BABILOWN~Mawolè

Chibock : la Différence entre “Release” et “Bring Back” (2)

Un groupe de voyous qui ont assisté à une manifestation orchestrée et mise en scène par le gouvernement à Abuja le lundi a violemment attaqué les dirigeants du mouvement # BringBackOurGirls hier à Unity Fontain Park, leur lieu de rassemblement habituel. Le groupe vêtu de T-shirt portant l’inscription # ReleaseOurGirls a attaqué les participants du mouvement # BringBackOurGirls sous les yeux du contingent de la police nationale. Dans l’indifférence de la police, les voyous, armés de haches, de machettes et de gourdins  ont vandalisé les lieux, cassant les chaises et tout l'attirail de protestation des manifestants pacifiques.

Hoodlums Attack ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ Campaign Group

Hoodlums numbering about 20 yesterday attacked members of the Oby Ezekwesili-led ‘Bring Back Our Girls Campaign Group’ at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, during its usual 3pm meeting, breaking chairs, cameras and tripods of journalists covering the event. The boys who surprisingly were wearing T.shirts with the #Bring Back Our Girls incriptions stormed the venue and ordered journalists to put away their cameras before destroying the chairs of the group while the police around the area watched. The boys attacked the group twice and later dispersed following the intervention of the police. Earlier, other groups that called themselves ‘market women’ and other women groups had stormed the fountain, chanting ‘Boko Haram, Release Our Girls now’ and disrupting the group’s meeting . The ‘market women’ marched around the group chanting, ringing bells and blowing whistles. One of the women, who spoke under anoymity stated that she came from Kubwa market, and disclosed that they were promised N5000 but that she was only able to get N2,200 yesterday when she attended the event. “I just hope that we can get more today. It was our leader in the market that told us to come, so we came. Since we were promised money, I decided to come. I left my market (wares) there. I know I won’t have made that money if I was in the market,” she said. Speaking about the incident, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili accused the police of sitting and watching while hoodlums destroyed the group’s property and disrupted its meeting. She informed one of the policemen, CSP Husseini Dodo who stated that the commissioner of police had sent them to protect the group, that the group has sent a letter to the commissioner of police and the IG to inform them of the disruption by some groups and wondered why the police arrived after the…. continued

Fake #BringBackOurGirls Protesters Surface In Abuja

Ghana vrs Naija: who wins this time?

It was not born as a competition but when the first Ghana Meets Naija concert came off in 2011, it was largely believed that the Nigerian artistes performed better than their Ghanaian counterparts. Ghana lost to Naija and since then, subsequent concerts have ignited a rivalry on the music stage. The following year, 2012, Nigeria beat Ghana again, according to the music enthusiasts who have appointed themselves referees. The line-up comprised Keche, 4X4, Kaakie, Guru, Sala, R2Bess and Kwaw Kese from Ghana against Davido, Brymo, Tiwa Savage and M.I. Last year, Ghana redeemed itself beating the Nigeria line-up of Timaya, Burna Boy and Wizkid, with a homegrown selection of Okyeame Kwame, E.L, Edem, Raquel and D-Black. Once again, Ghana will have the opportunity to prove they are better than the Nigerians at the fourth edition of Ghana Meets Naija slated for Saturday May 24, at the Accra International Conference Centre. Representing Ghana, in what many pundits see as an unfair overloading of the Ghana side, are Sarkodie, Guru, Castro, Shatta Wale and Lil Win against the lean Nigerian side of Davido, Kcee and Whizzboy. But trust Nigeria to be loud. Some Nigerian students studying in Ghana have claimed that Davido alone has a larger following in Ghana than any of the Ghanaian artistes on the bill. “Remember, we are five times bigger in size than Ghana,” they say. The Ghanaian artistes billed to perform have promised to overpower their Nigerian counterparts come Saturday when the event takes place. The Naija claim has been received with a measure of sneer by some of the Ghanaian performers. Speaking to Guru, he said, “I have been rehearsing for weeks now and I believe patrons will love my performance on the night. I don’t want to give too much away, but I promise Ghanaians an excellent performance.” According to Guru, Ghana Meets Naija is a big platform and once he has had the opportunity he would make good use of it. “Apart from my popular songs like Boys Abre, Akonta Fried Rice, Nkwadaa Nkwadaa, Lapaz Toyota, Amen and Bonsam Ani that people know, I will be releasing two new songs on the night.” continued

