his track record and integrity when he was in the army. It took Buhari almost six months to propose a cabinet for which he asked for patience from Nigerians as to why it took that long, his justification was he is refining the best hands to take mantle of ministries, only after, it appeared that it was the same old brigade elements that were nominated as ministers and as a result itdegraded a lot of confidence from Nigerians in the government, as some media outlets reported it as “putting round pegs in a square hole”.
Moreover, what the present administration lacks is not accommodating professionals/ technocrats to take helm of various activities of the government, with their too much reliant on goodwill they did some blunders, Examples are: the treasury single account (TSA) and the sacking of university vice chancellors which shows a clear indication of lack of experience in dealing with such matters, where, a well experienced administrator would have calculated the ramifications. It hasn’t been clear yet, but signs are showing that the mindset of this administration is to rubbish whatever the former PDP administration did either good or bad policies, with no articulate solution to what to do next after ditching the former status quo, an example to reckon with is the bickering oil scarcity that has not been experienced for years in the present extent.
Hopes where that Buhari will nurse a fragile Nigeria into a nationalistic and strong nation devoid of the Biafra secessionist, Boko Haram, Militants of the Niger Delta and ethnic tensions to a nation of law and order, but to our great dismay a lot of atrocities happened under the present administration ranging from the avoidable Zaria Shia massacre, Agatu Fulani clash, and the recent Enugu attacks by the Fulani herdsmen. With all these happening some Nigerians are in doubt as to whether Buhari possesses the leadership qualities Nigeria needs at this critical moment.
During the formation of the APC, four blocks of political interest made it strong and viable to go against the ruling PDP, they were: CPC, ACN, ANPP, and new PDP. These political parties have different interest at heart but what unite them was the eagerness to form a viable political party capable of challenging the PDP nation-wide, and after the General election which the APC won, political appointment where distributed to please the various interest blocks that form the APC especially if one considers the arrangement of the president, the kitchen cabinet and his ministers down to the national assembly. For PDP to be branded a corrupt party and the nemesis to Nigeria’s problem seems fictitious and delusive considering how most of the APC members were bed fellows to those in the PDP in looting Nigeria’s wealth. A right thinking fellow knows that Nigeria’s problem is systematic and the best way to get rid of it is to plug the bad holes allowing such atrocities. One might say that from the way the president is bluntly blaming the PDP, the APC is on a mission to obliterate PDP or to settle a personal score. It is known that some of the politicians that joined the APC were did not based on the interest of the nation rather it was to settle personal grievances and to satisfy their political appetite.

'Redknapp to be named Super Eagles coach'

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp could be the new head coach of the Super Eagles in a shock appointment, the Daily Star has claimed.
The Nigeria Football Federation appointed Salisu Yusuf as interim manager this week to take charge of two upcoming friendlies against Mali in Paris on May 27 and Luxembourg on June 1.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

NLC demands N56,000 minimum wage from Government

The Nigeria Labour Congress has proposed a new minimum wage of N56,000 to the Federal Government, Punch reports.
The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday,  said that the labour body made the formal proposal to the Federal Government on Tuesday.
Wabba said that while it was a fact that the economy was in a bad shape, the law made it clear that a review of the minimum wage was overdue.
He also said that the economy would not be down for ever.
The NLC president said that the Nigerian worker had not fared well in the last one year and would not continue to lament the situation.
“On the issue of the minimum wage, I can say authoritatively that as of yesterday (Tuesday), we have made a formal demand of N56,000 minimum wage to government.
“That demand has been submitted officially to the Federal Government and we hope that the tripartite system will look at the review mechanism that will be put in place. Our argument is that, yes, it is true that the economy is not doing well but the law is also clear that this issue must be looked into and workers should not be seen to be sleeping on their rights.

'My account was hacked' -TeeBillz

Following the reported split between singer Tiwa Savage and her husband, Tunji Balogun,  the man on Thursday claimed his instagram account was hacked by unknown persons.
Balogun, popularly called Tee Billz,  denied the controversial posts on his Instagram page, hinting his marriage to the singer has hit the rocks.

