BABILOWN~Mawolè

Bénin : La Manipulation des Âmes, l’Âme Sœur de la Politique

Bénin : Eric Houndété, the Voice

Il ne faut pas prendre les Béninois pour des idiots  (…)  Le budget général de l’Etat 2012 a été réalisé avec une prévision de 3,5%.  Il fallait une production cotonnière de quatre cent mille tonnes au moins pour que le pays atteigne une croissance de plus de 4%. Mais on a fait une production de 239 mille tonnes et on nous parle de 5,4% de croissance. D’où est venue cette croissance. Quelle activité économique l’a propulsée ? (…) Nous avons de gros problèmes. Les Béninois n’arrivent plus à manger à leur faim. Ils ne sont pas heureux dans leur peau. Le maïs coute cher. Le gari coute cher.  Dixit Éric Hourdée …

Les Nouvelles du Pays : AGASU 2, ou le Cauchemar Béninois

Ghana : Obasanjo appeals to doctors to call off strike

A former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has added his voice to appeals to striking Ghanaian doctors to call off their industrial action. “No matter how right you are, you cannot shirk your responsibilities as doctors to your patients, whom you have sworn to save. Life lost cannot be resuscitated,” he stated. Chief Obasanjo made the appeal at a special congregation of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale during which an honorary doctorate degree was conferred on him for his selfless service to his country and humanity. Forty-seven students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences who graduated in Human Biology, Medicine and Surgery were awarded certificates. The new doctors were inducted into practice after taking their Hippocratic Oath, which was administered by Dr Eric Asamoah, the Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council. The Overall Best Graduate Award in Medicine was received by Dr Daniel Atubiga. The graduands are the second batch of medical students to be trained by the university since it started its clinical training at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Formerly, the students had their clinical training at the University of Ghana in Accra and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. To demonstrate their commitment to service and the nation, the new doctors were led by President Dramani Mahama to recite the national pledge. “As you take the Hippocratic Oath, my advice is that you abide by what you have sworn to do forever and ever, Amen,” the President told them.

Reiterating his appeal to the doctors to return to work, President Mahama urged them to do away with their entrenched position to save precious lives as the post- migration committee of the new salary structure sped up work to address the various grievances. He said the government was to embark on a recruitment drive of doctors into the security services to augment their capacity to deal with emergency health cases in the country. According to him, the decision to recruit more doctors into the security services was part of measures being considered by the government to address the health needs of Ghanaians whenever there was a crisis in the sector, as was currently being experienced with the doctors’ strike. The President further called on the graduands to accept posting to the rural communities where their services were equally needed and consider themselves as agents of change for a better Ghana continued

Toute Menace contre la Presse est une Menace contre la Démocratie

Nigeria : Toute Menace contre la Presse est une Menace contre la Démocratie

VIENNE, 24 Avril 2013 - L'Institut International de la Presse (IPI) a exprimé aujourd'hui son inquiétude sur la poursuite des journalistes Tony Amokeodo et Chibuzo Ukaibe du Groupe de presse Leadership Les rapports ont indiqué que Amokeodo, le nouveau Rédacteur en chef du Groupe et Ukaibe un journaliste politique, ont été de nouveau arrêtés le 15 Avril, et inculpés le lendemain devant une Haute Cour fédérale à Abuja, sur la base de 10 chefs d'accusation de complot et de faux. Ils sont actuellement en liberté sous caution. Les inculpations font suite à un article sur une information apparemment fuitée de la Présidence nigériane, et publié dans le Journal Leadership. L'article intitulé «L’Outrage Causée par les Directives Présidentielles sur Tinubu et l’APC », qui a été publié le 3 Avril, ainsi qu’une copie complète de la directive présidentielle, publiée le 4 Avril et sous-titrée «Les Borborygmes de la directive présidentielle », a déclenché la bagarre entre les autorités et le journal. Comme rapporté plus tôt ce mois-ci par IPI, le document reproduit par le Journal Leadership semble montrer comment le président tentait d'empêcher les quatre plus grands partis de l'opposition de fusionner, et semble indiquer que le gouvernement pourrait augmenter les prix des carburants à la veille des élections de 2015. Dans une déclaration publique, le porte-parole de l'Administration du président Goodluck Jonathan a nié l'authenticité des documents. Le 8 Avril, les journalistes ont été interpellés et questionnés sur leurs sources. Alors que Chinyere Fred-Adegbulugbe, directeur exécutif de Leadership-Dimanche, et Chuks Ohuegbe, rédacteur en chef, ont été libérés le soir même, Amokeodo et Ukaibe sont restés en garde à vue jusqu'au lendemain, et ont ensuite reçu l'ordre de se présenter à la police tous les jours à 10 heures pour des raisons non divulguées. Trad. et amené par Binason Avèkes

La nouvelle arrestation et les inculpations prononcées le lundi pourraient avoir un effet néfaste sur la liberté de la presse au Nigeria. Comme le Comité pour la protection des journalistes (CPJ) l’a souligné, sur la base du code pénal nigérian, des journalistes sont passibles de la peine de prison à vie pour avoir publié des documents sous un sceau présidentiel contrefait. Cependant, même s’ils ne sont pas inculpés de faux, les journalistes pourraient encore faire face à de longues peines, étant donné que le complot, l'une des autres accusations, est passible d'une peine de prison allant jusqu’à 58 ans. Dans un communiqué publié plus tôt ce mois-ci, le président du Comité National Nigérian de l’IPI M. Kabiru Yusuf, a critiqué les arrestations. « IPI Nigeria met en garde contre le recours à l'arbitraire dans le traitement des plaintes contre la presse. Toute menace contre la presse est une menace contre notre démocratie ", a déclaré M. Yusuf. M. Azubuike Ishiekwene, le directeur général du Groupe Leadership, quant à lui, se dit «convaincu que le cours de la justice et la bienséance prévaudront devant la cour. »

Nigéria : Perspectives et Réalités Socioéconomiques

Le ministre nigérian accuse de puissants lobbies de freiner les réformes du secteur de l'électricité Le ministre nigérian de l'Énergie, Chinedu Nebo, attribue la lenteur des réformes dans le secteur de l'électricité à de puissants lobbies  Le Nigeria va économiser 755 milliards de nairas grâce à son programme de métrologie légale Le ministre nigérian du Commerce et de l'investissement, Olusegun Aganga, estime que la mise en oeuvre d'une politique de mesure précise

Le gouvernement nigérian va créer 3,5 millions d'emplois dans le secteur agricole en 2015 Dans le but de réduire les chiffres du chômage croissant dans le pays, le gouvernement nigérian a déclaré qu'il va créer environ 3,5 millions

Nigeria: Give It to Nigerian Women

As part of Nigeria's centenary celebrations, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation organised a two-day conference to celebrate Nigerian women last week. Discussions at the event included issues concerning women in the country such as gender imbalance, violence against women including rape, and girl-child education. Deriving from discussions during the conference, a country report is expected soon. It was a well-deserved honour for famous Nigerian women of the past and the present. From the legendary queens Amina of Zazzau and Moremi of Ile Ife to last century's social, political and human rights activists such as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Gambo Sawaba and Margaret Ekpo, and more recently our internationally celebrated writers and artistes such as Chimamanda Adichie and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde [who has just made Time's 100 most influential people], the nation's women have been worth celebrating. Justice Aloma Mukhtar, the country's first female chief justice, is still in office. Yet, there is no denying the fact that the Nigerian woman has weathered many storms and is still facing numerous challenges usually fuelled by culture, religion and tradition.

