Delta State Government has reiterated its desire to tackle the perennial flooding problems in Asaba and environs.
The Commissioner for works, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon stated this while inspecting some on-going flood and erosion drainage projects around Jesus Saves Road and Direct Labour Road being handled by Inter-Bau Construction Limited in Asaba.
Rt. Hon. Solomon directed the Construction firm to return to the underground drainage project site and link the drainage to its discharge point at River Niger so that the perennial flood in the area would be drastically reduced.
He directed the firm to meet with the ministry’s officials and come up with an updated project design and work programme so that all obstacles and obstructions along the project alignments would be identified and measures put on ground to tackle them.
He decried the attitude of property developers who encroach on the alignment of projects, thereby causing obstructions and stated that such properties when identified would be demolished without any compensation.
Rt. Funkekeme Solomon appealed to residents of the area to maintain the existing drains so as to check flooding. He assured them that the state government would ensure that the ongoing underground drainage construction was completed in the next dry season so as to permanently checkmate flooding problems in the area.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Nigeria Must Remain United - David Mark
Senate President David Mark last Friday reiterated that the nation’s indivisibility is not negotiable irrespective of the security and other challenges confronting the country. According to reports, Mark believes the benefits of a united nation far outweigh the reversed order.
Mark spoke when he led members of the 3rd Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Alumni Association 1967 set on a courtesy visit to Oba of Benin, Erediauwa 11 , in his palace on Friday.
He stressed the need for government and Nigerians to brace up to the challenge of nationhood.
Mark noted that since Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life “we must do our best to perfect the process so that we can all reap the dividends of democracy”.
The Senate President was quoted as saying: “The unity and progress of Nigeria through a democratic process is the desire of all citizens; we must therefore provide a suitable environment for democracy to thrive”.
He reiterated the resolve of the 7th National Assembly to commence immediately the process of amending the 1999 Constitution to correct the imbalances and promised that traditional rulers would be given a place of pride in the proposed arrangement.
Mark noted that his colleagues who have served in various military formations have continued to contribute their quota to the unity and development of the country.
Replying, Oba Erediauwa thanked the delegation for their continued contribution to nation building, urging them not to relent in their endeavours.
Mark spoke when he led members of the 3rd Regular Course of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Alumni Association 1967 set on a courtesy visit to Oba of Benin, Erediauwa 11 , in his palace on Friday.
He stressed the need for government and Nigerians to brace up to the challenge of nationhood.
Mark noted that since Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life “we must do our best to perfect the process so that we can all reap the dividends of democracy”.
The Senate President was quoted as saying: “The unity and progress of Nigeria through a democratic process is the desire of all citizens; we must therefore provide a suitable environment for democracy to thrive”.
He reiterated the resolve of the 7th National Assembly to commence immediately the process of amending the 1999 Constitution to correct the imbalances and promised that traditional rulers would be given a place of pride in the proposed arrangement.
Mark noted that his colleagues who have served in various military formations have continued to contribute their quota to the unity and development of the country.
Replying, Oba Erediauwa thanked the delegation for their continued contribution to nation building, urging them not to relent in their endeavours.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO REVIVE RUBBER INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA
The Chairman, board of trustees National Natural Rubber Suppliers of Nigeria, Elder Sunny Emekeme has called on the Federal and states government to expedite action and to do everything within their reach to revive the ailing rubber industry which was the major foreign exchange earner to the country.
Elder Emekeme, who doubles as the acting chairman of the group, lamented the sorry state of the rubber industry which both government and farmers had abandoned for other sector of the economy not minding the high demand for rubber products at the international market and the huge money generated from its back home in Nigeria.
The acting chairman who spoke to the press in Sapele,said that the group had put everything in place for the inauguration of its National Executive Officers on the 21st day of September 2011,at 10am Prompt, in Richards Continental hotels/resort(Former IretorHotel) Sapele, Delta State. He said that the incoming executive would be a strong one that would ensure the industry does not go into extinction.
Elder Emekeme said that far back in the 70s there was a rubber boom in the country and Nigerians then were gainfully self employed, either tapping, buying or supplying of rubbers to factories which also gave employment to Nigerians and foreign exchange income to the country through tax money.
He said that government generates huge sum of money from these industries spread across the country, pointing out that he did not understand why Nigerian government is currently spending billions of Naira to curb the excesses of restive youths and militancy, saying that the rubber industry should be revived to enable the teaming youths in the country resort to tapping or buying of rubbers and supplying same to factories.s
The chairman said “sadly enough, Nigeria who provided countries like Indonesia, Cameroon, Gabon, Malaysia rubber seedlings now import rubber from these countries for processing in our local factories at an exorbitant cost”.
He said that despite several efforts made by his association to convince the Delta State government to see while rubber business should be revived, nothing much had been done. He called on government to allocate enough funds to the rubber production sector.
He called on the state government to educate youths in the state to consider the possibility of looking inwards to other sectors of the economy, saying that oil alone could not make the state great.
Elder Emekeme, who doubles as the acting chairman of the group, lamented the sorry state of the rubber industry which both government and farmers had abandoned for other sector of the economy not minding the high demand for rubber products at the international market and the huge money generated from its back home in Nigeria.
The acting chairman who spoke to the press in Sapele,said that the group had put everything in place for the inauguration of its National Executive Officers on the 21st day of September 2011,at 10am Prompt, in Richards Continental hotels/resort(Former IretorHotel) Sapele, Delta State. He said that the incoming executive would be a strong one that would ensure the industry does not go into extinction.
Elder Emekeme said that far back in the 70s there was a rubber boom in the country and Nigerians then were gainfully self employed, either tapping, buying or supplying of rubbers to factories which also gave employment to Nigerians and foreign exchange income to the country through tax money.
He said that government generates huge sum of money from these industries spread across the country, pointing out that he did not understand why Nigerian government is currently spending billions of Naira to curb the excesses of restive youths and militancy, saying that the rubber industry should be revived to enable the teaming youths in the country resort to tapping or buying of rubbers and supplying same to factories.s
The chairman said “sadly enough, Nigeria who provided countries like Indonesia, Cameroon, Gabon, Malaysia rubber seedlings now import rubber from these countries for processing in our local factories at an exorbitant cost”.
He said that despite several efforts made by his association to convince the Delta State government to see while rubber business should be revived, nothing much had been done. He called on government to allocate enough funds to the rubber production sector.
He called on the state government to educate youths in the state to consider the possibility of looking inwards to other sectors of the economy, saying that oil alone could not make the state great.
PEACE LOVING YOUTH ORGANISATIONS TO ENJOY GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN DELTA.
The Delta State Government would continue to partner with youth organisations and groups, the aims and objectives of which are geared towards development and maintainance of peace and progress of the state.
The Honourable Commissioner in charge of the Directorate of Youths Development, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah stated this when he received in audience, members of Anioma Youth Movement in his office.
The Commissioner informed the visitors that in as much as Government was always ready to partner with Youth organisations, violent and non conformist acts by such bodies would not be condoned when they deliberately resort to anti-social activities that could breach the peace of the state.
He, therefore, urged youths in the state to look at the positive side of issues and create opportunities for dialogue as a way of resolving problems.
The commissioner urged Anioma youths to come together, and bring up ideas that could enhance the overall development of the area, just as he enjoined them to continue to support the Government of Dr. Uduaghan in his avowed commitment to youth development and empowerment.
The President and leader of the delegation, Mr. Emeka Enebeli earlier in an opening remarks, informed the commissioner that the movement was made up of youths of Anioma extraction who are professionals in different fields of endeavour.
The President who also later spoke through the group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Philip Nwaochei, informed the commissioner that they had come to felicitate with him on his appointment, and to discuss the 2015 elections.
He requested for the empowerment of members of the group who are made up of very resourceful unemployed youths.
Reacting to some of the issues raised, especially the reference to their intention to discuss 2015 elections, Mr. Ijeoma stated categorically that it was too early and an unnecessary distraction to start discussing who would occupy one post or another. He strongly enjoined the youths to maintain unalloyed loyalty and wholehearted support for the government of the day.
The Delta State youths development helmsman further informed the visitors that the directorate was undergoing repositioning in line with the vision of the governor of the state, for sustainable youth development and empowerment, as part of the governor’s human capital development agenda, for which the the youths had been usually the main beneficiaries.
He reminded the youths that in addition to supporting their development, the governor had set up the famous and award winning Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, headed by a youth friendly commissioner, Dr. (Mrs) Anthonia Ashiedu , whom he said is enthusiastic about empowering the youths with micro-credit facilities for self sustenance and viable business ideas that could make the youths live a successful life.
The Honourable Commissioner in charge of the Directorate of Youths Development, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah stated this when he received in audience, members of Anioma Youth Movement in his office.
The Commissioner informed the visitors that in as much as Government was always ready to partner with Youth organisations, violent and non conformist acts by such bodies would not be condoned when they deliberately resort to anti-social activities that could breach the peace of the state.
He, therefore, urged youths in the state to look at the positive side of issues and create opportunities for dialogue as a way of resolving problems.
The commissioner urged Anioma youths to come together, and bring up ideas that could enhance the overall development of the area, just as he enjoined them to continue to support the Government of Dr. Uduaghan in his avowed commitment to youth development and empowerment.
The President and leader of the delegation, Mr. Emeka Enebeli earlier in an opening remarks, informed the commissioner that the movement was made up of youths of Anioma extraction who are professionals in different fields of endeavour.
The President who also later spoke through the group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Philip Nwaochei, informed the commissioner that they had come to felicitate with him on his appointment, and to discuss the 2015 elections.
He requested for the empowerment of members of the group who are made up of very resourceful unemployed youths.