Nigeria : Jeudi Rouge pour Chibock

Des Milliers de Manifestants ont marché sur la Présidence à Abuja

Nigerian Police Allowed to Cross Seme Border …

Nigerian Police Allowed to Cross Seme Border In Pepper Torture Murder Case Investigation

Diên Biên Phu : un Mythe de l’Espérance des Peuples Opprimés

Les Vietnamiens ont fêté aujourd’hui mercredi 7 mai le soixantième anniversaire de la victoire de Dien-Bien-Phu, synonyme de débâcle de la CEFEO, le corps expéditionnaire français en Extrême-Orient. Pour la première fois dans l'histoire, un peuple colonisé non occidental infligeait une défaite cuisante à l'armée du colonisateur blanc occidental. Les Vietnamiens ont fait preuve d'un courage et d'une détermination inimaginables pour le colonisateur français.. Comme s'en souvient un vétéran vietnamien : « il nous a fallu transporter des canons en les faisant tirer à dos d'homme sur les montagnes dominant la vallée après les avoir démontés et transportés sur des radeaux. Vous imaginez le labeur ! Tout cela dans la chaleur, la progression à travers les chutes d'eau, la jungle. Mais on l’a fait car on voulait l'indépendance, on était avant tout une force de soldats-paysans qui savaient que la victoire changerait la vie. Une telle force morale, c'était inimaginable pour les Français. » Comme le souligne le Général Giap dans ses mémoires, cette force morale est l'atout majeur et la caractéristique  de la combattivité des Vietnamiens. Elle leur a assuré la victoire, l'entrée dans l'histoire comme étant le premier peuple colonisé à battre l'armée d'une nation occidentale réputée jusque-là supérieure et invincible. Cette victoire était chargée de symbole. Les États-Unis d'Amérique, nation raciste par essence, ont flairé le danger de ce symbole. C'est pour cela que, sous prétexte de lutter contre le communisme, ils sont allés au Vietnam afin de détruire ce symbole, l’anéantir. Mais mal leur en a pris, ils ont été à leur tour défaits. Et le symbole de l'invincibilité du peuple du Vietnam a pris la dimension d'un mythe de l'espérance dans la lutte de libération des peuples opprimés. Binason Avèkes

Nigeria : le New York Time entre dans le lard de Jonathan

M. Jonathan, qui dirige un gouvernement corrompu qui a peu de crédibilité, a d'abord minimisé la menace du groupe [Boko Haram] et ses forces de sécurité se disaient en contrôle de la situation. Il a fallu attendre dimanche, plus de deux semaines après les enlèvements, pour qu’il daigne convoquer une réunion de représentants du gouvernement, y compris la proviseure du lycée des filles, pour discuter de l'incident. Il ne fait aucun doute que l’envoi des experts en sécurité que le président Obama a proposé au Nigeria lundi est nécessaire. Les enlèvements ont eu lieu au moment où le président Jonathan est sur ​​le point de tenir le Forum économique mondial sur l'Afrique, avec 6.000 soldats déployés pour la sécurité. Ce déploiement de force peut assurer la sécurité des délégués, mais le gouvernement du Nigeria profondément perturbé ne peut pas protéger ses habitants, attirer des investissements et mener le pays à son plein potentiel s’il ne peut pas contenir une insurrection virulente. amené et trad. par Binason Avèkes