For example, women have been subjugated economically, especially in terms of  access to financial services that would boost their business activities. And this is in spite of the generally acknowledged fact that, when it comes to repayment of loans, there are fewer women defaulters than men. It is gratifying that the House of Representatives recently passed a bill for an Act to eliminate all forms of violence against persons. The bill addresses issues of violence against women and harmful traditional practices. Nigerian women should seize the opportunity to liberate their hearts and minds. Many suffer in silence because, in the first place, traditions and cultures saliently approve certain crimes against women. Besides, financial dependence makes it impossible for them to seek redress most of the time. continued

Azura Power to Raise $700 Million to Build Nigerian Plant

April 25 (Bloomberg) -- Azura Power West Africa Ltd., a Nigerian electricity producer, plans to fund at least 70 percent of a $700 million plant in Benin City with debt from local and international markets, Chief Executive Officer David Ladipo said. Standard Chartered Bank Plc has been appointed to lead the fundraising, he said in an April 22 interview in the capital, Abuja. The International Finance Corp. and the Dutch development bank FMO will also participate, he said. “We expect to close the financing by the end of the year, do the ground-breaking and start construction,” Ladipo said. The IFC was appointed to work with FMO on the share of funds to come from “development finance” for the Azura plant, Desmond Dodd, a spokesman for the World Bank unit in Washington, said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. FMO will “arrange $450 million” with the IFC, Paul Hartogsveld, a Hague-based FMO spokesman, said today in an e-mailed response to questions. There were no immediate replies to e-mails sent to Standard Chartered seeking comment.

Blackouts are a daily occurrence in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people. Electricity demand is almost double the supply of about 4,000 megawatts. The government is offering incentives to investors, including five- year tax breaks and permission to charge higher electricity tariffs, according to the Abuja-based Bureau of Public Enterprises. Four equity partners including Amaya Capital Partners, Aldwych International, Asset & Resource Management Co., and African Infrastructure Investment Managers will provide the remaining 30 percent of the funds, Ladipo said. continued

Aflao Police begin investigation into seized fake dollars

The Aflao Police is investigating a 26-year-old Ghanaian driver who was caught with fake 100 dollar notes. Emmanuel Daizey was apprehended by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at the Dabala check point last Friday with the fake dollars concealed in a bag. The Aflao Divisional Police Commander; Chief Superintendant Emmanuel Odonkor tells Citi News the suspect will be arraigned before the court after forensic analysis on the dollar bills. “He is being interrogated and we will pass on the alleged fake currency to the CIA headquarters for forensic analysis. At the end of the forensic analysis, we will then be able to say whether we are prosecuting him or otherwise,” he stated. “When we counted it, it was $487,200 all of which were in 100 dollar bills,” he added. The Aflao Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the GRA Mr Ben Berkley, stated that the Nigerian-registered BMW saloon car,

AGL 178 AZ, at around 0840 hours, pulled up at the checkpoint and during normal routine checks personnel found three parcels in a bag. According to him, when the parcels were opened, they discovered the currency notes, when the authenticity of the dollar was checked at the Aflao branch of ECOBANK they were found to be fake. According to the driver, the bag in which the currency notes were found was given to him by someone in continued

Nigeria gets N136.7b to fight AIDS, TB, malaria

AHEAD of the World Malaria Day (WMD) Thursday, Nigeria has so far through the funding of public health programmes and institutions as well as non-governmental and civil society organisations’ health programmes, received a total of about $829 million (N136.7 billion) from the Global Fund on AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) to fight the three killer diseases out of a total approved funding of $1.4 billion (N231 billion). Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement yesterday ahead of the WMD said 50 of the 99 countries with ongoing transmission are now on track to meet the 2015 World Health Assembly (WHA) target of reducing incidence rates by more than 75 per cent with malaria mortality rates having fallen by more than 25 per cent since 2000. The global theme for the WMD for 2013 and the coming years is “Invest in the future. Defeat malaria.” Executive Director of the Fund, Dr. Mark Dybul, during a courtesy call to the office of Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday in Abuja said that the purpose of his visit was to know how countries supported by the Fund were faring, the value of money the Fund is investing in Africa and Nigeria in particular on the three diseases, and to also look at the proportion of Global Fund’s contributions to the control of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), tuberculosis (TB) and malaria in the country. Dybul recalled that the GFATM was created to complement government resources to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. “To date, through funding of public health programmes and institutions as well as non-governmental and civil society

organisations’ health programmes, Nigeria has received a total of about $829 million from the Fund out of a total approved funding of $1.4 billion,” he said. In another forum the Federal Government is said to be losing about N132 billion yearly on malaria management alone even as experts have called on the National Assembly to come out with legislation on more funding for malaria control in Nigeria. These positions were made known yesterday in Calabar, Cross River State at an event to begin this year’s World Malaria day. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Health in Cross River State, Dr. Iyam Ugot said that the Federal Government loses an estimated N132 billion yearly on malaria alone “in terms of malaria treatment, control, prevention and absenteeism form work in totality”. In Cross River alone, Ugot said that the Roll Back Malaria office in the state had distributed over 1.4 million Long Lasting Mosquito Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN). continued

Nigeria: APC will Crumble and Disappear by 2014, Says Doyin Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Tuesday described the merger of opposition political parties on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a weak association that would crumble and disappear by 2014, a year to the general election. Okupe, who paid a courtesy visit to THISDAY corporate office in Apapa, Lagos, dismissed the view that the merger would rout the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next election, noting that the forces behind the merger are not serious-minded people capable of causing a major upset in national politics. While hinging his prediction on the projection that the president’s joker, which is stable electricity, would have been attained by 2014, Okupe noted that if stable power which is critical to the opposition would be punctured and rendered ineffective. “Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari are not serious-minded people; they are going round like people dancing in a market place. I expect that when you post an aggregate of people of that calibre, who want to run government, by now they must have a policy statement on power, agriculture and employment and not just talking about PDP leaving. “Is it by mouth that they will run the nation? These are not serious-minded people. Can someone get your vote by using word of mouth that PDP should leave without a policy?

“Tinubu has ridden roughshod over the South-west. But Nigeria is bigger than that. This is their first time out in national politics; alright, and let me give you some bad news: the relevance that ACN has in Nigerian politics is that they are a Yoruba party. That is what makes them relevant in politics and by dropping that toga, the party is dead. “They have just formed an abyss; a formless abyss that the Yoruba cannot key-into. The Yoruba have always been members of a regional organisation – Action Group (AG) , Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), etc. And in any case, what are the electoral credentials of ACN? How many states have they won that they are boasting? continued

Nigeria: Ban 'Shocked and Saddened' By Civilian Deaths…

Nigeria: Ban 'Shocked and Saddened' By Civilian Deaths in Nigeria Violence

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced shock and sadness today at reports of high numbers of civilians killed in Nigeria's Borno State following armed clashes there between Government forces and an extremist group. Over the weekend, fighting between Nigeria's military and Islamic extremists caused the deaths of at least 185 people in the northeastern town of Baga, media sources have reported. "The Secretary-General reiterates his firm conviction that no objective sought can justify this resort to violence," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement. "He expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and calls on all extremist groups to cease their attacks."

Violence fuelled by sectarian motives is not uncommon in Nigeria where the Islamist group, Boko Haram, has frequently resorted to targeting civilians. Last year, over 100 people were killed when the radical group attacked churches in Kaduna State, drawing widespread condemnation from the UN. Mr. Ban "underscores the need for all concerned to full respect human rights and safeguard the lives of civilians," the Secre continued

Nigeria: Tony Blair to Jonathan - Provide Security for Nigerians!