Reacting to some of the issues raised, especially the reference to their intention to discuss 2015 elections, Mr. Ijeoma stated categorically that it was too early and an unnecessary distraction to start discussing who would occupy one post or another. He strongly enjoined the youths to maintain unalloyed loyalty and wholehearted support for the government of the day.
The Delta State youths development helmsman further informed the visitors that the directorate was undergoing repositioning in line with the vision of the governor of the state, for sustainable youth development and empowerment, as part of the governor’s human capital development agenda, for which the the youths had been usually the main beneficiaries.
He reminded the youths that in addition to supporting their development, the governor had set up the famous and award winning Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, headed by a youth friendly commissioner, Dr. (Mrs) Anthonia Ashiedu , whom he said is enthusiastic about empowering the youths with micro-credit facilities for self sustenance and viable business ideas that could make the youths live a successful life.
LANDS COMMISSIONER ENJOINS ISOKO YOUTHS TO BE UNITED.
The State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development , Sir Patrick Ferife has enjoined Isoko youths to be united in order to speak with one voice.
This advice was handed down by the commissioner when the President, Isoko National Youth Movement and its executive members paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.
The commissioner advised them that much could be achieved if the youths could come under one umbrella body for effectiveness and cohesion, and urged the National President of the Isoko National Youth Movement to apply dialogue in resolving issues.
Sir Ferife also advised the youths to consider the idea of forming a micro credit scheme to better the lots of youths who have business drive to actualize their economic potentials.
He assured them of his co-operation and support at all times and urged them to be law-abiding.
On their request for employment of Isoko youths into the on-going Federal Oil Pipeline Surveillance Project and inclusion of Isoko youths in the Post Amnesty Programme, he promised that he would channel their request to higher quarters for attention.
Speaking earlier, the President of Isoko National Youth Movement, Comrade Ogaga Isaac Egbewoku said that they were in his office to congratulate him on his appointment and to express their full loyalty to him.
They used the forum to congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on his re-election and in appointing many Isoko sons and daughters into his government.
Comrade Egbuwoku used the forum to call on the commissioner to use his office to ensure that Isoko youths have more slots in the ongoing employment of the Niger-Delta Oil Pipeline Surveillance Project, and inclusion in the Post Amnesty Programme.
This advice was handed down by the commissioner when the President, Isoko National Youth Movement and its executive members paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.
The commissioner advised them that much could be achieved if the youths could come under one umbrella body for effectiveness and cohesion, and urged the National President of the Isoko National Youth Movement to apply dialogue in resolving issues.
Sir Ferife also advised the youths to consider the idea of forming a micro credit scheme to better the lots of youths who have business drive to actualize their economic potentials.
He assured them of his co-operation and support at all times and urged them to be law-abiding.
On their request for employment of Isoko youths into the on-going Federal Oil Pipeline Surveillance Project and inclusion of Isoko youths in the Post Amnesty Programme, he promised that he would channel their request to higher quarters for attention.
Speaking earlier, the President of Isoko National Youth Movement, Comrade Ogaga Isaac Egbewoku said that they were in his office to congratulate him on his appointment and to express their full loyalty to him.
They used the forum to congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on his re-election and in appointing many Isoko sons and daughters into his government.
Comrade Egbuwoku used the forum to call on the commissioner to use his office to ensure that Isoko youths have more slots in the ongoing employment of the Niger-Delta Oil Pipeline Surveillance Project, and inclusion in the Post Amnesty Programme.
WORKS COMMISSIONER CALLS FOR PRAYERS TO SUSTAIN PEACE, SECURITY IN NIGERIA
Women have been enjoined to pray for the sustenance of peace and security in the nation.
The Commissioner for Works, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon made the call when he received in audience members of Women in Politics Prayer Fellowship, Burutu chapter.
While noting the strategic position of the womenfolk as nation builders, Rt. Hon. Solomon urged them to be steadfast in their prayers for the nation and the state, stressing that prayer is the key to unlocking development and progress. He described women’s participation in politics as crucial in any democratic dispensation and called for more female involvement in politics in line with the 35% affirmative action of the present dispensation.
Rt. Hon. Solomon enjoined the group to continually pray for the leaders, especially Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in their transformational programmes and agenda to eradicate poverty. He commended them for their solidarity and team spirit and promised to support the fellowship.
Speaking earlier, the President of the group, Burutu Chapter, Mrs. Warekuromo Janet congratulated Rt. Hon. Solomon on his appointment. She highlighted the role of women in politics prayer fellowship. She appealed to the commissioner to assist in capacity building of the women by engaging them in skills acquisition programmes.
The Commissioner for Works, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon made the call when he received in audience members of Women in Politics Prayer Fellowship, Burutu chapter.
While noting the strategic position of the womenfolk as nation builders, Rt. Hon. Solomon urged them to be steadfast in their prayers for the nation and the state, stressing that prayer is the key to unlocking development and progress. He described women’s participation in politics as crucial in any democratic dispensation and called for more female involvement in politics in line with the 35% affirmative action of the present dispensation.
Rt. Hon. Solomon enjoined the group to continually pray for the leaders, especially Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in their transformational programmes and agenda to eradicate poverty. He commended them for their solidarity and team spirit and promised to support the fellowship.
Speaking earlier, the President of the group, Burutu Chapter, Mrs. Warekuromo Janet congratulated Rt. Hon. Solomon on his appointment. She highlighted the role of women in politics prayer fellowship. She appealed to the commissioner to assist in capacity building of the women by engaging them in skills acquisition programmes.
DTSG COMMENDED FOR SUSTAINING INSURANCE BUSINESS
Delta State Government has been commended for creating enabling environment for Insurance business to thrive in the state.
The Business Manager of Staco Insurance PLC, Asaba,Mr. Mene Otubu gave the commendation while addressing some journalists in his office.
He said that the state government had made it compulsory for some category of contractors to take insurance covers in respect of contract jobs given them, saying that this had greatly boosted insurance business in the state, just as he decried the paucity of information on insurance business.
Mr. Otubu called on the public to learn more about insurance covers and their advantages, stressing that it pays to insure oneself and properties, even as he said that it was the surest way to recover what one had lost owing to unforeseen disasters.
The Business Manager of Staco Insurance PLC, Asaba,Mr. Mene Otubu gave the commendation while addressing some journalists in his office.
He said that the state government had made it compulsory for some category of contractors to take insurance covers in respect of contract jobs given them, saying that this had greatly boosted insurance business in the state, just as he decried the paucity of information on insurance business.
Mr. Otubu called on the public to learn more about insurance covers and their advantages, stressing that it pays to insure oneself and properties, even as he said that it was the surest way to recover what one had lost owing to unforeseen disasters.
IKA ELDERS FORUM CALLS FOR CONCERTED EFFORT AT CURBING CRIME
The Ika Elders Forum has appealed to traditional rulers in Ika Land to be active partners in the sustained efforts to rid the area of criminals.
The call was made at an enlarged meeting the group held with various security agencies, representatives of banks, landlords, okada operators, and organised private sectors as well as the media.
At the meeting held at Ezinne Events Centre, Boji Boji, Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area it was resolved that traditional rulers as custodian of the moral barometer of their subjects should continue to liaise with council authorities and the security agencies to arrest the disturbing crime menace in Ika land.
Addressing the audience, Justice S. A. Ehiwario (Rtd), the national leader of the group, said that the decision by the group to call the security meeting was not in any way aimed at arrogating the authorities of traditional rulers and the council authorities.
According to him, as elders who had served in various capacities, it was incumbent on them to seek the partnership of every stakeholder in fighting crime.
He charged the FRSC in the area to implement road codes, adding that a situation where “Okada” riders were allowed to carry four passengers on one motor cycle should be discouraged.
Justice Ehiwario warned the okada operators to obey traffic rules, failing which representation would be made to government to ensure outright ban on motor cycle as means of commercial transport. He appealed to them to be organised in such a way that the bad eggs within the fold could easily be fished out.
Venerable Omordia, a retired permanent secretary, said that the nonchalant attitude of council authorities in the area should not go unnoticed, stressing that trading in busy township roads should stop.
On his part, Chief Donald Ugbaja, a deputy inspector- general of police said that the crime wave in the area now could not be compared to what was happening 40 years ago when he was the DPO at Agbor.
In his reaction, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Agbor Division, CSP S.E. Dammanman said that since the first security meeting held with the leaders, the Ika South Council authorities had shown better commitment to the security needs of the people.
According to him, ‘’I am happy to say that the council has changed its attitude to security matters. We hope to build on this new relationship. There is a very high decadence in our society but we must maintain the tempo in order to bring down the rate of crime ’’
The police chief appealed to the public to have renewed confidence in the police. He decried the attitude of some landlords who built rented apartments without recourse to security checks of their tenants.
While stating that the platform to ensure security is the family, CSP Dammanman appealed to parents to monitor every activity of their children or wards. He suggested that the message of collaboration in preventing crimes should be extended to churches, because according to him, the prevailing realities demanded the input of every sector.
Elder John Ehikwe, who doubles as the national leader and Secretary of the group decried the fizzled interest shown by the financial houses in the area. The respected leader appealed to the authorities of PHCN to ensure improved services as according to him, the incessant blackouts had negatively affected security of the area.
The call was made at an enlarged meeting the group held with various security agencies, representatives of banks, landlords, okada operators, and organised private sectors as well as the media.
At the meeting held at Ezinne Events Centre, Boji Boji, Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area it was resolved that traditional rulers as custodian of the moral barometer of their subjects should continue to liaise with council authorities and the security agencies to arrest the disturbing crime menace in Ika land.