La Lutte contre Boko Haram Dépasse les Capacités du Nigeria

Ghana : Accra hosts agribusiness investment summit

Nigeria : Forum Économique Mondial, Abuja, Ville Morte

Le gouvernement fédéral a ordonné la fermeture de tous les bureaux gouvernementaux et des écoles dans le territoire de la capitale fédérale, ABUJA, au cours de la période du Forum économique mondial, FEM. Le FEM sur l'Afrique doit se tenir du 7 au 9 mai 2014. Une déclaration du Secrétaire du Gouvernement Fédéral, M. Pius Anyim, précise que la directive vise à assurer la libre circulation dans le centre-ville. «C'est pour informer le grand public que le Président de la République fédérale du Nigeria, Monsieur Goodluck Jonathan, a approuvé, dans le cadre des modalités d’un accueil réussi du Forum Economique Mondial sur Afrique, que toute les administrations et écoles du Territoire de la capitale fédérale soient fermées du mercredi 7 au vendredi 9 mai 2014, à l’exception des services essentiels. Les sociétés ou organisations privées possédant un grand nombre de personnel sont le cas échéant invitées à observer la même consigne de fermeture. Dubitatifs, les observateurs estiment cependant que la décision de fermeture est due aux problèmes de sécurité dans la capitale nigériane, après deux explosions en l’espace de trois semaines, tuant des dizaines de personnes. Binason Avèkes

L’Univers du Négrier : une Histoire Humaine

Historien, écrivain et militant des droits de l’homme, Marcus Rediker est professeur à l’université de Pittsburgh. Spécialiste de l’histoire maritime et notamment de l’Atlantique, il a publié plusieurs livres, notamment Villains of All Nations : Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age (2004) et The Amistad Rebellion : An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom (2012). Il a accepté de nous donner cet entretien à l’occasion de la sortie en France de son livre The Slave Ship. A Human History (Viking Penguin, 2007), traduit sous le titre À bord du négrier. Une histoire atlantique de la traite (Seuil, 2013). Dans cet entretien, il évoque son ethnographie du navire négrier, les sources sur lesquelles il a travaillé et les séquelles de l’esclavage, établissant un rapport entre race et terreur du XVIIIe siècle à nos jours. Il se fait le chantre d’une « histoire par le bas », fondée sur les expériences des individus, aussi humbles soient-ils. Il rappelle aussi que la mer a joué un rôle décisif dans la formation des classes sociales, des cultures et de l’ethnicité. Pour toutes ces raisons, le négrier n’appartient pas au passé.

 

Marcus Rediker par laviedesidees

Quand Yayi Boni va Jouer les Doux Jésus au Nigeria

Nouvelle Tribune, TheCable, Sourire et Pincement au Cœur

Retour de Wade : Quand le Sénégal Copie Xogbonu

Nigeria : Semaine de la Mode de Lagos

Nouveau Régime de Transit à Sèmè : le Chant du Cygne du Fayawɔ ?

Journée mondiale de lutte contre le paludisme: Investir dans l’avenir…

Journée mondiale de lutte contre le paludisme: Investir dans l’avenir. Vaincre le paludisme.

 

16 avril 2014 – À l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de lutte contre le paludisme, le 25 avril, l’OMS met l’accent sur l’aide à apporter aux pays pour éliminer cette maladie. Le taux de la mortalité due au paludisme a reculé de 42% depuis 2000. De nombreux pays ont établi comme objectif national l’élimination du paludisme. La Journée mondiale de lutte contre le paludisme est l’occasion de souligner la nécessité de poursuivre les investissements et de maintenir l’engagement politique en faveur de la lutte antipaludique. Le thème de la campagne 2013-2015 est: Investir dans l’avenir. Vaincre le paludisme.                          Paludisme en chiffres : 2012    Monde Afrique        % Cas 267 millions 166 Millions 62 Décès 627000 564300 90   ‰ 3 4   informations

Shenzen China to build 700 MW coal plant in Ghana

Shenzen Energy Group China through its local partners Sunon Asogli Power says it is prepared to invest about 1.5 billion dollars in a coal power plant to produce 700 megawatts of power if given the go ahead. According to the chairman of Sunon Asogli Power Company, Li Xiaohai they have already conducted feasibility studies which includes building a sea port and related facilities to receive the coal for production of power. Briefing journalist in Accra Mr. Xiaohai indicated that they have so far received massive support from stakeholders, key amongst them being the government of Ghana to establish the coal plant to produce electricity. Explaining the concept, the chairman of Asogli Power Plant indicated that he is positive that the energy to be produced by the coal plant once integrated into Ghana’s energy mix will help in reducing the cost of electricity. He said “producing electricity from coal is far cheaper than even using Gas”. According to him although they have received favorable response from government the deal is yet to be finalized for it to become operational. In order to ensure sustainability and reliability he explained that the coal will be imported from South Africa but also indicated that even before they start they are already assessing other markets where they can import the commodity. On the issue of timelines he indicated that after receiving the green light they are positive of meeting a 5 year completion time where the plant and its related facilities will be available. To have an operational coal plant, there is the need to build a port which will serve as receiving point for the commodity. “we are going to build a habour and we have so far identified a location in the Western Region appropriate for such facility”. Mr. Xiaohai said…. continued

