President To Sell Off Some Aircrafts In Presidential Fleet

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="buhari-arrives10" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="211" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/buhari-arrives10.jpg" width="400" /> </div> <br /> <br /> This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.<br /> President Muhammadu Buhari is set to sell of some aircraft which make up the presidential fleet.<img alt="t" class=" wp-image-196083 aligncenter" height="267" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.naijaloaded.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/t.jpg?resize=470%2C267" width="470" /><br /> This was disclosed by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.<br /> Shehu said via Twitter on September 8<br /> <blockquote> “There is a govt committee already in place, working to reduce the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet,”</blockquote> The presidential aide made the comment after being challenged by Omojuwa.com Chief strategist Japheth Omojuwa following the launch of Buhari’s “Change Begins With Me” campaign.<br /> During the launch, Buhari urged Nigerians to start changing their bad habits before expecting change of the government.<br /> Omojuwa however urged the president to reduce the presidential fleet before expecting Nigerians to change.<br /> “Change begins with selling the presidential jets.<br /> ONLY a genuinely rich country should think of having up to 3. We have about 10 jets,” he tweeted.<img alt="t1" class=" wp-image-196084 aligncenter" height="226" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.naijaloaded.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/t1.jpg?resize=443%2C226" width="443" /><br /> Meanwhile, civic organization, BudgIT has also called on Buhari to lead change in the country by setting a good example for citizens to follow.<br /> source: omojuwa

President To Sell Off Some Aircrafts In Presidential Fleet

BASAM 0 10:59:00

This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. President Muhammadu Buhari is set to sell of some aircraft which make up … link to this post

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Pray for me to have children – Funke Akindele begs fans

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="funke-akindeleoloye-ipy2013" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="364" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/funke-akindeleoloye-ipy2013.jpg" width="619" /> </div> <br /> <br /> Popular Nollywood comic actress, Funke Akindele, has made a passionate appeal to her fans over her childlessness, urging them to pray for her.<br /> The actress cum producer recently got married to Nigerian rapper, Abdul Rasheed Bello also known as JJC Skillz in London, after her failed marriage to her first husband, Kehinde Almaro of Oloyede.<br /> While JJC Skillz has four children from different women, Funke is yet to have her own child.<br /> Funke who is the producer of, Jenifa’s Diary, in a statement on her Facebook page, urged fans to pray she conceived and delivered safely in her new home.<br /> Imploring them to share her prayer around, Funke wrote: “I’m not shy to say this,” she wrote.<br /> “PLS DONT IGNORE<br /> “You all know I, Funke Akindele Jenifa has been married for a while now without any issue.<br /> “Some have even laughed at me, insulted me, judged me without knowing the pains I go through. I put up every effort in entertaining my fans and Nigerians at large, I made you laugh and some would even say I’ve inspired them in one way or the other.<br /> “Now I’m in another man’s house.<br /> “Pls always put me in your prayers. I pray this year 2016 will not pass me by. I will not only give birth, but I will give birth safe and sound. As you write AMEN to this prayer, may God answer all your hidden prayers.<br /> “Pls why not write Amen?<br /> “Why not share this posts for others to say amen?<br /> “Your AMEN is so powerful. Type Amen on my behalf.<br /> “Even when I’m not happy, I still put up a smile face. Just for you my lovers, my fans. I love you all.”

Pray for me to have children – Funke Akindele begs fans

BASAM 0 10:56:00

Popular Nollywood comic actress, Funke Akindele, has made a passionate appeal to her fans over her childlessness, urging them to pray for her. The actress cum producer recently got mar… link to this post

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Reuben Abati: The True Meaning of Recession