Addressing the audience, Justice S. A. Ehiwario (Rtd), the national leader of the group, said that the decision by the group to call the security meeting was not in any way aimed at arrogating the authorities of traditional rulers and the council authorities.
According to him, as elders who had served in various capacities, it was incumbent on them to seek the partnership of every stakeholder in fighting crime.
He charged the FRSC in the area to implement road codes, adding that a situation where “Okada” riders were allowed to carry four passengers on one motor cycle should be discouraged.
Justice Ehiwario warned the okada operators to obey traffic rules, failing which representation would be made to government to ensure outright ban on motor cycle as means of commercial transport. He appealed to them to be organised in such a way that the bad eggs within the fold could easily be fished out.
Venerable Omordia, a retired permanent secretary, said that the nonchalant attitude of council authorities in the area should not go unnoticed, stressing that trading in busy township roads should stop.
On his part, Chief Donald Ugbaja, a deputy inspector- general of police said that the crime wave in the area now could not be compared to what was happening 40 years ago when he was the DPO at Agbor.
In his reaction, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Agbor Division, CSP S.E. Dammanman said that since the first security meeting held with the leaders, the Ika South Council authorities had shown better commitment to the security needs of the people.
According to him, ‘’I am happy to say that the council has changed its attitude to security matters. We hope to build on this new relationship. There is a very high decadence in our society but we must maintain the tempo in order to bring down the rate of crime ’’
The police chief appealed to the public to have renewed confidence in the police. He decried the attitude of some landlords who built rented apartments without recourse to security checks of their tenants.
While stating that the platform to ensure security is the family, CSP Dammanman appealed to parents to monitor every activity of their children or wards. He suggested that the message of collaboration in preventing crimes should be extended to churches, because according to him, the prevailing realities demanded the input of every sector.
Elder John Ehikwe, who doubles as the national leader and Secretary of the group decried the fizzled interest shown by the financial houses in the area. The respected leader appealed to the authorities of PHCN to ensure improved services as according to him, the incessant blackouts had negatively affected security of the area.
Why I stopped wearing skirts - Odumakin
Tayo Gesinde
Have you ever come across a woman who has never worn make-ups, even on her wedding day? It seems rare, but one Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the president, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and founder, Women Arise (WA), who, being a typical radical, seems to be less interested in what catches most women's fancy. The human rights crusader, in this interview, speaks on why she prefers trousers to other dresses. Excerpts:
Definition of style.
To me, style is a unique and peculiar way an individual handles situations and other life issues. It also extends to choices and preferences, it is always said that the way you dress is the way you are addressed. Fashion to me is more about decent appearance and comfort. It is not about going with the crowd or "copying the latest"
Dress sense.
I wear trousers because of comfort. I made up my mind to always wear trousers after I was beaten @ a rally which I led in Ilorin,I fell inside the gutter and my skirt was torn, I was eventually arrested and detained. Also, I do not wear traditional attire again except shirts made with such attire. However, on my wedding day in November 1997, I wore a wedding gown, on my engagement day I had my traditional attire. Likewise, on the naming ceremony of my daughter in 1998 & that of my son too I wore traditional attire. Apart from the times I mentioned, I am always in my trouser and top.
I don't do dinner gowns, there is always an option but if it is a strict dress code, then I get my self busy with other things.
Make- up.
I have never used make up. Growing up, I had wanted to be a nun, later I joined my mother @ Redemption Herald Evangelistic Ministry, Ilorin and there, it is no earrings, etc
Beauty routine.
Mine is just to use Dudu - Osun (black soap) to wash my face, make use of my white facial towel then apply a bit of Vaseline .
Favourite designers.
I make use of our local designers, just to bring out the best, I like TM Lewin and Ralph Lauren shirts.
Perfume.
I hate perfumes, while growing up, I was made to understand that it is only used for dead bodies. Honestly, it makes me want to throw up.
Favourite colours
Black & white, royal blue, purple and green.
Choice of accessories
Wrist watch and moderate earrings. I do not really like silver but gold, something durable.
Accessory I can't do without.
Wrist watch, this is the most important one, at times, my phone will be switched off, there will be no opportunity to check time because honestly 24hours per day is too short for me so, it is very important I manage my time.
Opinion on cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery is for those who are artificial and lack confidence.
On toning.
It is also dangerous to health."It looks good" for a short term but toning on the long run becomes an embarasment.
Provocative dressing.
It is a symptom of moral decline. It is an indecent advertisement which women with values should not take pride in.
Diet\exercise
It is not that I diet but I rarely eat, at times I forget that I have not eaten, Professor Soyinka will say I eat like a bird. At the last SNG rally I forgot that I had not eaten for 3 days due to the series of rallies I had, if not for Pastor Tunde Bakare that held me while collapsing, it would have been disastrous.I exercise a lost, apart from being a street person that is the struggle is my life, I like exercise.
Secret of beauty.
I make sure that I live a moderate life style,do regular exercise and eat plenty of fruits. Also,I avoid eating meat but I ensure that I eat plenty of fish.
Special treat.
I pamper myself with a good dinner out, once in a while or a nice short holiday where I will not roam my phone.
Hair and nail.
I braid my hair, since the death of Bob Marley I made up my mind that nothing but bob. I keep my nails clean always and make use of nail cutter.
Have you ever come across a woman who has never worn make-ups, even on her wedding day? It seems rare, but one Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the president, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and founder, Women Arise (WA), who, being a typical radical, seems to be less interested in what catches most women's fancy. The human rights crusader, in this interview, speaks on why she prefers trousers to other dresses. Excerpts:
Definition of style.
To me, style is a unique and peculiar way an individual handles situations and other life issues. It also extends to choices and preferences, it is always said that the way you dress is the way you are addressed. Fashion to me is more about decent appearance and comfort. It is not about going with the crowd or "copying the latest"
Dress sense.
I wear trousers because of comfort. I made up my mind to always wear trousers after I was beaten @ a rally which I led in Ilorin,I fell inside the gutter and my skirt was torn, I was eventually arrested and detained. Also, I do not wear traditional attire again except shirts made with such attire. However, on my wedding day in November 1997, I wore a wedding gown, on my engagement day I had my traditional attire. Likewise, on the naming ceremony of my daughter in 1998 & that of my son too I wore traditional attire. Apart from the times I mentioned, I am always in my trouser and top.
I don't do dinner gowns, there is always an option but if it is a strict dress code, then I get my self busy with other things.
Make- up.
I have never used make up. Growing up, I had wanted to be a nun, later I joined my mother @ Redemption Herald Evangelistic Ministry, Ilorin and there, it is no earrings, etc
Beauty routine.
Mine is just to use Dudu - Osun (black soap) to wash my face, make use of my white facial towel then apply a bit of Vaseline .
Favourite designers.
I make use of our local designers, just to bring out the best, I like TM Lewin and Ralph Lauren shirts.
Perfume.
I hate perfumes, while growing up, I was made to understand that it is only used for dead bodies. Honestly, it makes me want to throw up.
Favourite colours
Black & white, royal blue, purple and green.
Choice of accessories
Wrist watch and moderate earrings. I do not really like silver but gold, something durable.
Accessory I can't do without.
Wrist watch, this is the most important one, at times, my phone will be switched off, there will be no opportunity to check time because honestly 24hours per day is too short for me so, it is very important I manage my time.
Opinion on cosmetic surgery
Cosmetic surgery is for those who are artificial and lack confidence.
On toning.
It is also dangerous to health."It looks good" for a short term but toning on the long run becomes an embarasment.
Provocative dressing.
It is a symptom of moral decline. It is an indecent advertisement which women with values should not take pride in.
Diet\exercise
It is not that I diet but I rarely eat, at times I forget that I have not eaten, Professor Soyinka will say I eat like a bird. At the last SNG rally I forgot that I had not eaten for 3 days due to the series of rallies I had, if not for Pastor Tunde Bakare that held me while collapsing, it would have been disastrous.I exercise a lost, apart from being a street person that is the struggle is my life, I like exercise.
Secret of beauty.
I make sure that I live a moderate life style,do regular exercise and eat plenty of fruits. Also,I avoid eating meat but I ensure that I eat plenty of fish.
Special treat.
I pamper myself with a good dinner out, once in a while or a nice short holiday where I will not roam my phone.
Hair and nail.
I braid my hair, since the death of Bob Marley I made up my mind that nothing but bob. I keep my nails clean always and make use of nail cutter.
MAJOROH ENJOINS THE PUBLIC TO EMBRACE PERSONAL HYGIENE
The general public have been advised to embrace personal hygiene in order to avoid cholera and other communicable diseases.
The advice was given by the permanent secretary, Delta State HealthCare Development Agency, Dr Tobi Majoroh.
He said that diseases could be avoided by keeping good personal and environmental hygiene and boiling of water from any doubtful source before drinking.
Dr Majoroh added that washing of hands with soap and water before and after any activity is a good practice towards avoiding cholera.
He urged people to report any unusual health symptoms to the nearest health facility in the state.
The advice was given by the permanent secretary, Delta State HealthCare Development Agency, Dr Tobi Majoroh.
He said that diseases could be avoided by keeping good personal and environmental hygiene and boiling of water from any doubtful source before drinking.
Dr Majoroh added that washing of hands with soap and water before and after any activity is a good practice towards avoiding cholera.
He urged people to report any unusual health symptoms to the nearest health facility in the state.
DELTA TO PARTNER CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU IN FIGHTING AGAINST CORRUPTION
The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah (Esq), has expressed the ministry’s readiness to partner with the Code of Conduct Bureau in the fight against corruption in the state.