The insecurity challenge facing the nation echoed in Lagos yesterday when former British Prime Minister Tony Blair told President Goodluck to provide security for Nigerians. Blair also asked the Nigerian government to put opportunities in the hands of the masses. But Jonathan said that there is hope for the country notwithstanding the challenges of the transformation programme of his administration. Blair and Jonathan spoke at the opening ceremony of the Rock Cathedral Metropolitan Church of Christ, Lagos. "There is need for safety and security of the people,"the former British prime minister said. According to him, "the society flourishes when the people feel a sense of freedom, when they feel free and have sense of security." In apparent reference to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, Blair said: "For total and stable national transformation to take place in any country, there is need for the people to be happy and the need for government to provide adequate power supply, construct new roads, eradicate polio, ensure job creation and do other things that make life meaningful. "Nigeria should be hopeful because of its people; Nigeria will be built by the strength and dedication of Nigerians.

There is no progress in the midst of violence. People of the same faith can  come together, learn to love one another and see one another as humans". Jonathan, in his speech at the occasion, tasked Nigerians on the need to collectively work towards the attainment of peace in the country, adding that the country is in the process of attaining transformation. From left; Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; President Goodluck Jonathan and Rev. Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor All House on the Rock at the opening ceremony of the Rock Cathedral Metropolitan Church of Christ, yesterday, in Lagos. The president described the present challenges confronting the nation as a sign of transformation. continued

Influx of Chinese goldminers sparks tensions in Ghana

Illegal small-scale mines are an opportunity for poor Chinese immigrants – but are blamed for environmental destruction

Huang Ren Zhong's striped parasol stands out against the muddy cliff of excavated earth. The horizon is fringed with the tall trees of the Ghanaian rainforest, but for Huang, this dilapidated shelter is his only shade from the sweltering tropical sun. He and his Chinese colleagues take turns to sit under it, overseeing the digging and churning of the murky water beneath them, where they are mining a huge pit for gold. Two years ago, Huang, 40, left his tea farm in China's Guangdong province to seek riches here in west Africa. Since then his work has been hot and arduous, and at times dangerous but, by his standards, the rewards are great. Huang says he makes about 4,000 yuan – £420 – a month. His salary is paid straight to his family in China, after the money he needs to live has been deducted. "The work is difficult. [But] I came here to make money," said Huang. "In China, I was average or poor. To have the opportunity to travel abroad [and] make more money is fantastic." Huang works in one of many illegal small-scale goldmines in Ghana, Africa's second largest gold producer. Ghana's minerals commission, which provides permits for small mines, has not authorised the site. Foreigners are banned from working in Ghana's small-scale mining industry, which was formalised in the 1980s to bring much-needed income to poor, rural communities. Figures for the scale of illegal mining are non-existent because the Ghanaian authorities struggle to address the problem. But 23% of Ghana's gold production is from small-scale mining. Some estimates calculate that 95% of all small-scale mining in Ghana is illegal.

The authorities admit that the influx of Chinese miners and their wealthy backers is causing environmental destruction and social conflict on an unprecedented scale. The Chinese have invested millions of dollars in excavators and industrial equipment. "The scale [of illegal mining in Ghana] is so vast it is difficult to actually quantify," said Brigadier General Daniel Mishio, chairman of Ghana's national security commission for lands and natural resources. "Apart from the security threat that is posed by the weapons that [illegal miners] wield, we even also have issues of human security," he said. "In certain areas, people don't even get clean drinking water, and in some areas you can see that most of the forest cover has been destroyed. This poses a very big danger to our future." The work is also risky: last week 17 people were killed at a mine in Kyekyiwere in central Ghana. Mishio leads a taskforce conducting raids on illegal mines. Last month 120 Chinese miners were arrested . continued

Nigeria: Tanker Fire Destroys Over 30 Houses, Shops in Ibadan

Over 30 houses and shops were Monday razed in Omitowoju area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in a late afternoon inferno caused by a petrol-laden tanker which fell on a road side. THISDAY learnt that the fully loaded tanker was trying to link Inalende road towards the Mokola round about area of the city when the driver lost control falling on its side while its 33,000 litres content which spilled on the gutter immediately sparked fire. It was gathered that the driver of the tanker took the densely populated area due to the closure of the Dugbe/Mokola road as a result of the ongoing construction of an overhead bridge in Mokola by the state government.

While the fire was still burning as at the time of filling this report, the effect of the inferno led to traffic jam at the area by many sympathisers who with the men of the state fire service were trying to put out the fire. According to an eye witness, when the tanker fell, people in the area rushed out of their houses and afterwards the entire area was enveloped in a thick smoke. continued

Nigeria: Alleged Treason - Supreme Court Okays MASSOB for Trial

Nigeria: Alleged Treason - Supreme Court Okays MASSOB Leader, Uwazuruike, Six Others for Trial

The Supreme Court, Friday, gave the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Mohammed Adoke Bello, SAN, the nod to prosecute the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and six others, for allegedly committing treason against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A five- man panel of justices of the apex court led by Justice Mahmud Mohammed, dismissed an appeal before it by the accused MASSOB members, saying that their "trial should proceed with dispatch." However, the Supreme Court's decision triggered angry reactions from Igbo, most of who described the Federal Government position on MASSOB as absurd, especially in "view of the kid glove approach it had adopted in the case of Boko Haram adherents who are being considered for amnesty." Chief Raph Uwazuruike and Late Ojukwu Aside Uwazurike, the other accused persons the apex court directed the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to promptly commence their trial included Ambrose Anyaso, Augustine Ihuoma, Chibuike Nwosu, Kelechi Ubabuike, Chimankpa Okorocha and Benedict Alakwem.

The Federal Government had on November 8, 2005, arraigned the accused persons before the Federal High Court, on a four-count criminal charge bothering on treasonable felony. The government had alleged that the accused persons who it said were top officials at the MASSOB headquarters situated at Okwe, Onu-Imo Local Government Area of Imo State, on diverse dates between January 2004 and October 2005, at Owerri and other places in Nigeria, "with intent to levy war, overawe and overthrow the legitimate government of Nigeria," conspired to commit felony to wit: treason against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, contrary to Sections 37 (2), 62(2) (1) 64, 237 (1) of the Criminal Code Act Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and p … continued

LETTRE OUVERTE A YAYI BONI A PROPOS DE LA PLAINTE…

LETTRE OUVERTE A YAYI BONI A PROPOS DE LA PLAINTE  CONTRE LE JOURNAL «  LA NOUVELLE TRIBUNE DU BENIN »

Par le Collectif Emile ZOLACIAJI

Babilown/la Semaine

POUR LA LIBERATION DE K. MAMPO GILBERT. Le PCB s’Insurge contre le Harcèlement des Journaux Libres Nigeria bans film on oil corruption, warns director Réaction de M. Kolawole Idji à la “Dynamique du Silence” Bénin : la Dynamique du Silence de l'Opposition 2I Interview de Yayi Boni sur la visite de M Ahmadinejad L’Attentisme Affligeant de l’Afrique à l’Heure où la Corée … Reborn Nigeria train trip tells nation's history

POUR LA LIBERATION DE K. MAMPO GILBERT.