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="image-container" itemprop="image" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="Dr. Reuben Abati" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="317" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ReubenAbati.jpg" width="423" /> <div class="caption"> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="description mt"> <i>Dr. Reuben Abati</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There have been interesting arguments over Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun’s observation that “recession is just a word,” and NAN MD, Bayo Onanuga claiming that reports of hardship in the land is exaggerated propaganda.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I think we need to break down the subject further from a layman’s perspective. Recession is a word, no doubt, but it is more than a word, it is an experience: the experience that the majority of Nigerians is going through. If you are at a significant remove from that experience, it may be difficult to know how it feels, and if you are an economist, you are likely to be conveniently obsessed with textbook ideas.Recession is when Nigerians begin to shift the traditional dates for social parties. You know we love parties a lot. Virtually every weekend, there is one party or the other, very loud celebrations where people wear the famous aso ebi, and the Naira becomes a flying object, being thrown all over the place, at the musician, the celebrant, and her friends and family, with so much joy floating in the air, and plates of jolloff rice, eaten half way and left to waste, area boys having their own share of the fun, and Nigerians showing the world that life is indeed for the living. Sometimes, these parties make no sense: imagine a man throwing a big party to “turn the back” of his great grandfather who died 50 years ago (!) – a great grandfather he never knew, or a lavish party to celebrate the purchase of a second-hand car. Those things are very rare these days. And when some parties are held, the date on the invitation card is during the week: can you imagine being invited to a wedding on a Monday? I have seen that happen. The event was over and done with before 5 p.m. Smart way to save money in a season of recession. There were guests of course, but not the kind of crowd you’d get at a typical Nigerian party on a Friday or Saturday. The celebrants actually confessed they didn’t have the means to feed too many people. That is what recession has done. Nobody boasts anymore about “declaring surplus” – a once-upon-a-time very famous phrase in this country!<br /> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When I was much younger, my friends and I used to gate-crash parties. Bored, with not much to do, we would dress up and go from one party to the other. It was called “mo gbo mo ya” – I heard and I came. In those days, all you needed was to go to a party to which you had not been invited, and without knowing anybody, you took a seat and before long, someone would come along and ask if you had eaten. In a matter of minutes, whatever you wanted would be placed before you. Drinks? Some friends used to boast about “finishing” a carton of beer, and they would have their fill and quietly sneak away. Try that these days and you would know that recession is more than a word. Virtually every party is now strictly by invitation. Even when it is not boldly stated on the invitation card, you’d get to know the truth when you attempt to gate-crash.Parties are now organised with such strict protocols, it is like trying to access Aso Villa. You would be screened, your bag will be checked, and don’t think it is Boko Haram attack they are afraid of, they just want to be sure you are not gate-crashing, and if you don’t have an invitation card, you would of course be turned back. There are some exceptions of course, where the protocol is a matter of security: particularly at those parties where there would be many VIPs. Nigerian VIPs don’t like to mix with just anybody. Even if you manage to gatecrash, nobody will attend to you. What operates at parties these days, is a KYG (Know-Your-Guest) system. After sitting down, someone has to identify you as his or her guest. You don’t get served food, unless your host or hostess gives specific instructions. And you can’t drink a carton of beer anymore at your host’s expense! I certainly can’t remember when last I saw anyone getting drunk at other people’s expense at a party. Even close friends of celebrants, the ones who are a bit comfortable, go to parties these days with their own small cooler of drinks. The celebrant will offer you one or two bottles. If you want more than that, the ushers could become hostile or they could tell you pointedly: “drinks have finished.” I have had on one occasion to give the ushers, money to go and get me the drink of my choice. But once upon a time in this country, drinks don’t stop flowing at parties. The host will be so ashamed he or she would order more drinks and apologize to no end.