‘No tension’ in Ghana-Ivory Coast maritime negotiations

Negotiation between Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire to settle a maritme dispute over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea is progressing steadily, a government official has stated. Speaking to journalists after a round of negotiation in Accra on Thursday, April 24, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said Ghana’s delegation to Abidjan last year was offered “a very good treatment” and that “friendly” and “brotherly” gesture is being reciprocated in Accra. Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire had been involved in the dispute after the latter’s discovery of oil last year. The oil-rich C-100 maritime space offshore La Cote d’Ivoire is said to contain two billion barrels of oil and 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. As a result of the proximity of the site to Ghana’s Jubilee Field, the English-speaking country considered taking the matter to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. End by June But after agreeing on the establishment of a joint maritime and boundary commission, both countries made conscious attempt to settle the dispute. The commission’s technical committee has since met eight times. It is expected to bring negotiations to an end by June this year. “We hope that [Barbara Asamoah] and myself will lead our delegation to the point said by our heads of state to reach an understanding of how the area should be delineated by June this year,” resolved La Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Adama Toungara. Representing Ghana, Ms Asamoah assured that negotiations are going on well and a satisfactory agreement will soon be reached. continued

"Ghana Meet Naija" 2014 Performers Unveiled

Intrigues, horse-trading, as conference committees are constituted

National Conference: Northern, Southern delegates fight over Resource Control

Delegates from the South have been routing for resource control and fiscal federalism. A disagreement over resource control, fiscal federalism, and devolution of powers has pitched delegates against each other as the National Conference commenced committee sittings on Tuesday. The situation degenerated to a stage where two delegates, Dara Godini, a professor and Vice Chancellor, Delta State University, and a delegate from the North hurled insults at each other for taking opposing positions on resource control. The name of the northern delegate could not immediately be determined. “You are not fit to be a professor. I would have been a better professor than you ten years ago if I had wanted to,” the Northern delegate said. “You didn’t need it because you couldn’t afford it. Professorship is not a child’s play and that is why people like you cannot get it,” Mr. Godini replied him. It took the intervention of other delegates before the two antagonising members went their different ways while still bickering on the issue in dispute. Mr. Godini said the imperialists, apparently referring to Northern leaders, have held back Nigeria for so long, adding that the country cannot make any meaningful progress with its present socio-political and economic structure. continued

Conseil des Ministres Tournant : une Tournante de Démagogie en Gabegie

Prochain Conseil des ministres tournant dans les départements : Me Djogbénou dénonce une forme de fanfaronnade Suite à la décision du gouvernement de tenir le Conseil des ministres de façon tournante dans les départements, Me Joseph Djogbénou a réagi dans une opinion en soulignant les errances de l’Exécutif. L’avocat au Barreau du Bénin a demandé au gouvernement d’éviter d’ajouter à la démagogie « une forme de fanfaronnade ventilée sur l’autel des intérêts du peuple ». Lire son opinion. Conseil tournant des ministres ou tournée consultative des ministres ? L’une des informations qui ressortit des récentes réunions hebdomadaires du gouvernement est la décision de faire tenir le conseil des ministres alternativement dans les différentes régions. Comme on peut le craindre, cette annonce, fort « lumineuse », éclaire moins sur les considérations objectives qui décident de cet acte de « très bonne gouvernance ». Au demeurant, elle risque d’ébranler la solidité psycho-sociale du pouvoir incarné par l’Etat. Déjà, faut-il ne pas la confondre avec le précédent de la célébration tournante de la fête de l’indépendance. 1°) Le précédent. Il est vrai que ce gouvernement avait entrepris de faire célébrer la journée de l’indépendance dans chacune de nos régions. L’idée, fort originale, fut appréciée de tous, saluée par tous même si à l’arrivée, les fruits de la réalisation sont assez éloignés des fleurs de l’intention. La réhabilitation des villes bénéficiaires ?Le rapprochement de l’administration des administrés ? Une évaluation aurait pu suggérer les réponses à ces questions. On évitera, en l’absence d’un tel rapport, d’interroger les populations : la double négation risque de réunir la majorité des suffrages. Mais déjà, sans aucune étude, on monte en degré : les conseils des ministres tourneront. A-t-on identifié la pertinence, rechercher les hypothèques ? lire la suite