Le PCB s’Insurge contre le Harcèlement des Journaux Libres

Nigeria bans film on oil corruption, warns director

Lagos, Nigeria, April 17, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a recent decision by the Nigerian government to ban the exhibition and distribution of a documentary film on corruption in the state's management of oil wealth, "Fuelling Poverty." In an April 8 ruling reviewed by CPJ, the federal government-run National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) called the contents of the 30-minute film by Ishaya Bako, "highly provocative and likely to incite or encourage public disorder and undermine national security." The board, whose members are all appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan, warned Bako that "all relevant national security agencies are on the alert" to ensure that he does not exhibit or distribute the film. Bako told CPJ that the board's refusal to grant his application, which he said he filed in November 2012, means no Nigerian cinemas or TV stations are allowed to air the film. He said he is contemplating appealing the board's decision. "I am so disappointed because all the information in the film is actually available on the Internet," Bako said. "Instead of banning the documentary 'Fuelling Poverty,' authorities should look into the important questions it raises about corruption and impunity in the country's oil sector and at the highest levels of

government," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita from New York. "We urge Nigeria's National Film and Video Censors Board to overturn this censorship order." Neither Patricia Bala, the NFVCB's acting director-general, nor spokesman Tanko Yunusa Abdullahi responded to CPJ's inquiries on how the board made its determination. Bako, in partnership with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), premiered the documentary in Nigeria in November 2012. It was screened at the 20th New York African Film Festival this month and has been nominated for Best Documentary at the 2013 African Movie Academy Awards to be held April 20. continued

Nigeria : la Pauvreté, ça Carbure ! !

Senegal to Nigeria superhighway still stuck in a rut

It has been so many decades in the planning that the original proposals are written by typewriter, and two of the countries involved had different names. But when the trans-west African highway network was envisaged in 1967, it was seen as an essential way of stimulating growth and promoting tourism in west African countries. More than 40 years later, the project – intended to link the Senegalese capital Dakar on Africa's western coast with Nigeria's commercial hub Lagos in central-west Africa – has still not been completed. But governments in west Africa and international organisations insist that the vision still exists. I'm driving along part of the route in Ghana. The country's first six-lane road, the George Walker Bush motorway (pdf) opened last year and was named after the former American president as a gesture of friendship between the two countries. Street lights along the route – still rare on Ghana's main roads – are decorated with American and Ghanaian flags. The "George W Bush", as it's popularly known in Ghana, begins at the labyrinthine Tetteh Quarshie interchange just north of the capital Accra, beside its first modern shopping complex, the Accra mall. It carries an estimated 36,000 vehicles per day, and – despite frequent traffic lights and pedestrian crossings – has reduced peak travel time between Tetteh Quarshie and Accra's western suburbs from one hour to 20 minutes.

But the motorway is only 14km (eight miles) long. The trunk road continues for around another 20km, then I spend more than an hour sitting in stationary traffic, first at a toll booth, then at a police roadblock in the suburban town of Kasua. The road then shrinks to a two-lane road of varying quality west through Cape Coast and oil hub Takoradi, before becoming increasingly potholed as it continues on to the border with Ivory Coast. Independent west Africa's founding fathers envisaged a high-speed road more than 4,000km long that would facilitate links between Ghana, Ivory Coast and other countries, with a reliable road and harmonised customs procedures. continued

Réaction de M. Kolawole Idji à la “Dynamique du Silence”

Je viens ici m'acquitter d'une obligation de gratitude et remercier humblement mais publiquement m. Eloi Goutchili pour les immenses travaux patriotiques qu'il accomplit, et dont le moindre n'est pas la réflexion profonde consignée dans l'article publié ici même et intitulé " la dynamique du silence de l'opposition "... Cette production intellectuelle majeure m'a soulevé d'un enthousiasme qui ne faiblit pas... Elle orientera, j'en suis sûr, toute réflexion future sur la politique au Bénin, en Afrique et dans le monde!! Et j'ai enfin compris que l'opposition béninoise n'existe et ne peut exister que par rapport à Me Adrien Houngbedji, ses vastes projets et ses nobles ambitions!! Je suis heureux de comprendre que ce dernier n'a plus, aujourd'hui,ni raison ni intérêt à se battre comme un bouledogue forcené contre un adversaire de pure circonstance... J'ai enfin compris que, dans ces conditions, le saprophyte que je n'ai jamais cessé d'être ne pouvait que se taire! Merci,  Maitre Goutchili, de m'avoir remis dans le droit chemin! Je m'égarais en  effet, en considérations complètement fausses!! Je me disais que personne ne m'entend ni moi ni mes autres camarades malgré nos cris et nos hurlements parce que M.Yayi Boni a réussi comme personne avant lui à rendre sourds tous les bons entendants en mettant sous sa botte toutes les institutions de la République, toutes les institutions de régulation et de contre-pouvoir, tous les moyens de communication, - presse écrite et audio-visuelle- et qu'il met tout en œuvre pour tuer tous les partis politiques, et toute puissance économique et financière qui refuse de lui faire allégeance. Dans mon égarement, je me disais encore que la pauvreté , qui s'étend de nos jours dans tout le Benin comme une tumeur maligne, même si elle peut

conduire à des explosions spontanées d'une très grande violence, ne crée pas par elle-même un terreau propice à l'action démocratique organisée.  Bien au contraire!! Je me disais encore, dans ma petite tête bien naïve, que ceux qui ne s'informent que sur internet, sur RFI ou France 24, ne  sont pas nécessairement les plus aptes à percevoir les actes de l'opposition véritable, l'opposition populaire, dont les grondements sourds proviennent de nos brousses, de nos villages, de nos hameaux, de nos champs, de nos écoles, des quartiers populaires de nos grandes villes... Je me suis rendu coupable, je l'avoue, de croire que la complicité d'une majorité opportuniste dans la classe politique, subjuguée par la corruption, l'argent et les chantages en tous genres, n'enlevait rien au mérite des quelques résistants qui persistent,pauvres petits grillons dans la colossale usine métallurgique du " Changement "!!! Et je vais avouer, comme pour paraphraser l'autre, que Maître Éloi Goutchili m'a réveillé de mon sommeil dogmatique! Je sais désormais que toute lutte au Benin et même la vie s'organisent autour d'un référentiel absolu, Houngbedji Adrien... Merci Maître! K. A. I La Dynamique du Silence

Nigeria: Group Condemns Mend's Threat to Attack Mosques

An Islamic organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Tuesday said the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, to attack mosques and some Islamic institutions was unjustified. MURIC's Director, Professor Is-haq Akintola, said in a statement issued in Ibadan that the timing of MEND's threat was wrong, uncoordinated and illogical. Mr. Akintola said the organisation's position was based on the fact that the Federal Government had been working vigorously to stem the Boko Haram menace. The statement said: "The fact that MEND's threat is coming just when light starts to appear at the end of the dark tunnel is quite interesting; it raises more questions than answers. "The Federal Government has been working round the clock to find a solution to the Boko Haram menace. Why not allow the FG to conclude its plans? "

It urged Muslims and Christians to disown the threat as a mere cover up of MEND's agenda; which was not in the interest of brokering peace as portrayed. "Christian and Muslim groups in the country have been consistent in our condemnation of the attacks carried out by the Boko Haram group. "We have long disowned Boko Haram and washed our hands off their atrocities. continued

Bénin : la Dynamique du Silence de l'Opposition

Mon idéo va, court, vole et tombe sur :
Sacré Domino

User du mot dynamique pour expliquer un silence, c'est-à-dire le manque de mouvement du corps politique au Bénin, est apparemment un contresens physique. Mais le mouvement nul, considéré comme un cas particulier de mouvement, exprime un jeu de forces de résultante nulle. Et plus que cette nullité vectorielle, le concept de dynamique nous renseigne sur les vecteurs eux-mêmes, leur norme, et leur direction. Puisque le silence du corps politique face à un pouvoir de plus en plus autocratique et médiocre est daté, c’est qu'il procède d'une histoire, qui aurait pu commencer par l'expression consacrée « il était une fois ». Mais outre cette expression, nous dirons que l'origine du silence commence avec la décision fort compréhensible de Me Adrien Houngbédji de faire un retrait de corps de la vie politique ambiante après son échec consécutif au holdup électoral de mars 2011. Après le holdup, et ulcéré par cet énième acte d’injustice, l'homme refuse de jouer les taureaux qui foncent tête baissée sur la muleta du pouvoir. Mais l'antique horde des politiciens qui déjà en 2006 avait contribué ouvertement à sa défaite sous la bannière de Wologuèdè a résolu d’atteindre le même objectif en jouant dans le clair-obscur. La Tourbe malicieuse tirait sa force et son intérêt du fait que M.  Houngbédji jouait les bouledogues remontés contre le pouvoir.