Mr. Ogeah who gave this assurance while playing host to the state Director of the Bureau, Mr. Anthony Onyeibe during a courtesy visit to the ministry in Asaba, said that it was important for all government workers, especially political office holders to declare their assets as part of ensuring due process and in fulfilment of the law.
He stated that assets declaration was one ingenious ways to track corruption in the society, adding that the time when government paid little attention to the fight against corruption was over, even as he said that the Code of Conduct Bureau had been very effective in discharging their duties in the state.
The commissioner said it was sacrosanct for all political appointees to declare their assets before assumption of office, saying that was the only way to show that they had good intention to serve and had nothing that would discredit their character.
Earlier in a remark, the Director of the Bureau, Mr Anthony Onyeibe who commended the commissioner for the warmth reception despite the short notice, said that the purpose of the visit was to enlighten the ministry on the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau and also to seek partnership with the ministry in ensuring that that public was well sensitised on the activities of the bureau.
He used the forum to charge all public office holders to declare their assets, saying that it was a law that had been effective since 1988.
The state Director said it was mandatory for all to declare their assets, stressing that public servants should also declare their assets at the beginning and expiration point of their appointment, adding that it was mandatory for all civil servants to declare assets every four years.
He warned that any public officer who refused to declare his assets would be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Present during the meeting were the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Ben Igo, the Ag. Director of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor, Director of Publication and Production Services, Mr. Dona Obuseh, Director of Orientation, Mr. Willy Sowho, Director of Administration, Mr. Kenneth Okurungbe, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Precious Anuku and the Special Assistant to the commissioner, Mr. Pius Modi.
Mr. Ogeah who gave this assurance while playing host to the state Director of the Bureau, Mr. Anthony Onyeibe during a courtesy visit to the ministry in Asaba, said that it was important for all government workers, especially political office holders to declare their assets as part of ensuring due process and in fulfilment of the law.
He stated that assets declaration was one ingenious ways to track corruption in the society, adding that the time when government paid little attention to the fight against corruption was over, even as he said that the Code of Conduct Bureau had been very effective in discharging their duties in the state.
The commissioner said it was sacrosanct for all political appointees to declare their assets before assumption of office, saying that was the only way to show that they had good intention to serve and had nothing that would discredit their character.
Earlier in a remark, the Director of the Bureau, Mr Anthony Onyeibe who commended the commissioner for the warmth reception despite the short notice, said that the purpose of the visit was to enlighten the ministry on the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau and also to seek partnership with the ministry in ensuring that that public was well sensitised on the activities of the bureau.
He used the forum to charge all public office holders to declare their assets, saying that it was a law that had been effective since 1988.
The state Director said it was mandatory for all to declare their assets, stressing that public servants should also declare their assets at the beginning and expiration point of their appointment, adding that it was mandatory for all civil servants to declare assets every four years.
He warned that any public officer who refused to declare his assets would be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Present during the meeting were the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Ben Igo, the Ag. Director of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor, Director of Publication and Production Services, Mr. Dona Obuseh, Director of Orientation, Mr. Willy Sowho, Director of Administration, Mr. Kenneth Okurungbe, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Precious Anuku and the Special Assistant to the commissioner, Mr. Pius Modi.
Sudan: UN-AU coordination group takes note of peacekeeping progress in Darfur
A tripartite coordination group of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has concluded that the mission has made progress and that cooperation and coordination with the Sudanese Government has improved, as have security conditions on the ground.
The Tripartite Coordination Mechanism, which met at UN Headquarters on Saturday encouraged UNAMID to support the peace process in Darfur by engaging other groups and preparing for internal dialogue and the Darfur political process.
The mechanism brings together senior representative from the African Union (AU), United Nations and the Sudanese Government to reinforce cooperation in support of UNAMID's mandate of protecting civilians in Darfur.
In recent meetings, participants proposed that UNAMID shift its focus from troop deployment to the effective use of its resources for the full implementation of its mandate.
On the security situation, UNAMID noted that inter-ethnic violence had declined in recent months and that the number of overall deaths in Darfur fell from 2,321 in 2010 to 724 so far this year. The number of incidents of carjacking also fell due to mitigation measures undertaken by UNAMID and the Government.
However, participants voiced concern over attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel in Darfur, including the abduction of an international aid worker who remains in captivity. They also took note of the Government's commitment to securing the safe release of the hostage and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Other issues discussed included access and freedom of movement, the conference on water resources in June, and the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
Participants took note of increased UNAMID patrols and an access restriction rate of less than one percent. UNAMID's Operation Spring Basket had contributed to the expansion of humanitarian access to previously inaccessible parts of Jebel Marra and elsewhere in Darfur.
They welcomed efforts to resolve restrictions of movement through a subcommittee of UNAMID, local authorities and Government security entities.
Participants in the meeting were Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Sudanese Government Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Susan Malcorra, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Ibrahim Gambari, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative and head of UNAMID.
The participants agreed to meet again in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, possibly in January next year, when they will focus attention on strategic issues, including how better to utilize the mission's resources, the road map for the Darfur peace process and a forthcoming review of uniformed personnel requirements for UNAMID.
The Tripartite Coordination Mechanism, which met at UN Headquarters on Saturday encouraged UNAMID to support the peace process in Darfur by engaging other groups and preparing for internal dialogue and the Darfur political process.
The mechanism brings together senior representative from the African Union (AU), United Nations and the Sudanese Government to reinforce cooperation in support of UNAMID's mandate of protecting civilians in Darfur.
In recent meetings, participants proposed that UNAMID shift its focus from troop deployment to the effective use of its resources for the full implementation of its mandate.
On the security situation, UNAMID noted that inter-ethnic violence had declined in recent months and that the number of overall deaths in Darfur fell from 2,321 in 2010 to 724 so far this year. The number of incidents of carjacking also fell due to mitigation measures undertaken by UNAMID and the Government.
However, participants voiced concern over attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel in Darfur, including the abduction of an international aid worker who remains in captivity. They also took note of the Government's commitment to securing the safe release of the hostage and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Other issues discussed included access and freedom of movement, the conference on water resources in June, and the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
Participants took note of increased UNAMID patrols and an access restriction rate of less than one percent. UNAMID's Operation Spring Basket had contributed to the expansion of humanitarian access to previously inaccessible parts of Jebel Marra and elsewhere in Darfur.
They welcomed efforts to resolve restrictions of movement through a subcommittee of UNAMID, local authorities and Government security entities.
Participants in the meeting were Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Sudanese Government Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Susan Malcorra, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Ibrahim Gambari, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative and head of UNAMID.
The participants agreed to meet again in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, possibly in January next year, when they will focus attention on strategic issues, including how better to utilize the mission's resources, the road map for the Darfur peace process and a forthcoming review of uniformed personnel requirements for UNAMID.
Atiku Manipulated $40m NITEL Contract for Ericsson - El rufai
Elombah.com
Nasir El-Rufai, former Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), told Ambassador Jeter that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had corruptly manipulated the NITEL GSM Equipment contract award in favor of Ericsson and that this case is just one example of what is commonly practiced in the Executive branch, e.g., cushioning or manipulating contracts for personal and political gain. A US
Diplomatic cable published by wikileaks said the Ambassador hosted el rufai for lunch on August 1 to discuss the status of the NITEL GSM Equipment contract, valued at approximately USD 40 million.
El-Rufai was very candid about his relationship with the Vice President, the Vice President's stake in awarding the GSM contract to Ericsson, and his own intention to leave his position as head of the GON privatization agency. He stated that because the President believes him capable of manipulating the tendering process, as alleged by Ericsson, he has no other choice but to resign his position at the BPE.
In the diplomatic cable, El rufai also told the Ambassador that the quality of El-Rufai's personal relationship with the Vice President, in public had always appeared close, and that he had believed their relationship was good.
He commented that the Vice President had never asked him to do anything unsavory or to "bring him deals." He said, however that a friend heard from former Senate President Chuba Okadigabo, who is close with the Vice President and helps him to "raise money" for the campaign war chest, that the Vice President was unhappy with El-Rufai's performance because El-Rufai had never brought him a single "deal" (read kickbacks).
El-Rufai explained that the Vice President worked through the Ministers, particularly the Minister of Works and Housing, to manipulate public contracts for both building the campaign war chest for the 2003 Presidential elections and, he assumed, for personal gain. El-Rufai said that the President was not a wealthy man and would not likely receive campaign support from his supporters during the last election. The embassy commented that "The PDP party itself is barely solvent and would not be able to offer the President much financial support," therefore, El-Rufai said, the President was tacitly complicit in the Vice President's "fund raising" activities, but never involved himself directly so as to "stay clean." El-Rufai commented that the Vice President came from a "dirty" background in the Customs Service and had continued these practices in the Villa. El-Rufai implied that the NITEL GSM Equipment contract was an
example of such activities.
In the cable, US Embassy officers said they have heard many times from many sources that the former Vice President is directly involved in corrupt activities. "El-Rufai's testimony provides more anecdotal evidence supporting these sources", they wrote.
"With El-Rufai gone, the Vice President will be more able to manipulate the country's privatization process for personal and political gain."
At the August 1 2001, private lunch hosted by the Ambassador for Nasir El-Rufai in the intimate setting of the Ambassador,s residence, El-Rufai stated that NITEL/Ministry of Communications was continuing to negotiate the contract terms with Ericsson. According to El-Rufai, the GON asked Ericsson to deliver the products and services at Motorola's bid price, which was USD 10 million less than Ericsson's bid of USD 49 million.
El-Rufai did not believe Ericsson could fulfill the contract provisions at that price, commenting that conclusion would only be reached if the two sides agreed to cut 25 percent of the contract, through, for
example, reducing the number of proposed base stations. But, El-Rufai said, "that 25 percent would have to be paid for by someone."