'How Tee Billz nearly killed himself this morning

When Teebillz shared his suicide note this morning on IG while pouring his heart out about the demise of his marriage to Tiwa Savage, many of us thought/hoped he was just talking, but he wasn't. Tunji 'Teebillz' Balogun tried to commit suicide this morning by jumping off the Lekki- Ikoyi toll bridge and this is fact!

According to an eye-witness named Chukwuma Ani, who witnessed the incident and was one of the men who pulled Teebillz off the bridge, he told LIB exclusively that around past 9 this morning while driving on the Lekki-Ikoyi toll bridge, a car hit his own from behind, damaging his car. He said he came out of the car and approached the driver of the vehicle 
that hit his.

Industrial Pharmacists call for forex priority to save sector

Industrial pharmacists in the country have again appealed to the Federal Government to give the pharmaceutical sector a priority in allocation of scarce foreign exchange.
The pharmacists, under the aegis of Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), at their 19th national conference in Lagos, said that the critical sector of the health industry is already running short of pharmaceutical products and raw materials, which might put the entire health sector in dire strait by June this year.

Group gives FG ultimatum to end herdsmen clashes

A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) have threatened to Occupy Aso Rock Villa, if the President Muhamamdu Buhari-led government and security agents do not apprehend and prosecute those behind the Agatu, Benue state massacre of March and the recent Enugu massacre in seven days.

Police arrest Nolllywood actress Mercy Aigbe in Osun

Some policemen attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday arrested a popular Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, for allegedly keeping a police cap in her car.
Aigbe, who at the point of her arrest was being driven by a young man at about 4:40p.m. in a Honda car, was chased by the policemen after sighting the police cap in the gold-coloured vehicle.

Bishop leads protest over Enugu killings

The Anglican Bishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, on Wednesday led a peaceful protest against the recent killings by herdsmen in the South East.
Joined by other clergymen and concerned Enugu State residents, the group marched through the major streets of Enugu to protest Monday’s attack of Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The group urged security agencies in the state to live up to their duty of protecting people’s lives and property.
Speaking with newsmen, Chukwuma encouraged Christians to intensify their prayers to conquer the challenge as “the Igbo cannot stay in their land and become strangers”.

#Enugumassacre -Enugu got Security alert

Indications have emerged that the attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local council of Enugu State in the early hours of last Monday, during which scores of residents were killed and several houses and other property burnt, did not come unannounced.

President Buhari stops payment of overseas Medical bills for Govt Officials



President Buhari has stopped the payment of overseas medical trips for all government officials with medical conditions that can be managed in Nigeria. Buhari stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto, yesterday April 27th.

Police confirms kidnap of Former Minister of State for Education

Iyabo-AnisulowoThe Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a former Minister of State for Education, Iyabo Anisulowo.
Mrs. Anisulowo was abducted late Wednesday in Ilaro, Yewa South local government area of Ogun State, police said.

Kim K debunks rumours of drunkenness over raunchy black and white pics

 Kim Kardashian has revealed why she posted raunchy pictures on instagram on Saturday,which made fans think she was hacked.She credits Kanye with taking the shots and says her mum was even worried when she saw the photos..She wrote on her blog
 'I don't think I've ever gotten so many text messages from friends asking if I was drunk, LOL!''Kanye and I went to our friend Dave Grutman's wedding in Miami, and it's been a while since our friends have been together and all dressed up, so we were just feeling inspired and wanted to take fun pics.'It was a different way to capture moments from the night. We were all so into snapping and coming up with different ideas.
Even though Kanye doesn't have an Instagram, he does the best job taking photos and choosing the right angles. 'My mom even called me, frantic, when I posted that close-up photo of my boobs, asking me where it came from. She thought someone had hacked my phone. I said, "Relax, I posted it!!!"







Misspetite

'TeeBillz slams wife, Tiwa Savage on Instagram', really sad stuff

Tee Billz or some one who claims to be has been ranting on Instagram this morning...He has called hi wife,Tiwa Savage's mum a witch, accusing her of sleeping with Donjazzy,Dr Sid and even 2face Idibia..He says he made her a superstar and she will never have peace with the fame..He is even threatening to commit suicide ..