Puisque le vieil opposant et éternel candidat n'a plus aucune raison de s'opposer au pouvoir, en entérinant ce vide de motivation, et en tirant toutes les conclusions qui en découlent, il prive la horde malicieuse des profiteurs ambigus de l'indice même de leur valeur sur le marché politique. Car, ils n'avaient de valeur aux yeux de Yayi que tant que M. Houngbédji faisait peur à celui-ci. Dans ce cas jadis, ils pouvaient parler avec Me Houngbédji le jour et aller voir Yayi la nuit pour le rassurer. Maintenant que M. Houngbédji refuse de jouer les bouledogues remontés contre le pouvoir, les compères perdent leur moyen, n'ont plus rien à dire à Yayi, de jour comme de nuit. En un seul tenant, ils ont perdu raison d’être et toute valeur, d'où leur silence : le silence de l’un entraîne ipso facto celui des autres, de tous les autres… Sacré domino ! Éloi Goutchili

Nigeria reporters face criminal charges for story

By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria -- Prosecutors filed criminal charges Tuesday against two journalists at a Nigerian newspaper over a story they published on alleged plans by the nation's presidency to disrupt opposition parties. The charges are a sign of growing government pressure on the media. Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzo Ukaibe face 10 counts of forgery after the daily Abuja-based newspaper Leadership reported on a memo it claimed came from officials working for President Goodluck Jonathan. Amokeodo and Ukaibe appeared briefly in court Tuesday before being released on bail, said Azubuike Ishiekwene, the group managing director of the newspaper. Though the presidency later denied the authenticity of the memo, It is unclear why authorities are charging the two journalists criminally as libel is handled typically as a civil matter in Nigerian courts. Federal police spokesman Frank Mba did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. In the story, the newspaper said the memo called for officials to disrupt the business interest of opposition party leaders. The

newspaper said the memo also included a mention of influencing the country's Independent National Electoral Commission, as well as potentially raising the price of the oil-rich nation's subsidized gasoline - an issue that sparked a nationwide strike last year. Officials with Nigeria's presidency later described the purported memo as a forgery and "cheap blackmail." Yet, police officials earlier detained four journalists from the newspaper over it, including Amokeodo and Ukaibe. Those two journalists were released after their colleagues only on condition they reported regularly to police investigators. Officers arrested the two when they reported to police headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, on Monday. continued related source

2I Interview de Yayi Boni sur la visite de M Ahmadinejad

M. le Président, merci de répondre à 2Interview. Voici ma question Vous avez passé le plus clair de votre temps à voyager dans les beaux pays occidentaux, comme la France, le Canada, l’Allemagne, la Belgique etc. ainsi que les grands pays du monde tels que la Chine, le Japon, l'Inde, le Brésil etc. Mais en guise de réciprocité--cette réciprocité qui donne du sens à votre zèle voyageur--c'est le président d'un pays mis au ban des grandes nations occidentales, l’Iran, qui vous rend visite en la personne de M. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Cette visite salutaire pour votre odyssée diplomatique jusqu'ici solitaire et unilatérale--puisque vous êtes plus visiteur que visité, et que sur 100 voyages présidentiels, vous avez moins de trois visites présidentielles en retour--est elle soutenue de votre côté par une éthique de conviction ? On se souvient que naguère, et longtemps durant, vous étiez fourré avec le colonel Kadhafi auquel vous ne manquiez de faire des visites fréquentes ou inopinées. Cette amitié avec Kadhafi a culminé avec la tenue en 2008 de la Conférence de la CENSAD à Cotonou, Conférence qui, elle-même, a culminé en un vaste scandale de détournement au centre duquel on retrouve vos ministres les plus proches. Mais, lorsque l'Occident, la France de Sarkozy en tête, a décidé d'éliminer politiquement Kadhafi, vous n'avez pas levé le petit doigt, fût-il symbolique. Contrairement aux présidents du Mali, ou de l'Afrique du Sud qui eurent à se prononcer contre l'agression brutale de l'Occident, vous avez fait motus et bouche cousue, et vous vous êtes planqué. Pendant ce temps, l'homme que vous visitiez auparavant, et qui était votre ami, était harcelé par l'Occident, qui a fini par avoir sa peau. Vous n'avez pas semblé indigné de ce fait ; au contraire, comme si de rien n'était, la vie a continué son cours normal ainsi que vos voyages au long cours à travers le monde. Vous n'avez de joie plus excitante, et d'obsession plus vicieuse que d'aller vous agenouiller devant ses assassins. Tout cela, doit-on le croire, au nom de la realpolitik ou du réalisme de survie personnelle. Alors précisément M. le président voici la question. À supposer que les relations entre l'Iran et l'Occident se tendent et que votre actuel hôte et ami soit traqué par le même Occident, feriez-vous la même chose que vous avez fait avec Kadhafi ? Jouerez-vous à l'aveugle sourd-muet si, par exemple, à l'instar de ce qu'ils ont fait à Kadhafi, les occidentaux déclaraient la guerre à l'Iran, faisaient tomber son président et parvenaient même à l'assassiner ? C'est cela que nous appelons la diplomatie de conviction par opposition à la diplomatie de cornichon dans laquelle vous brillez si passionnément… Qu’en pensez-vous, M. le Président ? La Réponse Imagée de S.E.M. Le Président de la République, le Dr Yayi Boni

Ghana : Election Petition to be Broadcast Live

There would be a live television and radio broadcast of the landmark electoral petition case which hearing of the substantive matter will begin on Tuesday April 16. The National broadcaster, GTV and Radio Ghana would be allowed to survey a set up on Tuesday April 16, 2013. Our court correspondent, Mabel Aku Banaseh reports that it is however not clear whether the live broadcast would commence Tuesday on the first day of hearing of the substantive matter, but the subsequent hearing days would be live on television and radio. Hearing of the landmark electoral petition contesting the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the December 2012 presidential polls begins at the Supreme Court in Accra on Tuesday. The petitioners are expected to call their first witness/and or witnesses on Tuesday, depending on how long the witness/witnesses would testify and how long cross-examination would take and if need be,

how long the re-examination lasts. The case, which promises to be a significant historical event in Ghana’s legal and political culture, has the petitioners urging the court to annul 4,670,504 valid votes and subsequently declare the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the one who won the December 2012 elections. According to them, Nana Akufo-Addo won the elections by 59.69 per cent while President Mahama polled 39.1 per cent. continued

L’Attentisme Affligeant de l’Afrique à l’Heure où la Corée …

L’Attentisme de l’Afrique à l’Heure où la Corée du Sud Rêve de Faire Danser le Monde

Babilown/la Semaine

Bénin : la Démocratie Patrimoniale Bancarisée Bénin : 2 Milliards par An en Voyages Présidentiels Nigeria Commission to Meet Former Presidents Meilleures Nations Universitaires : de l’Absence du Bénin Bravo Yayi : Recordman Mondial des Voyages Présidentiels ! Nigeria : Recherche Pétrolière dans le Nord Yayi Boni : De la Farce à la Force C. I. : Rapport de HRW sur la Violation des Droits de l’Homme Affaire Cahuzac, une Singularité dans les Rapports Incestueux …   2Interview avec Yayi Boni sur les Voyages Présidentiels Le Nigeria, un Géant Africain Endormi Incapable de se Réveiller ?