<br /> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Where I come from, local women used to go to parties with cellophane bags, hidden away somewhere, and when they are served food, they would pull out the cellophane bag and pour food into it, all of that is done under the table. Next thing: they will start harassing the ushers: “we have not eaten here oh. Nobody has given us drinks: drinks they have moved to their collection cellophane bags! But party organisers have also learnt to be vigilant: they serve table to table; map out the space carefully and monitor the tables. Before 2019, perhaps a time will come when ushers will take your photograph, or there will be CCTV monitors at social events, just so you don’t come back and say you have not been served. That is change. That is recession. If you are a man-about-town, you can’t fail to notice this: that something has indeed changed in the social circuit. But there is that one per cent crowd, whose pockets are still so deep, if you get invited to their parties, it is like going to a surplus declaration event, what Nigerians call “too much money.” Even that is changing though, people are learning to be careful, so they don’t get invited to come and explain how they came about so much money.Recession is when you now read in the newspapers virtually every week about people committing suicide. Nigerians are so fun-loving we were once described as the happiest people on earth. Right now, we will fail the test. Suicide used to be so rare in this country. It was considered impossible. Why would anyone want to kill himself? I used to hear people say: “eba is sweet oh, I can’t come and die” or “life is for the living” or “e go better.” People are not so sure anymore. In the past month, there have been reports about two foreigners doing business in Nigeria who have also committed suicide. Every reported suicide in recent times, has been tied, one way or the other, to the recession in the country. One man had an argument with his wife over school fees and housekeeping money and he went and ended it all. Another man actually left a note saying he had to kill himself because there is too much hardship in the country. Marriages are collapsing. Domestic violence is on the rise. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Husbands that are out of work can no longer maintain their families, they can’t pay school fees, they have become useless in their own homes, they are helpless. Their wives want to leave, even when they are not too sure of the next destination. There are at least two celebrated cases of women who have either slain their husbands or wounded them badly. In both cases, there was that notorious thing about a second woman in the background. Sharing what is not enough for one person with another woman, in a season of recession, could be a crime, but the biggest dysfunction is that of the pocket. One woman, a lawyer oh (!) stabbed her husband in the neck. Another after having sex with her husband, and putting him to sleep, got a machete and butchered him. The man is presently in what Yorubas call, “boya o ma ku, boya o maa ye” condition. Whether he would live or die is uncertain.Recession is when companies are retrenching everyday or closing shop and SMEs are dying. In the last one year, high unemployment figures have been announced. Banks have had to shed weight; the foreign exchange crisis has forced many companies to downsize or abandon Nigeria, investors are taking their funds out of the country, many states of the Federation are so much in distress, they have stopped paying salaries. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Civil servants cannot even afford a bag of rice, because their minimum wage is N18, 000 and a bag of rice is N22, 000 or higher in some places. Recession is when Nigerians now steal pots of soup and basic food items, and they can’t buy rams for Sallah, and they are told “don’t worry, change begins with you!” Every worker who has lost his or her job in the last one year is not the only one affected, the knock-on effect has brought anguish to other dependants, who now have a bread-winner behaving like a bread seeker. That is recession. That is hardship.Recession is when enjoyment spots that used to be filled up every Friday evening are now empty. Nigerians used to celebrate what they call “Thank God it is Friday.” In Lagos, Friday evenings used to be the boys’ night. Husbands didn’t go home early. These days, husbands go home early and Fridays have become slightly boring. Recession is when prostitutes reduce their charges. I have it on good authority, from those who know, that even prostitutes have had to embrace change. And old girlfriends now demand pension benefits. Recession is when families which used to run the generator 24 hours and boast that their children can’t stand heat, have had to adjust, and run the generator only from 12 midnight, or before. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Recession is when men come out and complain that their wives no longer allow them to touch them: “Are you mad? With the way things are, all you think of is sex?” Kama Sutra rites are best enjoyed only in happy lands. Recession is when in spite of all this, the breweries in Nigeria are posting unbelievable record profits and smiling to the banks. The men go home and privately drown their sorrow in bottles. Mrs. Adeosun, this is the true meaning of recession.</div>