When asked whether the President and Vice President might reconsider the contract award, El-Rufai replied no, despite the difficulties over negotiations, the Vice President would "lose face" if Ericsson did not receive the contract.
However, El-Rufai did feel that a compromise could be found that would allow the Vice President to save face and allow Motorola to participate. He suggested that Ericsson and Motorola split the contract: Ericsson could provide the switching network and Motorola could provide the base stations. He noted that this would allow each company to provide the service in which it specializes.
Because the base stations represent a greater portion of the contract, he recommended offering Ericsson some of the sub-contracting work, such as the air conditioning towers and power generation units, where neither company has specific expertise.
El-Rufai expressed his deep displeasure with events immediately preceding the contract award to Ericsson. In a recent meeting with President Obasanjo, the two discussed Ericsson's allegations that El-Rufai had manipulated the tendering process to ensure Motorola's success. (Note. El-Rufai had written a lengthy letter to President Obasanjo on July 8 defending his role in the tendering process and pointing to the questionable activities of the Vice President's Aide-de-Camp, who acted on behalf of Ericsson. At the time of El-Rufai's meeting with Obasanjo, however, the President had not read this letter.)
El-Rufai commented that he would have preferred to wait until the President had read his letter before
discussing it with him. During the meeting, President Obasanjo told El-Rufai that he had total confidence in the BPE Director-General, but that he believed El-Rufai was clever enough to have manipulated the tendering process from the outset to ensure Motorola's success. The President then said that El-Rufai had three problems: first, that there was a popular perception that El-Rufai is "too clever"; second, in fact, he is "too clever"; and third, his attitude towards Ministers and the Vice President is not sufficiently
respectful or deferential.
El-Rufai asked the President for permission to sue Ericsson for defamation. Obasanjo reportedly refused this
request because of the negative political repercussions on the Presidency. The President then asked El-Rufai what else he could do for him.
El-Rufai requested permission to leave his position as Director-General of the BPE. El-Rufai argued with the President that he could not oversee the country's privatization program if Obasanjo believed that El-Rufai was capable of manipulating the tendering process. However, El-Rufai said, the President refused to allow him to quit.
El-Rufai confided to the Ambassador that despite the President's refusal, he still intended to leave the BPE after a 2-3 month period. He said that he would not leave too soon after the GSM Equipment tendering in order to avoid speculation over the causes for his departure. El-Rufai added that over the next few months he would expose his deputy, Tijjani Abdullahi, and the Legal Department Head, to his contacts at the Presidency in hopes that the President would choose one of them as his successor. However, he
admitted that neither of them had political connections or a close relationship with the Presidency. El-Rufai asked for the support of the donor community in advocating for the new BPE Director-General to come from within the agency's ranks.
Ambassador Jeter expressed sincere regret that El-Rufai had decided to leave public service. The Ambassador believed that the privatization program would severely suffer and so would Nigeria. While El-Rufai seemed to appreciate these sentiments, he did not soften his position on leaving the job.
El-Rufai also showed a great deal of resentment toward Ericsson and promised to "get them" at a later time. He said that "time is on my side" and that he was sure that sometime in the future Ericsson would need his help and he would be able to refuse them.
In the concluding comment, the embassy said "many in the international community respect Nasir El-Rufai for his integrity and forthrightness. El-Rufai's departure from public service would be a devastating blow to the GON's image of transparency and good economic governance."
Nasir El-Rufai, former Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), told Ambassador Jeter that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had corruptly manipulated the NITEL GSM Equipment contract award in favor of Ericsson and that this case is just one example of what is commonly practiced in the Executive branch, e.g., cushioning or manipulating contracts for personal and political gain. A US
Diplomatic cable published by wikileaks said the Ambassador hosted el rufai for lunch on August 1 to discuss the status of the NITEL GSM Equipment contract, valued at approximately USD 40 million.
El-Rufai was very candid about his relationship with the Vice President, the Vice President's stake in awarding the GSM contract to Ericsson, and his own intention to leave his position as head of the GON privatization agency. He stated that because the President believes him capable of manipulating the tendering process, as alleged by Ericsson, he has no other choice but to resign his position at the BPE.
In the diplomatic cable, El rufai also told the Ambassador that the quality of El-Rufai's personal relationship with the Vice President, in public had always appeared close, and that he had believed their relationship was good.
He commented that the Vice President had never asked him to do anything unsavory or to "bring him deals." He said, however that a friend heard from former Senate President Chuba Okadigabo, who is close with the Vice President and helps him to "raise money" for the campaign war chest, that the Vice President was unhappy with El-Rufai's performance because El-Rufai had never brought him a single "deal" (read kickbacks).
El-Rufai explained that the Vice President worked through the Ministers, particularly the Minister of Works and Housing, to manipulate public contracts for both building the campaign war chest for the 2003 Presidential elections and, he assumed, for personal gain. El-Rufai said that the President was not a wealthy man and would not likely receive campaign support from his supporters during the last election. The embassy commented that "The PDP party itself is barely solvent and would not be able to offer the President much financial support," therefore, El-Rufai said, the President was tacitly complicit in the Vice President's "fund raising" activities, but never involved himself directly so as to "stay clean." El-Rufai commented that the Vice President came from a "dirty" background in the Customs Service and had continued these practices in the Villa. El-Rufai implied that the NITEL GSM Equipment contract was an
example of such activities.
In the cable, US Embassy officers said they have heard many times from many sources that the former Vice President is directly involved in corrupt activities. "El-Rufai's testimony provides more anecdotal evidence supporting these sources", they wrote.
"With El-Rufai gone, the Vice President will be more able to manipulate the country's privatization process for personal and political gain."
At the August 1 2001, private lunch hosted by the Ambassador for Nasir El-Rufai in the intimate setting of the Ambassador,s residence, El-Rufai stated that NITEL/Ministry of Communications was continuing to negotiate the contract terms with Ericsson. According to El-Rufai, the GON asked Ericsson to deliver the products and services at Motorola's bid price, which was USD 10 million less than Ericsson's bid of USD 49 million.
El-Rufai did not believe Ericsson could fulfill the contract provisions at that price, commenting that conclusion would only be reached if the two sides agreed to cut 25 percent of the contract, through, for
example, reducing the number of proposed base stations. But, El-Rufai said, "that 25 percent would have to be paid for by someone."
When asked whether the President and Vice President might reconsider the contract award, El-Rufai replied no, despite the difficulties over negotiations, the Vice President would "lose face" if Ericsson did not receive the contract.
However, El-Rufai did feel that a compromise could be found that would allow the Vice President to save face and allow Motorola to participate. He suggested that Ericsson and Motorola split the contract: Ericsson could provide the switching network and Motorola could provide the base stations. He noted that this would allow each company to provide the service in which it specializes.
Because the base stations represent a greater portion of the contract, he recommended offering Ericsson some of the sub-contracting work, such as the air conditioning towers and power generation units, where neither company has specific expertise.
El-Rufai expressed his deep displeasure with events immediately preceding the contract award to Ericsson. In a recent meeting with President Obasanjo, the two discussed Ericsson's allegations that El-Rufai had manipulated the tendering process to ensure Motorola's success. (Note. El-Rufai had written a lengthy letter to President Obasanjo on July 8 defending his role in the tendering process and pointing to the questionable activities of the Vice President's Aide-de-Camp, who acted on behalf of Ericsson. At the time of El-Rufai's meeting with Obasanjo, however, the President had not read this letter.)
El-Rufai commented that he would have preferred to wait until the President had read his letter before
discussing it with him. During the meeting, President Obasanjo told El-Rufai that he had total confidence in the BPE Director-General, but that he believed El-Rufai was clever enough to have manipulated the tendering process from the outset to ensure Motorola's success. The President then said that El-Rufai had three problems: first, that there was a popular perception that El-Rufai is "too clever"; second, in fact, he is "too clever"; and third, his attitude towards Ministers and the Vice President is not sufficiently
respectful or deferential.
El-Rufai asked the President for permission to sue Ericsson for defamation. Obasanjo reportedly refused this
request because of the negative political repercussions on the Presidency. The President then asked El-Rufai what else he could do for him.
El-Rufai requested permission to leave his position as Director-General of the BPE. El-Rufai argued with the President that he could not oversee the country's privatization program if Obasanjo believed that El-Rufai was capable of manipulating the tendering process. However, El-Rufai said, the President refused to allow him to quit.
El-Rufai confided to the Ambassador that despite the President's refusal, he still intended to leave the BPE after a 2-3 month period. He said that he would not leave too soon after the GSM Equipment tendering in order to avoid speculation over the causes for his departure. El-Rufai added that over the next few months he would expose his deputy, Tijjani Abdullahi, and the Legal Department Head, to his contacts at the Presidency in hopes that the President would choose one of them as his successor. However, he
admitted that neither of them had political connections or a close relationship with the Presidency. El-Rufai asked for the support of the donor community in advocating for the new BPE Director-General to come from within the agency's ranks.
Ambassador Jeter expressed sincere regret that El-Rufai had decided to leave public service. The Ambassador believed that the privatization program would severely suffer and so would Nigeria. While El-Rufai seemed to appreciate these sentiments, he did not soften his position on leaving the job.
El-Rufai also showed a great deal of resentment toward Ericsson and promised to "get them" at a later time. He said that "time is on my side" and that he was sure that sometime in the future Ericsson would need his help and he would be able to refuse them.
In the concluding comment, the embassy said "many in the international community respect Nasir El-Rufai for his integrity and forthrightness. El-Rufai's departure from public service would be a devastating blow to the GON's image of transparency and good economic governance."