Has his account has been hacked or is this some Jay Z and Beyonce Lemonade stunt ..They need to clear the air on time because it's getting scary..Read below







Misspetitenaija

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Relieve Amaechi, Fashola now, appoint Technocrats -CNPP tells Buhari

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve all former governors in his cabinet of their duties and appoint technocrats to run his change agenda if wants to succeed in attracting foreign investment into the country.

EFCC seizes Deizani's assets

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) has seized properties belonging to former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Nigeria not on list of 15 growing economies in Africa

According to this new statistic shared by the International Monetary Fund IMF, Nigeria is not among the top 15 growing economies in Africa. The statistic shows that Cote D’Ivoire is the most economically viable country in Africa.




LIB

House of Reps orders IGP to investigate #Enugumassacre by herdsmen, summons DSS DG

The House of Representatives yesterday ordered the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State on Monday April 25th.

Man who lived with pregnancy-like tumour for a decade finally has I removed

A Chinese man who lived with a tumour so big he looked heavily pregnant for a decade has finally had the two-stone growth removed from his stomach.

Nigerian Professor breaks 187 year old record at University of London

A Nigerian academic, Prof. Abiodun Alao will today deliver a professorial inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him first black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the school was established in 1829.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Linda VS Wizkid gets repeated to the Police

I'm sure many of you have read that the police is now involved in my issue with Wizkid. Yes, I reported his public threat to me two Sundays ago to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and I want to explain why I did it! Please pay attention and keep an open mind.

I've read a lot online from people saying I don't like Wizkid. Even Wizkid himself thinks I don't like him. Why he or anyone would think so is puzzling to me to be honest. Apart from his achievements after he started insulting me online a few weeks ago...everything else, every success Wizkid has recorded in the last 3/4 years is on LIB. All the awards, all the record breaking feats, his sold out concerts, his foreign magazine features, and collaborations, everything that has built him up to the young man he is today is on LIB. Please verify! Search my blog. Please continue...

I was a huge Wizkid fan. The only song I danced harder to than his 'Dance For Me' track was Fuse ODG's 'Antenna and Kiss Daniel & DJ Shabzy's Raba. So, no, I had no dislike for Wizkid. But about a year ago, I noticed his indirect snide remarks at me...and when some other music star beefed with me, Wizkid showed his support and made disrespectful comments. That was when I noticed he had issues with me... but that didn't stop me from writing about him and celebrating him.

Now to the issue at hand. When I reported that he was served quit notice at his Lekki home, I stated fact and I didn't write it out of malice. It's not everyday you get exclusive stories...and I'm sure any other blogger who got the story first would also have published it. So, there was no beef, I was just doing my job. A day or so after I wrote this story, Wizkid went on my instagram page to call me names and lied that I slept with some director of his...which I have said before is 1000% lies! But the insult and lies is not why the police is now involved.

Here's the thing; You can insult me, insult my family, call me any names you like, even lie that I slept with your forefathers...but don't threaten me. If you threaten me, I will act!

I read people online saying that I reported to the police because I am scared of Wizkid. No, my darlings, I am not afraid of Wizkid. Though I do not take his threats lightly. I went to the authorities for two reasons...and please young boys of our generation, pay attention to what I am about to write below.

You see, violence against women and threat of violence against women is not okay. Threatening harm to someone in a public space is a criminal act in every country of the world, including Nigeria. I bet some of you didn't know that, yeah? You can not publicly threaten someone with harm. You will only get away with it if your victim doesn't report to the authorities. If they do, you will have a case with the police and I promise you, the police take these things seriously. 

I reported this case to the authorities because I want our young men to know this is not okay. You should not raise your hands on a woman. You shouldn't even threaten to raise your hands on a woman. Wizkid wrote that he would send his 16 year old cousin to beat the shit out of me. Letting Wizkid get away with it is basically telling our young men that this is okay...and it's not!

After Wizkid made the threat to me, I saw a lot of teen boys hailing and applauding him. To them, this was okay. If their idol can threaten a woman with harm, and use derogatory words, they also can do it...and that's how the circle of abuse of women continues. Women being called 'smelly pussy' trended online for a day or two! Little boys were happy to use the words. Sad!