Reuben Abati: The True Meaning of Recession

BASAM 0 10:54:00

Dr. Reuben Abati There have been interesting arguments over Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun’s observation that “recession is just a word,” and NAN MD, Bayo Onanuga claiming that reports of hardship in the la… link to this post

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Patience Jonathan, allegedly claims ownership of $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzD8S5kCJ4xSwWsNkUsjb9keIhwEuicCPeOoIN1FMcSM-eNCqN-NPAwslKrDTb6es3ZTLAoJfynSzAIY4ovULkUzv1nJyqkOBskZ7wgNiSuI2kJftYhfxvC5AAX_Up_buxPc_AmOK7B9Z/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzD8S5kCJ4xSwWsNkUsjb9keIhwEuicCPeOoIN1FMcSM-eNCqN-NPAwslKrDTb6es3ZTLAoJfynSzAIY4ovULkUzv1nJyqkOBskZ7wgNiSuI2kJftYhfxvC5AAX_Up_buxPc_AmOK7B9Z/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Former First lady, Patience Jonathan, has allegedly told a court that the sum of $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court in Lagos, that was frozen, belongs to her.<br /> <br /> According to <a href="http://guardian.ng/news/patience-jonathan-tells-court-frozen-account-belongs-to-her/" target="_blank">Guardian</a>, counsel to the first defendant in charge with case number FHC/337C/16, Gboyega Oduwole, informed the court that Patience Jonathan filed a fundamental application against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claiming ownership of the money.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>The EFCC had taken former presidential aide, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, former Skye Bank official, Damola Bolodeoku, Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited to court in an alleged $31.4 million fraud involving the companies without addresses.<br /> <br /> Others also charged include Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.<br /> <br /> According to an application filed on September 6th, with file number FHC/L/C5/1233/16, the former First lady allegedly asked the court to make an order for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, in terms of reliefs she sought, and naming as defendants, the EFCC and Skye Bank Plc.<br /> <br /> The former first lady asked the court to make a declaration that the fund standing to the credit of four of the companies and an account in her own name in Skye Bank belonged to her. She also asked the court to declare that the action of the respondents in placing a No Debit/Freezing Order on the said accounts without any order of a competent court of law or prior notice to her, to be in breach of her fundamental rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Patience Jonathan, allegedly claims ownership of $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case