Idiotie Religieuse et Irrationalisme dans nos Sociétés

Le Cas Nigérian, [qui ressemble à s’y méprendre au cas Béninois.]

Questions à Dieu, qui Tombent à Pic en Cette période Pascale

The anti-intellectual character of Nigerians

Nigeria Insecurity: Angry Presidency bombs Governor Nyako

Keyshia Cole Heads to Nigeria for Calabar Jazz Festival

Keyshia Cole has been tapped to close out the Calabar Jazz Festival this weekend. The singer announced to her fans that she will perform at the three-day event on Sunday in Calabar, Nigeria. "Abt to hop on this 20 hr flight to Calabar, Nigeria!!" she wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday.  "I do this for my fans!!" She also shared a teaser video, in which she's singing her 2012 hit "Trust and Believe." The singer is currently promoting her dual singles, "Rick James" featuring Juicy J and "Next Time (Won’t Give My Heart Away)," lifted from her continued

Ghana not ripe for GM cocoa - CRIG

Nigeria : Nollywood + Bollywood vs Holliwood

Samia calls for ban on GM foods

Ghana : 'An African City' Web series dismantles stereotypes

A Beninoise Woman Accuses Lagos DPO of Rape

Lawyer accuses Lagos govt of planning to assassinate him

La Violence Symbolique du Régionalisme de Yayi Boni.

Abuja Blast: Obama Urges FG To Fish Out Perpetrators

Towards Universal Health Coverage In Nigeria

There is renewed confidence in the management and programmes of the nation’s health sector in the last few days arising from bold indications of continuing efforts to revitalize and reposition the sector to  address the numerous challenges for the benefit of the silent majority of Nigerians who depend solely on public health institutions. The success of the presidential summit on universal health coverage in Nigeria (UHC) as encapsulated in the 2014 Declaration endorsed at the end of the summit is a positive development. Its significance lies in the articulation of an agenda of commitment to concerted action by the federal, state and local governments to overcome the basic challenges inhibiting the effective delivery of qualitative health care to the majority of Nigerians whose dire need cannot be over-stated. By bringing together all the important stakeholders in the health sector in general and primary health care in particular to share the latest international initiatives towards fast-tracking the attainment of universal health coverage and activating a common resolve to implement adopted strategies, the UHC Summit has no doubt set the stage for impactful intervention. This was also reflected in the presidential speech to the summit delivered by VP Namadi Sambo which urged lawmakers and policy makers as key stakeholders to “work together in establishing the correct legal and policy framework to address this new drive in meeting the health needs of our people.” continued

Nigeria still has a long way to go

For many years to come Nigeria will still have to follow where South Africa leads, says Kuseni Dlamini. Johannesburg - The recent rebasing of Nigerian gross domestic product (GDP) has, as widely expected, resulted in Nigeria emerging as the biggest economy in Africa. This is good news not just for Nigeria, but for Africa at large, as it is further evidence that the “Africa rising” narrative is real and not just hot air. This, I want to argue, matters more than the narrow focus on Nigeria overtaking South Africa which, in my view, is more in form than in substance. Substance should prevail over form when we debate this matter. For Nigeria, this could not have come at a better time. Why? First, next month, Nigeria is set to host the World Economic Forum Africa Summit for the first time. Global investors will converge to explore and discuss investment opportunities in that country and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria will certainly use that to celebrate and showcase its new status as the biggest economy on the continent. There will be intense attempts to try to claim that Nigeria is or should be the new gateway to Africa – a position indisputably held by South Africa over the past two decades. Second, Nigeria has always viewed itself as the old kid on the block and harbours resentment in being outflanked by South Africa – the new kid on the block. With elections due next year, this is a good news story for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Il y plus de zemijan au Nigeria que d’habitants au Bénin !