It is appalling to me that anyone, especially women, would cheer Wizkid on. When he wrote RIP Linda, I saw a few young girls write same, laughing. This is not a laughing matter. It doesn't matter whether you like me or not! This is not about Linda Ikeji. This is about abuse of women which has eaten deep into our society, so deep that it has now been accepted as normal. Men do it all the time and get away with it. So many women are battered by their husbands and they refuse to speak up because of the stigma. They refuse to seek help because they are afraid of what people will say. I am sorry, I am not one of those women. I refuse to be victimized. And as long as I have my voice and my platform, I will speak up.

We women have to come together to lend a strong voice to the plight of women in our continent. When we see a woman being physically and mentally abused, let's act. Let's speak up. Let's not laugh and say she deserves it. If we continue to keep quiet, the circle of abuse will continue. And one day, You, yes You, will find yourself in the receiving end of a thundering slap, followed by heavy blows. If not you, then maybe your daughter? Let's condemn violence and threat of violence against women! This is not acceptable! 

Young men like Wizkid, a father of two young boys himself, should never advocate violence against women. One day, he will have a daughter, how would he feel if another male threatens to put hands on her or even calls her a hoe?

I can't count how many times Wizkid called me a hoe in his rant against me. That's what boys do. When they get into a fight with a woman, they try to slut-shame her. Smelly pussy, hoe, ashawo etc. You call a woman, who gave another young woman, whose real name she doesn't even know N500,000 just because she said she would rather work by carrying cement than prostitute herself, that's the person you call a hoe? When your mind is so warped you can't differentiate between a woman and a hoe, then this is what happens. Except you drive to Sanusi Fanfuwa at 2am to pick up a prostitute, who proudly describes herself as one, then you shouldn't call any woman a hoe. 

Even Tupac who was a well known thug could differentiate between the types of women he dealt with. When asked in an interview why he called women bitches, he said people shouldn't confuse things, that he wouldn't address a mother or a sister the way he would address a bitch, that the bitches were the ones he dealt with in the clubs who behaved like one. He reiterated that he respected women! 

In more civilized countries, Wizkid would have lost his endorsements and spent the next year or so apologizing and being in the fore-front of promoting anti-violence crusades against women. It took Chris Brown years to get back on his feet after his assault on a woman. Up till today, he doesn't have any major endorsements and some countries still deny him entrance into their country i.e Australia for something he did 7 years ago. Yes, violence against women is serious!

And there's the case of incitement. When you have power and influence, you have to be careful what you say in public. Because you have such power, 
something you say can influence your followers. A fan can commit acts that even you may not support or 
might not even condone. But because it came out of 
your mouth, they think you mean it. So it is 
irresponsible to say things that might be inciteful. In 
Law, you can be held responsible when people act based on what you said in public. Tupac was charged to court and indicted after some thugs killed a police officer. The thugs went to court and mentioned that their idol encouraged violence against LA police officers in a song where he said 'Drop a cop'. So, we folks with some measure of influence should be more careful with our utterances. People are watching and listening!

The second reason I filed a police report is to encourage other women in similar situations to do same. My dear ladies, if a man threatens to puts hands on you, and you feel the threat is real, report to the authorities. Don't wait until he does it. What if you don't survive it? If he's picked up and may be charged to court (yes, you can be charged to court for making threats...it's a misdemeanor with a prison sentence), then he will think twice before making threats against you in the future or any other woman for that matter.

I went as far as I did for me and for other women. This is to pass a strong message to our young men that these kinds of behaviour towards women will not be tolerated. Should not be tolerated. If you assault or even threaten to assault a woman, the law will come after you if she chooses not to be silent. Women, don't be silent. Let's break the circle. For your sake, for my sake, for the sake of our daughters, grand daughters, great grand daughters and all other women that will follow them.