BASAM 0 10:53:00

Former First lady, Patience Jonathan, has allegedly told a court that the sum of $31.4 million involved in an alleged fraud case before a Federal High Court in Lagos, that was frozen, belongs to her. According to Guardian, counsel to the first d… link to this post

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Man U 1-2 Man City 'Pep Guardiola defeats Mourinho'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXH5mtzUWijwiKPiWZ-SgjH-g9ZXK5Z04hS8h_4FDkLD8NsF4DrQoZcpZT7v3ExkB1ju8be8dHZRKeRpZ4qe1POlDEasTL69CAys_zur98DBv1hjh-jAeQtdAZSfU-YmZVkNtiPaObLJU/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXH5mtzUWijwiKPiWZ-SgjH-g9ZXK5Z04hS8h_4FDkLD8NsF4DrQoZcpZT7v3ExkB1ju8be8dHZRKeRpZ4qe1POlDEasTL69CAys_zur98DBv1hjh-jAeQtdAZSfU-YmZVkNtiPaObLJU/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> This was the match everyone had been waiting for. The battle of the titans, the battle of Manchester, the battle of Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho. Both teams wanted to win, as the scoreline will eventually have some bearing on who'll win the premier league this season.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaes4aH9ABVTaeWgiVSbTmUc-_2z0opO_i-frXQLiKLOsXSe4X4HHvIBZUwv_mbyaX_hw1OPvrQLMwLEER3HhYOFjQ6cQEzkNA3Tw53iQm9eCZylTm_U5cEhgBd0wYu3rsaVhyphenhyphenW8OeroR/s1600/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaes4aH9ABVTaeWgiVSbTmUc-_2z0opO_i-frXQLiKLOsXSe4X4HHvIBZUwv_mbyaX_hw1OPvrQLMwLEER3HhYOFjQ6cQEzkNA3Tw53iQm9eCZylTm_U5cEhgBd0wYu3rsaVhyphenhyphenW8OeroR/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div> Mourinho benched Mata, and surprisingly Rashford and started Lingard in the English youngster's place. Guardiola opted to start Kelechi Iheanacho for the suspended Aguero. Man City started with much more possession and passes and got their reward in the 15th minute as a headed pass from Iheanacho found Kevin De Bruyne who made Daley Blind look like an amateur defender as he left him in his wake and then slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.</div> <div> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVMCyHav-2zc7oADfmSx43KxoRMCWGmaAp44S7HKeuzI2uTg5HMpMJ7ISgH6_rTKl1yRqsRMdnMHnoy4Jq1i729BUmxu_ZTPIwunkSI6c8Cs4J-NTbejQf9-RniWmEXY_pFLf8Tpcsr-p/s1600/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVMCyHav-2zc7oADfmSx43KxoRMCWGmaAp44S7HKeuzI2uTg5HMpMJ7ISgH6_rTKl1yRqsRMdnMHnoy4Jq1i729BUmxu_ZTPIwunkSI6c8Cs4J-NTbejQf9-RniWmEXY_pFLf8Tpcsr-p/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> Man U 0- 1 Man City.</div> <div> </div> <div> Mkhitaryan was flagged for offside as he chased the ball through the centre. He didn’t hear the whistle,and went down under a challenge from Claudio Bravo to appeal for a penalty, but none was forthcoming. Man U was being outnumbered in the midfield department and had withdrawn into their own half at the first 30 minutes. Valencia was targeted as a weakness and was run ragged. Man City players were dominating, Man U had no answer. Lingard and Mkhitaryan were lazy, slow and poignant on the ball and their final thought process was lacking.</div> <div> </div> <div> Then in the 36th minute, Man U's old Trafford supporters were stunned. United’s defenders stood motionless as Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball in the penalty area and fired towards the bottom left-hand corner. The ball hit the foot of the upright and rebounded to Iheanacho who then slotted into the open net, a goal that might have been ruled as offside.</div> <div> </div> <div> Man U 0-2 Man City.</div> <div> <div> Then in the 42nd minute , the unexpected happened.</div> <div> Claudio Bravo Man City's new goalkeeper under pressure from John Stones, flapped at the ball and it broke to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who volleyed the ball into the net from a very tight angle. Only a very good footballer could shoot at first touch and score from such a tight angle. Nice one Zlat!</div> <div> </div> <div> Man U 1-2 Man City.</div> <div> </div> <div> Man U tried to score again and Bravo made another mistake but Ibrahimovic could only play a tame shot directly to the post.</div> </div> <div> </div> <div> The second half started with two changes as predicted. Jose Mourinho introduced Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera for Mhikitaryan and Lingard who were sloppy and ineffective in the first half.