Nigeria's Film Industry - A Potential Gold Mine?

As an entrepreneur, 32-year-old chemistry graduate Jason Njoku achieved success in a most unlikely way: he is Africa's largest distributor of Nigerian movies, and has raked in over $8 million since 2010, when he founded the company Iroko Partners. In December 2012 he captivated an audience at a conference in Texas, United States, as he narrated the story of his success after failures in some other business ventures. Mr. Njoku currently has 71 employees in Lagos, London and New York, and often boasts that "these people are working for us in a country with 50% unemployment." He was recently listed by Forbes, an American business magazine, as one of the top 10 young African millionaires to watch. The Nigerian film industry is undoubtedly helping create jobs in a country with an economy that relies mainly on oil and agriculture. Over a million people are currently employed in the industry, making it the country's largest employer after agriculture. Although Nigeria's economy will grow by 7% this year, according to the African Development Bank, insufficient jobs for a growing youth population continue to be a huge concern.

One million new jobs The Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood, produces about 50 movies per week, second only to India's Bollywood—more than Hollywood in the United States. Although its revenues are not on par with Bollywood's and Hollywood's, Nollywood still generates an impressive $590 million annually. Believing that if the industry is properly managed, a million more jobs could be created in the sector, the World Bank is currently assisting the Nigerian government to create a Growth and Employment in States project to support the entertainment industry, along with other industries continued

Reborn Nigeria train trip tells nation's history

ABOARD THE OONI OF IFE TO NORTHERN NIGERIA — The whistle sounds across the arid plains of scrub brush and exposed rocky cliffs. It blares through the narrow, crowded corridors of city market stalls, piles of clothes and hot red peppers lying a mere arm's length away from the vibrating metal track. Its rattling coaches draw stares as children run toward it, waving, as it leaves Lagos, Nigeria's massive southwestern city, on the long trip north to Kano. But in the north, boys wearing tattered soccer jerseys herding cattle watch impassively, with machetes and long-barreled guns over their shoulders.

The train is back in Nigeria, and the 35-hour trip along its 700-mile (1,125-kilometer) route offers a glimpse of the nation's history and landscapes, while also allowing travelers to see its ethnic and religious diversity firsthand ciontinued

Boko Haram Rejects Nigeria Peace Effort

LAGOS, Nigeria: The leader of the Islamic extremist network Boko Haram apparently has refused to take part in any possible amnesty deal offered by Nigeria's government to stop the guerrilla campaign of bombings and shootings now plaguing the country. An audio recording obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday features a man who sounds like Abubakar Shekau strongly objecting to any possible deal with Nigerian officials. The comments come after Nigeria's government has floated the idea of possibly setting up a government committee to examine offering some sort of deal to stop the violence that's killed hundreds over the last year. The recording, first passed by intermediaries of Boko Haram to journalists in northern Nigeria, features the man talking about the

possibility of an amnesty deal, first discussed last week. The man in the recording, speaking in the Hausa language of Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, calls the amnesty deal "surprising." "We are the one to grant them pardon. Have you forgotten their atrocities against us?" he says. Boko Haram, which sends messages through spokesmen and communiques at times of its choosing, could not be reached for comment Thursday.   continued

Bénin : la Démocratie Patrimoniale Bancarisée

Bénin : 2 Milliards par An en Voyages Présidentiels

Nigeria Commission to Meet Former Presidents

President Goodluck Jonathan’s special commission to help Nigeria move forward plans to meet Thursday with the nation’s former heads of state. Alhaji Maitama Sule, chairman of the commission, says his group will seek the counsel of the former leaders as part of an effort to resolve the country’s growing political, economic and internal security problems. “These former heads of state had their experience, they therefore know the problems of this country more than most people, and therefore if they can bring their experience, it will help a great deal,” Sule said. “We need their wisdom and above all, we need them to come together…because we expect a lot from them.” “We believe that if we can get together and get ourselves united, we will be able to offer solutions to the problems confronting us, and that is why we want to have this meeting,” Sule said. “If we can bring them [former leaders] together, I’m sure that we will be able to be strong enough to offer solutions to the problems facing the country, and the north in particular.” President Jonathan called on the commission to draw up measures

that would include granting amnesty to members of the militant group, Boko Haram. The group has been accused of carrying out violent attacks in an attempt to force the country to adopt strict Islamic law. Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram-related violence has killed an estimated 3,000 people since 2009, a toll that includes killings by security forces.           Sule, a former Nigerian diplomat, says members of the commission are encouraged by the support they received from Jonathan following the group’s first meeting. continued

Professor advocates compulsory Ghanaian languages policy

Languages, University of Education – Winneba, has suggested to government to put in place a new compulsory policy for the study of Ghanaian languages. He said if the present language policy is reshaped it would help to protect and keep the local languages from sinking. Prof Baidoo gave the suggestion when he read a keynote address at a four-day workshop of Association of Teachers of Ghanaian Languages at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region. The programme was attended by members of the Association from the 38 training colleges. The Association aims at working harder to promote Ghanaian languages help teachers to acquire new skills in terminology development, construction and administration of text, teaching of literature and processing of book writing. Prof Baidoo emphasised the need for policy makers to add value to Ghanaian languages to arrest their decline. Prof Kofi Agyekum, Lecturer at the Department Linguistics, Legon and Resource Person who spoke on Terminological Development in

Ghanaian languages, said children should be taught to learn to love and respect their linguistic heritage. According to him, neglect of usage of the mother tongue involves the danger of crippling and destroying the productive powers of people by forcing them to express themselves in foreign languages and undermining the genius of their race. Prof Agyekum said the survival of every language depends on whether it is appropriate to be used for all context of communication identified by the society. continued

Meilleures Nations Universitaires : de l’Absence du Bénin

Nigeria : Des Journalistes Détenus pour avoir Accusé Jonathan

Nigeria : Des Journalistes Détenus pour avoir Accusé Jonathan de Procédés Illicites