Le Président de l’ Association nationale des conducteurs de moto et de tricycle, Babangida Maihula, a déclaré que son association a 8 millions de conducteurs membres inscrits. M. Maihula a déclaré vendredi que parmi ces 8 millions 5 millions disposent d’une micro assurance. Sachant que de nombreux Etats, dont Kano, Lagos, et le Nigeria ont interdit le zemijan sur les grandes artères des villes en raison de taux élevés d'accidents et de l'utilisation des motocyclettes pour la criminalité, il faudra sans doute ajouter un bon tiers au nombre officiel pour se faire une idée du nombre effectif de zemijan en activité au Nigeria. Résultats des courses, ce n’est donc à guère moins de 10 millions qu’il faut estimer le nombre de zemijan du Nigeria -- soit bien plus que la population totale du Bénin !

New book to change erroneous impression about Yoruba race

A High Chief in Yorubaland and Chairman of the Planning Committee for the launching of a book on Yoruba people, History of Yoruba, Ile-Ife and Yoruba towns, High Chief Bayo Oyebowale, has described the new book as one that would put the records straight on certain issues and historical background on the origin of the Yoruba people. Chief Oyebowale, in a chat with Arts&Review, noted that the committee was very cautious about carrying all Yoruba sons and daughters along, “and it was because of this that the launching, which was earlier scheduled for March 27, had to be postponed till August 28. “The History of Yoruba, Ile-Ife and Yoruba towns will shed more light on a lot of misgivings about the true history of Yoruba and the source. With the launching of the book, such hearsays would be a thing of the past, and there would be a reference point, even scholarly, when any issue on the history of the Yoruba race comes up. “The book would also set the record straight to the delight of everybody concerned. We should not sit down and watch people from other ethnic groups do this for us,” Oyebowale said. The high chief further added that the launching of the 15-chapter book would refresh the memory of readers in Yoruba region and beyond, as well as educate them on the greatness of some Yoruba towns and the Yoruba traditional rulers. Oyebowale also stated that apart from the change in date, the Host and Grand Royal Guest of Honour at the event remains His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, the Ooni of continued

Nigeria : Dokubo, Rage et Vérités

Ghana Carnival festival comes up this June

he Ghana Centre for Carnival Arts (GCCA) is set for a thrilling season, as it launches the 2014 edition of its Ghana Carnival Festival which takes place in June 2014 in Accra. It is aimed at learning, accepting and understanding other cultures. This year’s event is anticipated to come off with a number of exciting activities like costume workshops as it happened in the 2013 edition. The launching ceremony will take place at the La Palm Beach Hotel in Accra on Thursday April 10 from 9:00am, and will be followed by a Mask Ball, on Friday, April 11 at the same venue. The Carnival Mask Ball will be showcasing carnival costumes to lead up to the Ghana Carnival in June. A number of key actors and stakeholders in the Art and Creative industry will be attending the ceremony. The Ghana Carnival is not only a platform to attract lots of patrons but also for networking and a time to meet distinguished persons. Maria Lovell, CEO of Ghana Centre for Carnival Arts (GCCA), revealed that, “The event is a very promising one with special featured guests like Pax Nindi, CEO/Founder Global Carnival centre and Vice President, World Carnival commission….. continued

Why Is There No Regard For Human Life In Nigeria?