Yemeni President Calls for Power Transfer Through Elections
Edward Yeranian
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he is committed to a peaceful transfer of power through presidential elections. He made the comment in his first televised address Sunday, following his abrupt return from Saudi Arabia late last week after three months recuperating from an an assassination attempt.
Stating that he is committed to implementing a transfer of power initiative drafted by the Gulf Cooperation Council, President Saleh stopped short of agreeing to sign the plan. He repeated a previous offer of dialogue with his opponents, followed by early presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr. Saleh said everyone is moving toward dialogue, understanding and a peaceful transition of power via the ballot box. But he said any elections must include presidential, parliamentary and local balloting, and that if all sides agree in principle, he would comply with the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative.
President Saleh criticized his opponents, saying that they had led the country to what he called a "grave" political crisis and that many acts of “terrorism” had been committed.
Mr. Saleh called the crisis massive, saying it requires that Yemen's leaders learn from the demonstrations in recent months that resulted in scores of people dead and wounded.
Yemen's president thanked the United States and Saudi Arabia for helping his country in the fight against terrorism. And he thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing fuel to Yemen.
In a loud tone, Mr. Saleh criticized his opponents for encouraging chaos, arguing that Yemen's constitution allows peaceful demonstrations, but not what he called the destruction of state property and robbery.
Mohammed al Qadhi, who teaches at the University of Sana'a, says Mr. Saleh's speech offered no new initiatives and left many people discouraged. “It is disappointing. People were wishful and hopeful that he would [make] a very important and historical speech to put an end to this escalating violence. But he didn't say anything new in his speech," he said.
President Saleh's speech came only hours after Yemeni troops opened fire on a large group of anti-government protesters in Sana'a, wounding at least 17 people, with reports of at least one protester killed.
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he is committed to a peaceful transfer of power through presidential elections. He made the comment in his first televised address Sunday, following his abrupt return from Saudi Arabia late last week after three months recuperating from an an assassination attempt.
Stating that he is committed to implementing a transfer of power initiative drafted by the Gulf Cooperation Council, President Saleh stopped short of agreeing to sign the plan. He repeated a previous offer of dialogue with his opponents, followed by early presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mr. Saleh said everyone is moving toward dialogue, understanding and a peaceful transition of power via the ballot box. But he said any elections must include presidential, parliamentary and local balloting, and that if all sides agree in principle, he would comply with the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative.
President Saleh criticized his opponents, saying that they had led the country to what he called a "grave" political crisis and that many acts of “terrorism” had been committed.
Mr. Saleh called the crisis massive, saying it requires that Yemen's leaders learn from the demonstrations in recent months that resulted in scores of people dead and wounded.
Yemen's president thanked the United States and Saudi Arabia for helping his country in the fight against terrorism. And he thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing fuel to Yemen.
In a loud tone, Mr. Saleh criticized his opponents for encouraging chaos, arguing that Yemen's constitution allows peaceful demonstrations, but not what he called the destruction of state property and robbery.
Mohammed al Qadhi, who teaches at the University of Sana'a, says Mr. Saleh's speech offered no new initiatives and left many people discouraged. “It is disappointing. People were wishful and hopeful that he would [make] a very important and historical speech to put an end to this escalating violence. But he didn't say anything new in his speech," he said.
President Saleh's speech came only hours after Yemeni troops opened fire on a large group of anti-government protesters in Sana'a, wounding at least 17 people, with reports of at least one protester killed.
Thousands In Ramallah Welcome Abbas After Historic UN Trip
Thousands of Palestinians have welcomed home President Mahmud Abbas following his return from the United Nations, where he had submitted a historic bid for Palestinian statehood.
Crowds waved Palestinian flags and cheered as 76-year-old Abbas arrived outside his presidential headquarters in Ramallah on September 25
Abbas, who formally requested full UN membership September 23 at the General Assembly, told the crowd that the bid marked the beginning of what he called the "Palestinian Spring," a reference to the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere.
Earlier today, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said there would be "tough repercussions" if the United Nations approves the Palestinian application.
The statement came a day after Egypt and Spain voiced support for the Palestinian bid at the General Assembly.
Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez maintained that a two-state solution and peaceful negotiations were the best alternative for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict:
"Effective, sustainable peace can only be achieved through negotiations between the parties," she said. "Spain believes that the Palestinians could find in this new status a stimulus for the prompt resumption of negotiations."
The UN Security Council is due to meet September 26 to discuss the application.
The United States, a Security Council permanent member, has threatened to veto the motion. But the bid can still win more limited approval in the General Assembly, where any vote can pass by a simple majority.
Meanwhile, the Quartet of Middle East power brokers -- made up of the U.S., the European Union, Russia, and the UN -- proposed a new plan on September 23, urging Israel and the Palestinians to meet within a month and set a new agenda for peace talks.
Speaking in Ramallah on September 25, Abbas said there would be no talks without a "complete halt" to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
Crowds waved Palestinian flags and cheered as 76-year-old Abbas arrived outside his presidential headquarters in Ramallah on September 25
Abbas, who formally requested full UN membership September 23 at the General Assembly, told the crowd that the bid marked the beginning of what he called the "Palestinian Spring," a reference to the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere.
Earlier today, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said there would be "tough repercussions" if the United Nations approves the Palestinian application.
The statement came a day after Egypt and Spain voiced support for the Palestinian bid at the General Assembly.
Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez maintained that a two-state solution and peaceful negotiations were the best alternative for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict:
"Effective, sustainable peace can only be achieved through negotiations between the parties," she said. "Spain believes that the Palestinians could find in this new status a stimulus for the prompt resumption of negotiations."
The UN Security Council is due to meet September 26 to discuss the application.
The United States, a Security Council permanent member, has threatened to veto the motion. But the bid can still win more limited approval in the General Assembly, where any vote can pass by a simple majority.
Meanwhile, the Quartet of Middle East power brokers -- made up of the U.S., the European Union, Russia, and the UN -- proposed a new plan on September 23, urging Israel and the Palestinians to meet within a month and set a new agenda for peace talks.
Speaking in Ramallah on September 25, Abbas said there would be no talks without a "complete halt" to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
YOUTHS IN OGWASHI-UKU CHARGED TO EMBRACE MEANINGFUL VENTURES
Youths of Ogbe Ofu quarters and the entire youths at Ogwash-Uku have been advised to embark on programmes that would enable them be successful in life.
The Ozoma of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Prince Lawrence Okolobi gave the advice during the inauguration of the newly elected executive members of Ogbe Ofu youths at Ogwashi-Uku.
He said that the major duty of the youth executive was to ensure that the area was kept clean, and equally organizing the youths, adding that their duty was very important.
The Ozoma called on the parents in the area to encourage their daughters to belong to the youth body, saying that youths are the bedrock of every nation.
He urged the youths to see themselves as one family and join hand together to move the area to an enviable height.
Prince Okolobi further advised the youths to set up a vigilante group that would work hand in hand with the police to ensure that peace continue to reign in the community.
The Divisional Police Officer, at Aniocha South Local Government Area, Prince Niyi Ojokpagogo, who was represented on the occasion by Assistant Superintendant of Police, Mr. Danladi John, called on the youths to shun crime saying that it could ruin their lives.
He appealed to the youths to engage in programmes that could enable them contribute in nation building, rather than roaming the streets, without proper plans for the future.
Earlier in an address, the out -going chairman of Ogbe Ofu youths, Mr. Iloba Nwabudike, commended the Ozoma of Ogwash-Uku, Prince Lawrence Okolobi for his numerous support to the youths, saying that Okolobi had been patron of the body since its inception.
While congratulating the new executive members, he urged them to work hard to ensure that the area move forward, describing Ogbe Ofu as a peaceful community.
He called on the entire youths in the area to join hands with his executive to ensure that the quarter grows from strength to strength.
The new executive members included Pastor Esekwe Charles Vice president, Ijeh Emmanuel secretary, Nkwo Alvin assistant secretary, Onochie Chiedu treasurer, Prince Emordi Fountain financial secretary, Prince Emordi Philip P.R.O and Ogbogu Ikechukwu organizing secretary.
The Ozoma of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Prince Lawrence Okolobi gave the advice during the inauguration of the newly elected executive members of Ogbe Ofu youths at Ogwashi-Uku.
He said that the major duty of the youth executive was to ensure that the area was kept clean, and equally organizing the youths, adding that their duty was very important.
The Ozoma called on the parents in the area to encourage their daughters to belong to the youth body, saying that youths are the bedrock of every nation.
He urged the youths to see themselves as one family and join hand together to move the area to an enviable height.
Prince Okolobi further advised the youths to set up a vigilante group that would work hand in hand with the police to ensure that peace continue to reign in the community.
The Divisional Police Officer, at Aniocha South Local Government Area, Prince Niyi Ojokpagogo, who was represented on the occasion by Assistant Superintendant of Police, Mr. Danladi John, called on the youths to shun crime saying that it could ruin their lives.
He appealed to the youths to engage in programmes that could enable them contribute in nation building, rather than roaming the streets, without proper plans for the future.
Earlier in an address, the out -going chairman of Ogbe Ofu youths, Mr. Iloba Nwabudike, commended the Ozoma of Ogwash-Uku, Prince Lawrence Okolobi for his numerous support to the youths, saying that Okolobi had been patron of the body since its inception.
While congratulating the new executive members, he urged them to work hard to ensure that the area move forward, describing Ogbe Ofu as a peaceful community.
He called on the entire youths in the area to join hands with his executive to ensure that the quarter grows from strength to strength.