ABUJA - La police nigériane a arrêté un certain nombre de journalistes une semaine après que leur journal a rapporté que le président Goodluck Jonathan avait donné des ordres pour pour contrecarrer par tous les moyens y compris par la surveillance, la récente montée en puissance de l’opposition. Le Nigeria dispose d'une presse relativement libre, et vocale selon les normes africaines et même la critique au vitriol du président y est généralement tolérée. Toutefois, la suggestion qu'il aurait eu recours à des tactiques politiques illicites a mis le feu aux poudres. "Oui, nous avons des journalistes en garde à vue en rapport avec des enquêtes en cours," a dit M. Frank Mba, porte arole de la police qui s’est refusé à donner plus de détails. Le porte-parole de la Présidence Reuben Abati la semaine dernière, a décrit les informations publiées par le journal Leadership dans son édition du 2 avril, comme des « élucubrations mensongères » . Il n'était toutefois pas disponible pour réagir à la nouvelle de l’arrestation des journalistes. Le journal a indiqué lundi que quatre de ses journalistes avaient été arrêtés et ont fait l’objet d’une demande de révélation de leurs sources. Selon l'article, M. Jonathan aurait émis la directive de «tout faire pour contrecarrer les partis de l'opposition qui ont fusionné», y compris en surveillant les gouverneurs de l'opposition. L'histoire ne précise pas si l'ordre avait été adressé au gouvernement

ou au PDP, le parti de M. Jonathan ou à son équipe de campagne. Il faut rappeler qu’au Nigeria les quatre principaux mouvements d'opposition ont annoncé leur fusion en Février, ce qui constitue une menace sérieuse aux ambitions de réélection de M. Jonathan et du PDP dans la perspective des élections de 2015. M. Azubuike Ishiekwene, directeur général de Leadership Group, a qualifié les arrestations d’« affront éhonté et calculé à la liberté de la presse ». «Nous sommes ahuri de voir qu'un gouvernement soi-disant démocratiquement élu en vienne à descendre si bas», a t-il dit dans un communiqué. «Nous restons fidèles à notre histoire et ne seront ni impressionnés ni intimidés par les tactiques musclées du président Jonathan. » Amené et Trad. par Binason Avèkes

All Aboard Nigeria Railways

The restoration of railway services between Lagos and Kano, Nigeria’s two largest cities, is a highly positive development. This is a hopeful step toward restoring Nigeria’s entire, once nation-wide, railway system. The British colonial administration constructed the first railway line, between Lagos and Ibadan, in 1898-1902. The government of a newly independent Nigeria completed the system with the line between Kano and Maiduguri, which is now ground zero for the Islamist insurrection called Boko Haram. The railways played a crucial role in transporting not only passengers, but also Nigeria’s then important agricultural, coal, and mineral exports to world markets. Like so much of Nigeria’s infrastructure, the railways suffered from under investment and corruption, and agricultural and mining exports declined during the era of the oil boom. Expansion of civil aviation provided a much faster alternative means of travel for the well-to-do. Modernization of the rail system was further delayed by debate over whether the narrow-gauge system should be replaced with standard gauge.

The current restoration of the Lagos to Kano line has been carried out by Chinese and other companies, retaining the narrow-gauge, which is cheaper to build and operate yet slower and less functional in capacity. The railways will make use of engines manufactured by General Electric, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation anticipates refurbishing six hundred coaches and two hundred wagons. The restored passenger service is popular, according to media reports. The service is slow, thirty hours to cover the seven hundred miles between Lagos and Kano. Track conditions limit speeds to about twenty miles per hour. … continued

Nigerian Troops Seek Gunmen Who Killed 15 Police in Delta

Nigerian troops are hunting for militants who said they killed at least 15 policemen in the oil- rich Niger River delta, a military official said. “The security forces are working to ensure the perpetrators” are tracked down, Ibrahim Attahiru, an army spokesman in Abuja, the capital, said today by phone. The attack on April 6 was claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the main rebel group in the the area. Two insurgents also died in the gunfight, which lasted for more than 40 minutes at a river in the Azuzama area in Southern Ijaw local government region, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. Hague-based Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX) of San Ramon, California, Total SA (FP) and Eni SpA (ENI) run joint ventures with state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. that pump most of the country’s oil. Nigeria depends on crude exports for more than 95 percent of foreign income and 80 percent of government revenue, according to the Petroleum Ministry. The attack comes after MEND said on April 3 it would resume attacks in Africa’s largest oil producing-country after their suspected leader, Henry Okah, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in South Africa on terrorism charges. Okah denies being a leader of the group. “All oil companies and the public are advised to ignore the false sense of security,” portrayed by the government, Gbomo said yesterday. “We remain resolute in our resumption of hostilities.”

Bonny Light crude, the nation’s main export grade, was little changed today, trading at $107.94 per barrel as of 1:20 p.m. in London, after falling 4.9 percent last week, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Most former MEND militants remain committed to the government’s amnesty program,” Roddy Barclay, an analyst at Control Risks, a London-based business consulting group, said today in an e-mailed report. Though some of them have turned to violent or organized crime, such as oil theft, they lack leadership and weapons, Barclay said. “As such, a return to regional militancy remains unlikely in the medium term.” The Nigerian Joint Task Force is on “red alert” in the region following the threat, Defense Ministry spokesman Chris Olukolade said yesterday in a text message in response to questions. “Maritime and air assets have also been mobilized and patrols intensified both on land and waterways.” continued

Liste des 100 Meilleures Universités Africaines

Tout sauf le Bénin, un Pays Émergent Putatif…

Bravo Yayi : Recordman Mondial des Voyages Présidentiels !

Why I Won't Seek A Second Term – Sanusi

The governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said that he does not plan to vie for a second term as governor of the CBN because the job he set out to do is already largely done. Sanusi said that he had intimated President Goodluck Jonathan way back in 2011 that he would not be interested in seeking second term in office on the expiration of the present tenure in June 2014. “I informed the president going back to 2011 that I would not be interested in serving for two terms,” Sanusi told Bloomberg adding that  ``the job has been done, largely’’. The apex bank governor who re-echoed his stance on second term in a chat with Bloomberg on March 24, 2013 in Lagos, stated categorically that he would not seek renewal of tenure as he considers a single term enough to make a lasting positive impact in the financial system and the economy in general.

Sanusi also said that he supported keeping monetary policy rate (MPR) which serves as the benchmark interest rate on hold at 12 per cent to contain inflation in Africa’s top-oil producing nation as policy makers increasingly opt for a cut. “My own inclination is to just hold and just continue doing what we’re doing, because it has worked very well. But I’m only one vote in the monetary policy committee. The votes to ease are beginning to increase,” Sanusi said. continued

Nigeria : Recherche Pétrolière dans le Nord

Récemment, le Sommet économique des Etats du Nord du Nigeria (NES) a annoncé que le gouvernement fédéral a débloqué la somme de 100 millions de dollars en 2013 pour l'exploration d'hydrocarbures dans le bassin du lac Tchad et dans d'autres bassins éventuels d'hydrocarbures du Nord. Le groupe, qui comprend tous les 19 États du Nord ainsi que le Territoire de la capitale fédérale, Abuja, a également déclaré que le gouvernement avait versé une somme totale de 140 millions de dollars pour 2011 et 2012, dans le même but. Le groupe a également déclaré que, en 2011, la Compagnie Nationale Nigériane du Pétrole (NNPC) avait, grâce à ses conseillers techniques, mené à terme la recherche, l'évaluation et l'identification des entreprises capables d’effectuer des observations géophysiques aériennes pour l'exploration des hydrocarbures du bassin intérieur du pays. Nous sommes encouragés par cette évolution. La mise à disposition des fonds substantiels pour faciliter les activités d'exploration pétrolière et gazière dans le bassin du Tchad, le fossé de la Bénoué, les bassins du Bida et de Sokoto-Rima, entre autres, une fois terminée, donnera un coup de fouet à l'économie du pays. Les éventuels nouveaux États producteurs de pétrole pourront également profiter de la ristourne fédérale de 13 pour cent en vigueur actuellement. Les chefs de la NES doivent faire preuve d’abnégation dans cette lourde tâche que le groupe s’est assigné. Ils inscriront leur nom en lettres d’or s'ils atteignaient cet objectif important pour le Nord. Cependant, qu’il nous soit permis de lancer un avertissement sur le fait que leur position de timoniers ne leur confère pas le droit de créer des sociétés écrans en vue de s’accaparer de contrats qu’ils ne seraient pas en mesure d'exécuter. Ils devraient plutôt insister sur le suivi des fonds et s'assurer que les entrepreneurs respectent les délais. Nous implorons la NES pour qu’elle donne l'alerte lorsque surgiront des défaillances dans l'exécution des projets. L'économie du Nord du Nigeria est dans une situation désespérée et les bouleversements socio-économiques actuels en témoignent.