I just returned last week from a short visit to London.  One of the major news items there was the re-opening of an inquest into the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 when some spectators died during the F.A. Cup semi-final football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.  When I heard this, I shook my head.  These “oyinbos” are still concerned about deaths that took place 25 years ago.  But here in Nigeria, there is no serious inquest into the deaths of job-applicants to the Nigerian Immigration Service in several cities just this year. A Senate Committee spent a perfunctory two days paying lip-service to the disaster.  The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, refused to resign.  His understanding of his responsibility did not go beyond mouthing vain platitudes.  The government imposed no sanctions on those who turned our stadiums into death-traps simply in order to defraud the poor unemployed of 6 billion naira.  A court-verdict ordered that 50 million naira compensation should be paid to the suspended Central Bank Governor for his unlawful detention for 24 hours.  How much compensation should be paid for the senseless deaths of innocent job-seekers? Official neglect The government has passed legislation criminalising homosexuality in Nigeria without regard for the implication of this for fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  After South Africa, Nigeria has the highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in the world.  Who cares if by criminalising homosexuality, homosexual patients are discouraged from seeking such medical treatment as are available locally?  Let them die; and if they don’t, we can certainly stone them to death if we ever discover that they are homosexuals. Boko Haram insurgents go to churches to kill Christians.  Christians go to church prayer-meetings to kill their enemies.  Atheists go to “babalawos” to negotiate death-sentences for their rivals.  It is no longer a big deal to hear of Fulani herdsmen killing the innocent, or of area-boys executing jungle-justice in our streets.  It is now all par for the course. Let us face it:  there is no regard for human life in Nigeria.  In Nigeria, we love life, but promote and encourage death.  We lavishly celebrate births, but disregard children after they are born.  The Israelis would move heaven and earth to protect and defend the life of one Israeli.  But governments in Nigeria don’t give a damn whether a Nigerian lives or dies.  Over three million Nigerians were slaughtered in a three-year civil war; and yet there is no national memorial commemorating our loss.  The victims are gone, what else is new. continued

Nigeria Literature : Every day is for the thief - Teju Cole

A Nigerian doctor who has lived in the United States for many years returns to his native Lagos and struggles to relearn the culture and understand the vast societal changes that have occurred over 15 years in the latest novel by Teju Cole. “Every Day Is for the Thief” (Random House, 176 pp., $23) was first published in Nigeria in 2007 and is now available in the United States. It’s a worthy precursor and, in a way, a companion piece to Cole’s highly acclaimed “Open City.” The unnamed narrator is at first appalled by what he sees in Nigeria: rampant corruption, hostile begging and petty extortion, and police and politicians who are more interested in enriching themselves than in helping the populace. Everyone has his hand out. And there are terrible stories: a man abducted from his own home and forced to help thieves rob his neighbors – before he’s killed. An 11-year-old boy burned to death by a mob in a market for trying to steal a purse, the event captured on a camcorder. The changes in the country and in himself have made Cole’s narrator an outsider: “I have taken into myself some of the assumptions of life in a Western democracy – certain ideas about legality, for instance, certain expectations of due process – and in that sense I have returned a stranger.” And yet, there are flashes of the familiar. The narrator spends time with his extended family, visits old friends, even toys briefly with the idea of returning – until he discovers how little doctors are paid. At the same time, he searches for the trappings of Western life – books, music, even the cultural legacies of the Enlightenment – that are luxuries in Lagos only the very wealthy can afford. Instead, he finds bootleg CDs, third-rate novels and gimcrack Evangelical preachers who threaten hellfire and promise financial prosperity almost in the same breath. But he also finds sparkling new Nigerian-owned restaurants catering to the growing middle class, a thriving music conservatory and an odd, somewhat dark humor that emerges in Nigerians when they are faced with daily corruption, theft and threats of violence. Cole’s narrator – like his narrator in “Open City” – is a walker, a user of public transportation and a keen observer of the life around him. And his observations are shaped by a wide-ranging knowledge and a lively intelligence. “Every Day Is for the Thief” is not a traditional novel – there’s not much plot, not many fully drawn characters – yet it paints a complex and vivid portrait of Lagos and Nigerians as seen by someone who is no longer part of that life and remains somewhat detached from it throughout his stay. Still, Cole’s narrator is compelling – someone with whom you want to spend time ambling, looking and chatting. I was happy to be along for the continued