The new executive members included Pastor Esekwe Charles Vice president, Ijeh Emmanuel secretary, Nkwo Alvin assistant secretary, Onochie Chiedu treasurer, Prince Emordi Fountain financial secretary, Prince Emordi Philip P.R.O and Ogbogu Ikechukwu organizing secretary.
Mass Grave Found in Libya With 1,270 Bodies
VOA News
Libya's interim rulers say they have found a mass grave believed to hold the remains of 1,270 inmates killed by Moammar Gadhafi's security forces in a notorious 1996 massacre at Tripoli's Abu Salim prison.
Investigators found the site, a field scattered with bone fragments, using information obtained from witnesses and former Gadhafi officials. Authorities believe the bodies were kept in the prison before they were buried in 2000 just outside the building's walls.
Most of the inmates killed were political prisoners, including Islamic clerics and students who had dared to speak out against Mr. Gadhafi. In June 1996, they rioted to protest conditions at the facility and were gunned down by forces directed by some of the former leader's inner circle.
Lingering anger over the massacre ignited the uprising against Mr. Gadhafi in February, when families of the inmates killed at Abu Salim demonstrated in the eastern city of Benghazi to demand the release of their lawyer.
Elsewhere in Libya, NATO warplanes pounded Mr. Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte on Sunday with an unusually heavy bombardment. NATO said Saturday alliance forces were bombing loyalists in Sirte after reports emerged of "executions, hostage-taking and the targeting of individuals within the city."
Fighters for the National Transitional Council earlier pushed into the town center but met stiff resistance from pro-Gadhafi forces. The fighters later withdrew to clear the way for the NATO airstrikes.
Also Sunday, pro-Gadhafi gunmen, including some who crossed the border from Algeria, attacked revolutionary forces in a frontier town, killing six people.
An NTC military spokesman said the attack on Ghadames, about 450 kilometers southwest of Tripoli, was carried out by fighters belonging to a unit that had been under the command of Mr. Gadhafi's son, Khamis, who was reported killed in earlier clashes.
Mr. Gadhafi's whereabouts remain unknown.
On Friday, his daughter Aisha released an audio recording in which she said her father is in high spirits and is fighting alongside supporters.
The NTC has said an interim Libyan government will be announced this week. NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil spoke Saturday in Benghazi, where the NTC has been meeting to discuss the new government's formation.
Jalil said two seats would be reserved for representatives from Sirte. A spokesman said earlier the government would include 22 ministers and a deputy prime minister.
Libya's interim rulers say they have found a mass grave believed to hold the remains of 1,270 inmates killed by Moammar Gadhafi's security forces in a notorious 1996 massacre at Tripoli's Abu Salim prison.
Investigators found the site, a field scattered with bone fragments, using information obtained from witnesses and former Gadhafi officials. Authorities believe the bodies were kept in the prison before they were buried in 2000 just outside the building's walls.
Most of the inmates killed were political prisoners, including Islamic clerics and students who had dared to speak out against Mr. Gadhafi. In June 1996, they rioted to protest conditions at the facility and were gunned down by forces directed by some of the former leader's inner circle.
Lingering anger over the massacre ignited the uprising against Mr. Gadhafi in February, when families of the inmates killed at Abu Salim demonstrated in the eastern city of Benghazi to demand the release of their lawyer.
Elsewhere in Libya, NATO warplanes pounded Mr. Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte on Sunday with an unusually heavy bombardment. NATO said Saturday alliance forces were bombing loyalists in Sirte after reports emerged of "executions, hostage-taking and the targeting of individuals within the city."
Fighters for the National Transitional Council earlier pushed into the town center but met stiff resistance from pro-Gadhafi forces. The fighters later withdrew to clear the way for the NATO airstrikes.
Also Sunday, pro-Gadhafi gunmen, including some who crossed the border from Algeria, attacked revolutionary forces in a frontier town, killing six people.
An NTC military spokesman said the attack on Ghadames, about 450 kilometers southwest of Tripoli, was carried out by fighters belonging to a unit that had been under the command of Mr. Gadhafi's son, Khamis, who was reported killed in earlier clashes.
Mr. Gadhafi's whereabouts remain unknown.
On Friday, his daughter Aisha released an audio recording in which she said her father is in high spirits and is fighting alongside supporters.
The NTC has said an interim Libyan government will be announced this week. NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil spoke Saturday in Benghazi, where the NTC has been meeting to discuss the new government's formation.
Jalil said two seats would be reserved for representatives from Sirte. A spokesman said earlier the government would include 22 ministers and a deputy prime minister.
10+ of The Hottest Gay TV Characters Ever
Today, LGBT characters come in all shapes and sizes, across every genre on numerous network and cable television series, in roles big and small. But once upon a time not so long ago, thinly veiled references and stiff de-sexualized gays were the only homosexual representation on TV.
Gay.net recently compiled a long list chronicling all of the great gay TV characters through out history. From as far back as Richard Chamberlain’s Dr. Kildare of the 1960s and fussy Felix Unger of The Odd Couple in the '70s, all the way to Queer As Folk, True Blood, and beyond.
It’s been a long road to the colorful and realistic depictions of gay characters captured in popular TV shows like Modern Family and Glee today and before Will & Grace or even Soap, there were subtle clues that gay men could be found all over TV across many genres, playing many roles. Imagine that, just like in real life!
Since there are so many to choose from on the complete list, here a few of the sexiest selections for a quick trip through the hottest gay characters ever on TV.
Dr. Kildare (NBC) 1961 - 1966
Richard Chamberlain was Dr. James Kildare, a young intern (and later resident) doctor who worked in a large hospital under his mentor, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey). Together, the two men tackled both the physical and emotional ills of various patients. There was always something so dreamy and dashing about Chamberlain, and gay men everywhere were thrilled to have their suspicions confirmed when the Thornbirds star finally came out.
CHiPs (NBC) 1977 – 1983, Officer Francis ("Frank") "Ponch" Poncherello (Erik Estrada) and Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker (Larry Wilcox)
The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS) 1979 – 1985, Bo and Luke Duke (John Schneider and Tom Wopat)
Starsky and Hutch (ABC) 1975 – 1979, David Michael Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson (David Soul)
The late 1970s and early 1980s didn’t feature a lot of openly gay male characters, so budding young homos took teases wherever we could find them. That usually came in the form of guy-on-guy buddy shows, like CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard and Starsky and Hutch. More realistic than Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) from the campy 1960s series, these shows featured hot, muscular hunks in tight pants, open shirts with hairy chests, and every other kind of porn fantasy you could imagine… and we could imagine a lot. So while Ponch and Jon weren’t really nailing each other over a motorbike, Bo and Luke weren’t exploring the back seat of The General Lee, and Starsky wasn’t really getting his Hutch on, these guys definitely supplied us with plenty of gay fantasies.
Dynasty (ABC) 1982-1989
On January 12, 1981, a few months before AIDS was given its name and a few days before Ronald Reagan took office as president, America met Dynasty’s Steven Carrington—son of disapproving patriarch Blake Carrington. Soon after his introduction as TV’s first gay main character on a prime-time drama (played by Al Corley, left), the religious right took over politics and fear of AIDS swept the nation, leading to Steven switching to women and becoming “bisexual” (and then be played by Jack Coleman, right). But all was resolved in the 1991 Dynasty miniseries The Reunion, where Blake gave his blessing to Steven (once more played by Corley) and his long-term relationship with Bart Fallmont.
One Life To Live (ABC) 1968-present
In 1992, Billy Douglas The fist gay high schooler on network TV debuted on the soap opera One Life to Live. Douglas—played by a teenage dream and future A-list actor Ryan Phillippe—was at the center of a controversial storyline for the daytime series. In the end, Phillippe’s character came out publicly, in a church no less; in order to dispel rumors that the town’s pastor had molested him.
OZ (HBO) 1997-2003
One of the groups in “Emerald City” included the gays, Toby Beecher (Lee Tergesen) and Chris Keller (Christopher Meloni). They’re a sexy couple, who have some sexy scenes, but they’re also so incredibly complex that they became favorite characters among many viewers. By the final season their tumultuous relationship comes to head with Keller potentially killing Beecher but tricking his accomplice instead, Beecher almost getting Keller locked up for good, one of the two almost tragically dying, and a sweet bit of revenge coming at the end. In society’s underbelly, these two gays were on equal ground with every other f-ed up inmate.
Queer As Folk (Showtime) 2000-2005
Based on the UK series of the same name, Queer as Folk was the first television series to explore LGBT culture and issues in great detail. Be it partners with differing HIV status, performing in gay porn, or underage sex, no queer topic was taboo during the 5 seasons this beloved cable network series aired.
Six Feet Under (HBO) 2001-2005
From the brilliant gay mind of Alan Ball, this creepy, life-affirming, award-winning series followed the Fisher family and their funeral home business, run by baby brother David Fisher (Dexter’s Michael C. Hall in his breakout role). After a few seasons of ups and downs in the closet, David finally finds the courage to come out as gay about his relationship with sexy cop, Keith Charles (Matthew St. Patrick). Their relationship was flawed, tender, real, and long lasting at a time when gay men were still often only caricatures on other shows.
Noah's Ark (Logo) 2005-2006
The success of the both the UK and US versions of Queer as Folk made Noah’s Arc possible. But in addition to being the first gay series to feature all black lead characters (played by Darryl Stephens, Rodney Chester, Christian Vincent, Doug Spearman, and Jensen Atwood), Noah was the first series to fearlessly explore gay male masculinity and femininity. The results were thoughtful, enlightening and spot on.