</div> <div> </div> <div> Immediately Rashford swung into action, went through the left wing and gave a pass to Ibrahimovic which the Swede shot off target.</div> <div> </div> <div> Man U seemed more confident and it seemed whatever Mourinho told his players at half time worked.</div> <div> Valencia was charging through the right while Rashford was menacing through the left.</div> <div> It was now wonderful end to end football, a pleasant spectacle for the neutrals.</div> <div> Man U attacked and defended , Man City attacked and defended.</div> <div> </div> <div> De Gea created wonderful play and sent Rashford gadding down the left flank with a wonderful pass. His attempt to pick out Ibrahimovic with a fine cross was cut out by Fernando’s crucial interception.</div> <div> </div> <div> Mourinho then introduced Martial for Shaw, Mourinho not wanting to lose this match took initiative and played with three defenders , with Rashford now playing centrally alongside Ibrahimovic while Martial played through the left interchanging at times to the right.</div> <div> Mourinho wanted to win this, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson could be seen nodding his head in disapproval, he couldn't believe the scoreline.</div> <div> 90 minutes with 5 minutes additional time. Mourinho was here fighting for a draw, Guardiola could feel a win, he had it in sight.</div> <div> </div> <div> Counter attacking move- Rashford to Rooney to Valencia to Pogba to Ibrahimovic whose shot was deflected for a corner.</div> <div> 93 minutes- two minutes to go.</div> <div> </div> <div> United were on the ascendancy and Rooney decided to launch a free-kick, Fellaini to Ibrahimovic to Pogba, the keeper Bravo scrambled for the ball, could this be the last chance, Stones was seen controlling the defence line.</div> <div> </div> <div> End! Manchester has been painted in full blue, at least till next year.</div> <div> Man City have now won four wins in four games, one could say City were worthy winners.</div> <div> Full time : Man U 1-2 Man City.</div> <div>                Mourinho 0- 1 Guardiola</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxuIQc1K17rwAKKZ35kJlMmuN1f4uthVX04VBvx4W2B9BqhYyFuO5m1D0Lj7b9fNvMvzvV_nOIbC3v6XneFnBwtnoqysNnm98RRAZunTWP576GRHkPmu7Dwcvsd5bziURpTdtJHAyierr/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxuIQc1K17rwAKKZ35kJlMmuN1f4uthVX04VBvx4W2B9BqhYyFuO5m1D0Lj7b9fNvMvzvV_nOIbC3v6XneFnBwtnoqysNnm98RRAZunTWP576GRHkPmu7Dwcvsd5bziURpTdtJHAyierr/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3BiGDOJdWJSOBkLQqT7aI6CF65A-02QAO6w4brVshJqufhtk0cysiUyxqBYqtk2mx_0A-Q6FuFrHQZ8eEc0EnWnlTfG3HTg_WsZkTB-vuVhVM8HHPb_LR7MhL8_wTTPlf3-fOZshFsfp/s1600/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3BiGDOJdWJSOBkLQqT7aI6CF65A-02QAO6w4brVshJqufhtk0cysiUyxqBYqtk2mx_0A-Q6FuFrHQZ8eEc0EnWnlTfG3HTg_WsZkTB-vuVhVM8HHPb_LR7MhL8_wTTPlf3-fOZshFsfp/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ1G0khr3mUSbaamA3ZVaUC0DnhLx22Ij_PS3TNE9EjFOUnxAdJ7v1h1cVTqIK7qE9s-6D5wAhOrjxii6eO-788zfwpD6JRXasokaz7HwIOXGjIio-OSUQGN4al7it9WxxP8OMXObumcn/s1600/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ1G0khr3mUSbaamA3ZVaUC0DnhLx22Ij_PS3TNE9EjFOUnxAdJ7v1h1cVTqIK7qE9s-6D5wAhOrjxii6eO-788zfwpD6JRXasokaz7HwIOXGjIio-OSUQGN4al7it9WxxP8OMXObumcn/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlghfVFlGuHWIWzHZj56S2TKtGyd2WDIMhEMRzAKA8aBpOlmwjAEugeS5KfvMMP7eDgF40pqQsCur2B8KPEakfQJby7HOtvPnMjm0_dPSKbcfYvU0MYyNlPG7of7dEtGlidz1FYeTVWhKY/s1600/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlghfVFlGuHWIWzHZj56S2TKtGyd2WDIMhEMRzAKA8aBpOlmwjAEugeS5KfvMMP7eDgF40pqQsCur2B8KPEakfQJby7HOtvPnMjm0_dPSKbcfYvU0MYyNlPG7of7dEtGlidz1FYeTVWhKY/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyg9RIbdEOTP1AltCv-pWbTBKS17_CeSv94qk0xt9qFP_kVeu-Sc5oS4Qcjl_lF7oINbLcmuEm9TJycYlRCn_tPS2l19yEc9LHcIwx9bngIQ69GJ1RFCU0s9PuGwkuq7nAeYVB_Yi_Mbf/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyg9RIbdEOTP1AltCv-pWbTBKS17_CeSv94qk0xt9qFP_kVeu-Sc5oS4Qcjl_lF7oINbLcmuEm9TJycYlRCn_tPS2l19yEc9LHcIwx9bngIQ69GJ1RFCU0s9PuGwkuq7nAeYVB_Yi_Mbf/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs7nSIwcjVw2mJxnHfwFnThL3SOlDyc_FRyMCMCTaHrhENvmw6hL338pvaZJ8vEcd8_3G1PVmdvUJXYoSYR7yfLMCIIwn9Z6L-xZcXT9K1JWFcxgqg7A_nehSVWsOOzKBbO_EkZz1Rroj/s1600/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs7nSIwcjVw2mJxnHfwFnThL3SOlDyc_FRyMCMCTaHrhENvmw6hL338pvaZJ8vEcd8_3G1PVmdvUJXYoSYR7yfLMCIIwn9Z6L-xZcXT9K1JWFcxgqg7A_nehSVWsOOzKBbO_EkZz1Rroj/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>