Ibadan Horror - Forensic Experts Exhume Bodies

Ibadan — FORENSIC pathologists, yesterday, began exhuming bodies of some victims of the Soka kidnappers' den in Ibadan for forensic analysis. The experts were drawn from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and Nigeria Police from Abuja. This came just as the police dismissed rumours that some victims were still trapped underground. According to Superintendent of Police Olabisi Ilobanafor, the Public Relations Officer of Oyo State Command, "how can a human being survive underground for more than three weeks without food or drink? Where will they get power to charge the phone people have been saying someone was calling with? "It is a mere rumour and figment of their imagination. People should not carry rumours that will have psychological effects on families of missing people. The teams "Today, we have three different teams. We have the Oyo Police team, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, CID, Dasuki Galadachi; we have the CID from Force headquarters led by Babale Aminu with four others, including a forensic pathologist, Dr. Eze Nwom, who led the team of pathologists, with an anthropologist. "A professor, Dr. Olawoyin from the UCH, who is also with them, deals with anything about the throat to the head. They were sent here by the Inspector General of Police. "We have forensic experts gathering evidence that would help ongoing investigations. They would also exhume some bodies that had been buried for forensic analysis. Benefits "The analysis would also help those whose relations are missing to do DNA test so that anybody whose relatives might have been declared missing could go for forensic test so that it could assist in determining whether they are related to any of the dead." When asked why it took so long before the forensic experts came, she said the police in the state had been doing so many things. She said: "Today is the final stage of the exercise as police from Oyo had earlier visited and carried out series of investigations. "After this, we shall be handing over the place to the state government who knows what else to be done with it." continued

3 men fight over child’s paternity

‘She was 5-month pregnant when she left me’  •‘She  lost the pregnancy, this  child is mine’ A  Grade C Customary Court in Iseyin, Oyo State,  has ordered  Idowu Oluokun, Muiz Adebayo and Muniru Adeyemi,  who are all claiming paternity of a six-year-old,  to maintain the peace. The judge, Mr Kareem  Adelodun, gave the order  after informing Oluokun and Adebayo who were in court  that a third claimant, Adeyemi,  had also written claiming paternity of the child. Adelodun, who adjourned further hearing on the matter  till Monday, April 7, also ordered all the  parties to produce evidence of  paternity. Oluokun  had filed a suit  against  Adebayo and Aminat Adebayo, claiming paternity of the child. Oluokun claimed that the mother of the boy, Aminat, had  packed out of their matrimonial home while she was five months pregnant in 2007. “Aminat was five months pregnant when she packed out of my house after we had  a misunderstanding. “I later made efforts  to bring her back to my house,  but she refused. “I even approached her parents  but they could not get the matter resolved. “I later learnt  she  had   married  an Oyo-based business man. “I have done everything possible to get my son back. She is, however,  insisting that the child is not mine, a boy that looks so much like me, ‘’ he said. Responding, Adebayo  said it was not true that  Aminat was five months pregnant when he married her. He, however, claimed that the child was his, saying: “Aminat lost a pregnancy before I married her. “The child is mine and I have the evidence. I’m willing to tender it in court when the time comes. “The baby is mine and everyone in this town knows  that.’’

Ghana Must Be Born Again – Samia Nkrumah

hairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Samia Yaba Nkrumah, has called for the re-birth of the country to bring Ghana’s economy to an enviable position. This, according to her, will be achieved through the introduction of new policies to uplift its current economic status. “Ghana needs to be born-again. Ghana needs to be born again through new policies”, she cried out at a National Executive Council (NEC) of the party held Saturday in the Northern regional capital, Tamale. Joy News’ Northern regional correspondence, Hashmin Mohammed reported that the CPP chairperson noted that the mismanagement of the economy by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has brought untold hardships unto the people. The CPP meeting, which is said to be biggest meeting since the 2012 elections, by the party, is to discuss how best to better the party’s chances in the next elections and also device strategies to ensure the smooth running of the party. The party placed 6th in the 2012 Presidential elections after it garnered 0.18 % of total votes cast. Ghana’s independence winning party has seen dwindling fortunes at polls and faces marginalization despite being a storehouse of great development policies. Deputy Director of Communications for the party, Ernesto Yeboah told Joy News, the gathering will provide an opportunity for party leaders and members to discuss issues that affected the party’s chances in the last election. The party will make a determination of the date for the elections of polling station executives. the date for congress to elect new national executives and flagbearer for the party. Additionally, the Director of Communication noted that members of the party will also be allowed to come up with other issues for further deliberation and discussion. “We want to elevate ourselves into the 21st century. We cannot continue with our continuer

Bénin : Perception de l’Insécurité par les Français

Nigeria : Perception de l’Insécurité par les Français