And that's really all I have to say in the matter. Thank you guys for reading

And to Wizkid fans, please be rest assured that I wish him all the best in life. He will continue to grow from strength to strength (as long as he doesn't endorse violence against women) and his light will never diminish. God brought him to this level and will continue to keep him. I have nothing but love for his craft and hope that one day, we will put this behind us.
God bless him, me, you and everyone else in the world 
Cheers.

Oh and by the way, I'm starting my vlog series soon. #excited!




LIB

Ex Ekiti Speaker opens can of worms on Aluko

Ex-Speaker Dele Olugbemi, who brokered peace between Governor Ayodele Fayose and his embattled godson, Dr. Temitope Aluko (aka TKO) during the March 8 dramatic truce meeting that dumbfounded the world in Lagos, yesterday opened can of worms in reaction to Aluko’s allegation of perfecting the June 21 guber poll rigging in an hotel and alleged diverting of N5.2 billion refund for the rigging.

'Why I am angry with Buhari' -Audu Maikori

I am angry! During the last elections Nigerian youth were galvanized and they voted massively for change from the previous administration!
The results showed the role the youth played in effecting this victory for the ruling party.

Pope Francis takes 12 Syrian migrants to the Vatican

Pope Francis has taken 12 Syrian migrants back with him to the Vatican after visiting a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
The three families, including six children, are all Muslim and had their homes bombed during the Syrian war.
The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis wanted to "make a gesture of welcome'' to the refugees.
Thousands of migrants are now stuck on Lesbos after last month's EU-Turkey deal to try to ease the flow.
All of those leaving with the Pope were already living on Lesbos before the deal was implemented, the Vatican said.

Yuan swap deal : Sublime or Ridiculous?

Watch out all you dollar hoarders: the Chinese yuan is coming for you. Many financial analysts think the dollar under your pillow may soon be worth less than the rate at which you bought it. They think you run the risk of vomiting most of what you have swallowed since the forex crisis started. With the yuan going to be directly available to Nigerians — effectively eliminating the “middleman” called dollar — it is safe to say the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made a bold move in its controversial management of the exchange rate crisis, a move that some analysts believe may ease the demand pressure on the dollar, even if the gains would only be marginal.
For those who may still be in the dark, the news is that Nigeria and China have agreed in principle to a yuan swap. In simple English, it means Nigerians and Chinese would not need the dollar when they do international business with each other. Yuan will now be directly used. Currently, a Nigerian importer needs to buy dollars from the bank (or black market) in order to pay for Chinese goods and services, which are priced in dollars. This automatically puts pressure on the exchange rate. The dollar is then converted to yuan. In between, conversion charges are incurred. Now Chinese exports to Nigeria will be priced in yuan. That is the deal.
Why does a yuan swap matter? Good question. China is the biggest exporter to Nigeria — to the tune of over $14 billion yearly. Therefore, we can say the demand for dollar will drop by at least $14 billion when we do the swap deal. Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, will certainly sleep better if $14 billion can be struck off the FX demand list. That also means the naira may begin to lose less energy against the dollar. Many economists and experts still find it unpardonable that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to officially devalue the naira, and the jury is still out on the resort to unorthodox measures to “protect” the national currency.
Lest I forget, no deal has been signed yet. There are, thus, no details to discuss. By the time the CBN puts pen to paper with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), we will get to know how much is involved in the swap, how long the deal will last and what the exchange rate will be. The good news is that unlike many currencies, the exchange rate of yuan is not tied directly to the dollar. Rather, it is determined by a basket of currencies, even though the dollar is still a key determinant. There is a reference rate used by PBOC to attain “parity” — but we all know that the yuan is undervalued for economic reasons. Nigerians could, therefore, expect to buy a cheaper yuan.
Before we celebrate too much, there are possible downsides. The CBN must look at the details with a fine toothcomb, because the devil could be in the details. More importantly, Buhari must show the “political will” to protect Nigeria’s interest. He has said the right things — by insisting that Nigeria will not become a dumping ground for Chinese exports, and that the Chinese should come and establish factories in Nigeria. This is beautiful. The next thing is action. We have heard a lot of that rhetoric in the past but a lack of will means we do not follow through. The Chinese could end up enjoying all the benefits while we come out empty-handed.