Man U 1-2 Man City 'Pep Guardiola defeats Mourinho'

BASAM 0 10:48:00

This was the match everyone had been waiting for. The battle of the titans, the battle of Manchester, the battle of Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho. Both teams wanted to win, as the scoreline will eventually have some bearing on who'll win the pre… link to this post

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Pendulum: Unveiling President Buhari’s Mindset

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjpQzGs1DxlNHMDoBMHwVexxcvS2n-b86AAtQahMhNT6qyKAZDz-NPKx_21SszQElkF-rT0_EzKMWmMjeOigr9omKHC8mdMIKKCLhQdphdO6ZeZabcqCL5qsPeBKW4x_q8jS-39lwceny/s1600/Momodu.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjpQzGs1DxlNHMDoBMHwVexxcvS2n-b86AAtQahMhNT6qyKAZDz-NPKx_21SszQElkF-rT0_EzKMWmMjeOigr9omKHC8mdMIKKCLhQdphdO6ZeZabcqCL5qsPeBKW4x_q8jS-39lwceny/s400/Momodu.jpg" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr"> <br /></div> <div dir="ltr"> By Dele Momodu <br /> Fellow Nigerians, I doubt if there is anyone who does not see and feel President Muhammadu Buhari is a complex character. As a matter of fact, that is the veritable hallmark of his persona and super brand. Those of us that supported him voluntarily, and almost blindly, last year did so out of our acute frustration with Project Nigeria. There were those who hated his guts but still went ahead to vote for him because they expected him to wave the fabled magic wand and bring sanity and succour to our insane clime. What no one bargained for was the repercussion, and reverberation, of such venture and adventure. As always, Nigerians felt their situation could never be worse under Buhari than that of the 16-year rule of profligacy of the PDP and the squander-manic regime of President Goodluck Jonathan.<br /> The APC operatives ran a blistering campaign with active collaboration and connivance from some of us. On the matter of the continuation of the Jonathan Presidency, there was no negotiation. Even now as people pummel us over the seeming inertia or retrogression of the Buhari government, I still stand by my decision to support Major General Muhammadu Buhari, warts and all. Walahi, I would have loved any of the combinations of Donald Duke, Nasir El Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, Mobola Johnson, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Nuhu Ribadu, Oby Ezekwesili, Charles Soludo, Akinwunmi Adesina, Pat Utomi, Kayode Fayemi, and some of our other tested and brightest young stars. They may have their personal foibles like all mortals do but I’m persuaded that Nigeria would have joined the comity of other nations parading some youthful cerebral leaders by now. But the ways of Nigerian politicians are not the ways of mere mortals. We have our unique and peculiar methods of doing things. Our incorrigibility is almost second to none. Everything about us is about self and self alone. Everyone’s permutation is about who is his friend, school mate, church member, Muslim brother, godfather or godson, village folk, and so on. It is not about what you know but more about who you know. Nepotism is the order of the day!<br /> That is why the best of themyriad of Nigerian brains would never be able to win elections at certain levels because of our irredeemable obsession with primordial and parochial sentiments. The import of my preamble is that Buhari was a product of our maddening and inordinate search for a near saint amongst us and he perfectly fitted the bill. Buhari himself must have assumed that the votes given to him were signed off carte-blanche and in blind trust. I’m sure he never expected that the honeymoon would not be an endless romance. But things and times have changed.It is now sour grapes time. Except for profiteers and/or pretenders who would not tell our President the gospel truth, things are falling apart. The reasons are not because of what Buhari and company are doing wrong but because of what they are not doing right which I hope to enumerate and dissect.<br /> I had chosen to write on this topic before I received the message quoted below from a young, concerned Nigerian reflecting on the “new” rebranding that we have been subjected to. His views mirror the present mood of the nation and the restiveness of our people especially the young ones who fought gallantly for Change and PMB!<br /> “President Buhari, with all due respect to your high office, you are losing me. What’s wrong? What’s wrong with your advisers? Who got you to sign up to the cliché called “Change Begins With Me” and to throw the weight of your office behind it? Did they put together a crack team of psychologists, communicators, sociologists, political scientists, etc? I refuse to believe that this programme, and especially the name, is the product of deep thinking and reflection.<br /> First, the idea that “Change Begins With Me”, renders all our efforts to get you elected in 2015 worthless. Heck, why did we bother? If it’s going to start with us Lilliputs, we might as well have left Goodluck Jonathan in office and allow him and his band of hopeless cohorts to get on with the good job they were doing of raping Nigeria. Don’t you get it? Change began with you! We, the people, already implemented the biggest change possible with turning around this country by electing you on the mantra of change. So why are you now passing the buck? The buck is on your desk. Make the change happen and we will follow from there. It’s over a year and many, sadly, are already suffering buyer’s remorse. Arrest the trend!<br /> Secondly, what change can any single individual put into action that will impact the culture and behaviour of 180 million people in double quick time? We are in a hurry, Mr. President. So much has been lost. So to rely on Adeola, Abubakar or Opara to start the change and hope that we will be counting gains in months is delusional. You don’t have all the time. We do not have the time. Start the Change!” – Chris Adetayo<br /> Let me reiterate that I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with some members of the Buhari administration. I can confirm that I have held discussions and communicated the feelings of both the rich and poor on the streets directly to them. However, I am not sure that they are in tune with the reality of things on this side of the divide. I believe I have sufficient knowledge of the political history of Nigeria. I’m afraid to say, I see the same symptoms of afflictions that ravaged previous governments and rendered them incapacitated. I’m saddened that no lessons seemed to have been learnt from our beleaguered past. Government appears to believe only in its own mind-set and every complaint or suggestion is summed up in some dangerous conclusions: the wailing wailers; corruption is fighting back; the suffering of Nigerians is exaggerated, etc.