L'exploration de pétrole au Nord va certainement ouvrir une écluse de possibilités pour les millions de chômeurs dans la région. Bien entendu, elle contribuerait à réduire l'inégalité entre le Nord et le Sud. Bien que le projet de recherche de pétrole soit en cours, la NES est également mis au défi de garder un œil sur la mise en œuvre rapide des projets d'énergie hydro-électrique de Zungeru et de Mambilla. Une fois terminés, ces deux projets non seulement stimuleront l'économie de la région, mais serviront de catalyseur aux retombées éventuelles du pétrole. Le défi de l'élite du Nord, toutes tendances politiques confondues, est d'éviter les erreurs qui ont été commises dans les communautés productrices de pétrole du Sud. Tout d'abord, il doit y avoir un cahier de charge pour les futures sociétés pétrolières. Deuxièmement, le mode de compensation des communautés d’accueil , y compris les quota d'embauche, doit être bien pensé. Il s'agit de s'assurer que les gens qui sont les véritables propriétaires des ressources ne soient pas délibérément flouées par les compagnies pétrolières. Amené et Trad. par Binason Avèkes

Nigeria moots amnesty for Boko Haram Islamist rebels

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a panel to look into the possibility of granting an amnesty to the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The move came after religious and political leaders said the military approach did not solve the violence. Mr Jonathan previously rejected any amnesty offer, saying the rebels were "ghosts" whose demands were not known. Hundreds of people have been killed since Boko Haram fighters stepped up their campaign in recent years. The new panel will include senior military representatives and has two weeks to come up with its recommendations, according to unnamed presidential sources. The board is tasked with considering the feasibility of granting an amnesty to Boko Haram members, and recommending modalities for implementing such a step. Appeasement?

President Jonathan made the announcement after reportedly holding talks with religious and political leaders from the country's north, considered Boko Haram's stronghold. This is an apparent about-turn for the leader, the BBC's Will Ross, in the Nigerian city of Lagos, reports. It is not yet clear if he is genuinely considering an amnesty or whether he is simply trying to appease his detractors in the north, he adds. continued

Yayi Boni : De la Farce à la Force

Yayi Boni a été élu en 2006 à 75 %. Entre les assassinats et les diverses anomalies qui ont précédé cette élection, peu importe si dans le fond, sa prise du pouvoir n’était pas déjà obscurément trafiquée. Au moins l’espoir de changement auquel sa venue avait fait écho était gage de sa légitimité morale et politique. Mais tel n’est pas le cas de ce qui s’est passé en 2011, un holdup dont la férocité, annoncée par une fixation rampante sur tout le quinquennat s’est imposée à visage découvert, sans vergogne ni scrupule. Une telle mutation morale pose question. Un homme élu à la loyale et honnêtement en 2006, peut-il devenir une crapule et un voleur d’élection en 2011 ? Le ver n’était-il pas dans le fruit depuis 2006 ? Le plébiscite de 2006 n’était-il pas un chef-d’œuvre de fraude enrobé dans un joli coffret de manipulation ? Mais peu importe comment l’homme est venu au pouvoir, peu importe comment il s’y est maintenu, où en sommes-nous avec l’idée politique simple du bilan et du compte rendu ? La chose a été promise en 2006, mais jamais tenue. A l’approche des élections en 2011 le devoir de bilan a été occulté par toutes sortes de distractions savamment orchestrées. Et de fait comment peut-on envisager un bilan dans un contexte politique qui exclut toute contradiction et où le débat à déserté le forum ? Maintenant en plein mandat usurpé, les thuriféraires du régime objecteront qu’on ne fait pas le bilan d’une équipe pendant le match. A les en croire, il faudrait donc attendre la fin du mandat pour parler de bilan. Pendant que la gouvernance anarchique et déjantée de M. Yayi continue d’enfoncer le pays dans le gouffre. A défaut d’un bilan général que Yayi Boni et ses hommes n’ont pas le courage moral de faire, la pertinence des bilans partiels ou spécifiques saute aux yeux car ils constituent de véritables indicateurs de la direction du pays. Par exemple, Yayi Boni peut au moins faire le bilan de ses voyages présidentiels non-stop depuis 7 ans. Surtout de la part de quelqu'un qui se dit docteur en économie, un peu de moral et de bon sens, un peu de justice voudrait qu'il accepte de faire le bilan de ses voyages. Si ce bilan est positif, si ses voyages sont rentables pour le pays, alors il continue, mais si le bilan est négatif, si ses voyages ne sont pas rentables pour le pays, Yayi Boni doit mettre fin à son géo-libertinage, arrêter de jouer les globetrotters sur le dos du peuple,

de dépenser l'argent public pour sa passion des voyages en avion,  des aéroports étrangers, des tapis rouges, son envie de montrer sa tronche de président. Pour ce qui est de cette envie idiote de montrer sa tronche de président, c'est à la fois révoltant et pathétique, puisque Yayi Boni n'a pas été élu, mais s’est imposé, à coup de farce et de force! Quelle idée d'aller dire au monde "voici le Président du pays qu'on appelle Bénin" alors que dans le fond vous avez fait un holdup électoral, volé l'argent public pour soudoyer les organisateurs et instances constitutionnelles garants des élections ? En ce 21ème siècle c'est assez aberrant que les nations africaines en soient encore à ce stade d'infantilisme et d'arbitraire. Un homme saisit le pouvoir par la farce et la garde par la force, dilapide l'argent public, fait ce qu'il veut et il n'y a pas la moindre instance, la moindre autorité institutionnelle pour contrôler, limiter et vérifier ses agissements. Pourquoi alors parler de démocratie ? Pourquoi perdre les milliards du peuple pour faire des parodies d’élection si après, l'homme qui prend le pouvoir peut faire ce qu'il veut sans aucun contrôle ? Pourquoi élire un roi au 21ème siècle ? Pourquoi Yayi Boni ne prend-il pas seulement le pouvoir sans qu'un pays aussi pauvre que le Bénin ait à sanctionner sa prise du pouvoir par une comédie des apparences qui coûte 50 milliards au bas mot au peuple ? Aminou Balogoun

C. I. : Rapport de HRW sur la Violation des Droits de l’Homme

Transformer les discours en réalité L’heure de réclamer des comptes pour les crimes internationaux graves perpétrés en Côte d’Ivoire 4 avril 2013 Ce rapport de 82 pages analyse les efforts inégaux déployés par la Côte d’Ivoire pour réclamer des comptes aux responsables des crimes internationaux graves commis dans la foulée du scrutin présidentiel de novembre 2010. Depuis son investiture en mai 2011, le Président Alassane Ouattara a déclaré à plusieurs reprises qu’il s’engageait à traduire en justice tous les responsables, indépendamment de leur affiliation politique ou de leur grade militaire. Or, même si les procureurs ont inculpé plus de 150 personnes pour des crimes perpétrés au cours des violences post-électorales, aucun des inculpés ne provient des forces pro-Ouattara. Lire le rapport

Affaire Cahuzac, une Singularité dans les Rapports Incestueux …

Affaire Cahuzac, une Singularité dans les Rapports Incestueux de la Presse Française  et la Classe Politique