<br /> Equally worrisome is the apparent paranoia that has crept into our senior government officials. Every commentator or demonstrator is perceived an enemy of government. I was surprised to read how my childhood friend and brother, Femi Adesina, singled me out in his article yesterday and accused me of insinuating that he was too comfortable in Aso Rock. There are so many occupants in Aso Rock and I know the limits of Femi’s influence on the men of power. I can never blame him for what I clearly know is beyond him. He faces the same dilemma of his predecessors who found themselves defending the indefensible in order to exhibit their hard work, competence and loyalty. It is a delicate and thankless job that leads oftentimes to Golgotha. I love Femi so much that I would rather offer him my sincere prayers instead of hanging him.<br /> Let me go to the next case at hand. I could not believe the shabby treatment meted to Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and other members of the Bring Back Our Girls agitators. Their harmless and defenceless group is being harassed for merely exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights of expression, association and movement. They constitute no danger whatsoever to society. Even if President Buhari won’t receive or entertain them, a senior member of the Federal Government should have been assigned to meet, pacify and reassure them. Something is terminally wrong with our crisis management capabilities. Our proclivity for mismanaging and escalating troubles is legendary. This particular case is as disgraceful as it is unnecessary. Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, these were the friends of Buhari. They had pinned their hope on the muscular and military abilities of our President to liberate the Chibok girls in a jiffy. If things were proving difficult as it seems, constant dialogue is the only way out of the debacle. But the handlers of Buhari prefer to fuel the long held belief or myth that Buhari is a mean and ruthless man. This is not good. It also comes at the wrong time. This administration has been accused of several human rights abuses and, according to the Minster of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the President is heading for the United Nations on Tuesday to make the case that his administration is not guilty of such allegations. Intolerance for the rights of expression, association and movement cannot be a good way of making out such a case.<br /> Anyone who has met President Buhari would readily attest to his simplicity and humility. His witty jokes are remarkable and legendary, just like his hearty smiles and laughter are infectious. He certainly means well for Nigeria and wants to rid our nation of the debilitating cankerworm of corruption and indiscipline. Why,therefore, would anyone want to remind Nigerians that the Buhari in uniform is not different from Buhari, the born again democrat. Why are they compounding Buhari’s image of an irascible dictator? Buhari needs to make a conscious effort to tear the toga of vindictiveness and irritability that appears to surround him. The biggest image deficit he has today is due to the fact that his biggest pet project, the war against corruption, is believed to be largely uncoordinated and too staccato in outlook.<br /> It is difficult to ignore the cries of so many Nigerians who feel let down by a government that promised so much change but seems to have short-changed the people who saw Buhari as a liberator. Even if some of the most vociferous complainants are being cheeky and outright mischievous, many are doing so out of genuine concern. They do not want Buhari to fail. It is someone who loves you unconditionally that can do this. They are worried that the President behaves like a man who feels he has all the time in the world when in reality he has none. Some believe that he started fading and failing when he took his time in selecting his ministers and advisers. The intractable squabbles in his Party has also contributed to the lacklustre nature of his government. APC does not look or act like a Party in power. There seems to be no serious input from the Party to the affairs of government and governance.<br /> The government has been wobbling and fumbling by doing the same things PDP used to do that led to the disintegration of the biggest political party in Africa, according to their self-glorification. The war of attrition in PDP has been passed on to APC. A house divided against itself is inviting extermination. And whenever politicians fight dirty it affects governance adversely.<br /> The economy is in shambles and the commonest justification is that Jonathan’s gang looted the treasury. All that is well and good. But Nigerians knew this and therefore voted for Change! We promised to make things much better. Fighting corruption alone would not save Nigeria. We must fight endemic poverty. If Alhaji Lai Muhammed likes, let him launch a million campaigns and waste more scarce resources on doing a rehash of what past governments did that led nowhere. The Yoruba have a way of describing this kind of unproductive sermonisation: “Eni ebi npa ko gbo iwaasu!” (A hungry man does not listen to sermons in the church).<br /> What the people want to see are the following: a drastic reduction in the size and budget of our over-bloated governments; a sustained war against poverty; protection of lives and properties; creating a less rancorous atmosphere for businesses to thrive; special concessions and incentives to employers of labour; a stable currency;upgrading our educational system and making the schools’ curriculum more relevant to our communities and society in general;provision of social infrastructure, particularly power, good roads, hospitals and potable water;and so on.<br /> The mind-set of gloating over the fall of some former members of the privileged class is counter-productive. We must be careful of the image portrayed to foreign investors. Let government concentrate urgently on alleviating the suffering of the people. It is obvious that government may never be able to collect enough money back from the brigands and looters to make appreciable impact on our national treasury. We should stop building our castle in the air and start thinking outside the box.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjpQzGs1DxlNHMDoBMHwVexxcvS2n-b86AAtQahMhNT6qyKAZDz-NPKx_21SszQElkF-rT0_EzKMWmMjeOigr9omKHC8mdMIKKCLhQdphdO6ZeZabcqCL5qsPeBKW4x_q8jS-39lwceny/s1600/Momodu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /> </a> </div>

Pendulum: Unveiling President Buhari’s Mindset

BASAM 0 02:27:00

By Dele Momodu Fellow Nigerians, I doubt if there is anyone who does not see and feel President Muhammadu Buhari is a complex character. As a matter of fact, that is the veritable hallmark of his persona and super brand. Those of us that supported … link to this post

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