Torchwood (BBC, Starz) 2006-present
Gay series creator, Russell T. Davies, has described Torchwood as "a very bisexual series." The lead character, Captain Jack Harkness, played by real life out dreamboat John Barrowman, was previously established on Doctor Who as bisexual or pansexual. A Torchwood team member notes in an early episode, Harkness will ‘sleep with anything, if it’s gorgeous enough.’ Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), the team assistant, begins the series in a secretive heterosexual relationship, but eventually enters a long romantic relationship with Jack. Jack's ex partner, Captain John Hart (Buffy’s James Marsters) appears in the second series premiere and the second series finale as a foe still desperately in love with Captain Jack.
Teen Wolf (MTV) 2011-present
Danny (Keahu Kahuanui) on MTV’s Teen Wolf is about as far from a gay stereotype as a character can get. He’s not only a confident student among his peers, he’s also a star lacrosse player and the best friend of the team Captain. It is interesting to note that his sexuality is also never an issue with any other character on the show, making Danny an excellent benchmark for the progress of gay characters on television.
Check out the full list featuring many more interesting and alluring Greatest Gay Characters Ever on TV on Gay.net now.
Gay.net recently compiled a long list chronicling all of the great gay TV characters through out history. From as far back as Richard Chamberlain’s Dr. Kildare of the 1960s and fussy Felix Unger of The Odd Couple in the '70s, all the way to Queer As Folk, True Blood, and beyond.
It’s been a long road to the colorful and realistic depictions of gay characters captured in popular TV shows like Modern Family and Glee today and before Will & Grace or even Soap, there were subtle clues that gay men could be found all over TV across many genres, playing many roles. Imagine that, just like in real life!
Since there are so many to choose from on the complete list, here a few of the sexiest selections for a quick trip through the hottest gay characters ever on TV.
Dr. Kildare (NBC) 1961 - 1966
Richard Chamberlain was Dr. James Kildare, a young intern (and later resident) doctor who worked in a large hospital under his mentor, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey). Together, the two men tackled both the physical and emotional ills of various patients. There was always something so dreamy and dashing about Chamberlain, and gay men everywhere were thrilled to have their suspicions confirmed when the Thornbirds star finally came out.
CHiPs (NBC) 1977 – 1983, Officer Francis ("Frank") "Ponch" Poncherello (Erik Estrada) and Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker (Larry Wilcox)
The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS) 1979 – 1985, Bo and Luke Duke (John Schneider and Tom Wopat)
Starsky and Hutch (ABC) 1975 – 1979, David Michael Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson (David Soul)
The late 1970s and early 1980s didn’t feature a lot of openly gay male characters, so budding young homos took teases wherever we could find them. That usually came in the form of guy-on-guy buddy shows, like CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard and Starsky and Hutch. More realistic than Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) from the campy 1960s series, these shows featured hot, muscular hunks in tight pants, open shirts with hairy chests, and every other kind of porn fantasy you could imagine… and we could imagine a lot. So while Ponch and Jon weren’t really nailing each other over a motorbike, Bo and Luke weren’t exploring the back seat of The General Lee, and Starsky wasn’t really getting his Hutch on, these guys definitely supplied us with plenty of gay fantasies.
Dynasty (ABC) 1982-1989
On January 12, 1981, a few months before AIDS was given its name and a few days before Ronald Reagan took office as president, America met Dynasty’s Steven Carrington—son of disapproving patriarch Blake Carrington. Soon after his introduction as TV’s first gay main character on a prime-time drama (played by Al Corley, left), the religious right took over politics and fear of AIDS swept the nation, leading to Steven switching to women and becoming “bisexual” (and then be played by Jack Coleman, right). But all was resolved in the 1991 Dynasty miniseries The Reunion, where Blake gave his blessing to Steven (once more played by Corley) and his long-term relationship with Bart Fallmont.
One Life To Live (ABC) 1968-present
In 1992, Billy Douglas The fist gay high schooler on network TV debuted on the soap opera One Life to Live. Douglas—played by a teenage dream and future A-list actor Ryan Phillippe—was at the center of a controversial storyline for the daytime series. In the end, Phillippe’s character came out publicly, in a church no less; in order to dispel rumors that the town’s pastor had molested him.
OZ (HBO) 1997-2003
One of the groups in “Emerald City” included the gays, Toby Beecher (Lee Tergesen) and Chris Keller (Christopher Meloni). They’re a sexy couple, who have some sexy scenes, but they’re also so incredibly complex that they became favorite characters among many viewers. By the final season their tumultuous relationship comes to head with Keller potentially killing Beecher but tricking his accomplice instead, Beecher almost getting Keller locked up for good, one of the two almost tragically dying, and a sweet bit of revenge coming at the end. In society’s underbelly, these two gays were on equal ground with every other f-ed up inmate.
Queer As Folk (Showtime) 2000-2005
Based on the UK series of the same name, Queer as Folk was the first television series to explore LGBT culture and issues in great detail. Be it partners with differing HIV status, performing in gay porn, or underage sex, no queer topic was taboo during the 5 seasons this beloved cable network series aired.
Six Feet Under (HBO) 2001-2005
From the brilliant gay mind of Alan Ball, this creepy, life-affirming, award-winning series followed the Fisher family and their funeral home business, run by baby brother David Fisher (Dexter’s Michael C. Hall in his breakout role). After a few seasons of ups and downs in the closet, David finally finds the courage to come out as gay about his relationship with sexy cop, Keith Charles (Matthew St. Patrick). Their relationship was flawed, tender, real, and long lasting at a time when gay men were still often only caricatures on other shows.
Noah's Ark (Logo) 2005-2006
The success of the both the UK and US versions of Queer as Folk made Noah’s Arc possible. But in addition to being the first gay series to feature all black lead characters (played by Darryl Stephens, Rodney Chester, Christian Vincent, Doug Spearman, and Jensen Atwood), Noah was the first series to fearlessly explore gay male masculinity and femininity. The results were thoughtful, enlightening and spot on.
Torchwood (BBC, Starz) 2006-present
Gay series creator, Russell T. Davies, has described Torchwood as "a very bisexual series." The lead character, Captain Jack Harkness, played by real life out dreamboat John Barrowman, was previously established on Doctor Who as bisexual or pansexual. A Torchwood team member notes in an early episode, Harkness will ‘sleep with anything, if it’s gorgeous enough.’ Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), the team assistant, begins the series in a secretive heterosexual relationship, but eventually enters a long romantic relationship with Jack. Jack's ex partner, Captain John Hart (Buffy’s James Marsters) appears in the second series premiere and the second series finale as a foe still desperately in love with Captain Jack.
Teen Wolf (MTV) 2011-present
Danny (Keahu Kahuanui) on MTV’s Teen Wolf is about as far from a gay stereotype as a character can get. He’s not only a confident student among his peers, he’s also a star lacrosse player and the best friend of the team Captain. It is interesting to note that his sexuality is also never an issue with any other character on the show, making Danny an excellent benchmark for the progress of gay characters on television.
Check out the full list featuring many more interesting and alluring Greatest Gay Characters Ever on TV on Gay.net now.
GOVERNOR UDUAGHAN REAFFIRMS GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO GROWTH OF JUDICIARY
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has reaffirmed government commitment towards the growth and development of the judiciary in the country.
Dr. Uduaghan who spoke through his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) stated this during the opening ceremony of the 2011/2012 Legal year celebration held in Asaba, Delta State.
He stated that the three arms of government which are the executive, legislature and judiciary must work in one accord for the smooth and successful running of the state.
According to the governor, the judiciary is the last hope for the common man to seek redress, stressing that there was the need to provide a more conducive environment with modern facilities for judges to discharge their duties effectively.
In a key note address, the State Chief Judge, Justice Z. A. Smith pointed out that the legal year celebration was an ideal occasion for the appraisal and rededication of the proceeding of the twelve month of justice delivery in the state.
He emphasized that the judiciary must continue to uphold its independence, and to serve the two arms of government by protecting those governed in the state.
In a welcome address, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Charles A. Ajuyah noted that this legal year ceremony was a period of stocktaking and sober reflection of the role of those in the Bar and Judiciary.
Justice Ajuyah emphasized that it was time to rededicate themselves to the dispensation of justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour, adding that to achieve this, all agencies connected with the administration of Justice must cooperate for the betterment of the legal profession.
Earlier, a Special Church Service was held to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 Legal Year at the Saint Peters Anglican Cathedral (Bishop Court), Asaba.
In his sermon at the service, the Bishop In-Charge, Right Reverend Justus N. Mogekwu stated that judges are not just ordinary people but authorities recognized by God in the dispensation of justices, both punishment and corrections in the society.
Reverend Mogekwu noted that judges represent God on earth, adding that they are the hope of the common man, even as he said that they should be fair in the dispensation of Justice.
He advised them to distinguish themselves as judges whom God had ordained to dispense justice with all sense of righteousness and equity.
Highpoints of the occasion was a Special Thanksgiving by the Judiciary and the inspection of the Nigeria Police Force quarter guide by the Deputy Governor.
Dr. Uduaghan who spoke through his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) stated this during the opening ceremony of the 2011/2012 Legal year celebration held in Asaba, Delta State.
He stated that the three arms of government which are the executive, legislature and judiciary must work in one accord for the smooth and successful running of the state.
According to the governor, the judiciary is the last hope for the common man to seek redress, stressing that there was the need to provide a more conducive environment with modern facilities for judges to discharge their duties effectively.
In a key note address, the State Chief Judge, Justice Z. A. Smith pointed out that the legal year celebration was an ideal occasion for the appraisal and rededication of the proceeding of the twelve month of justice delivery in the state.
He emphasized that the judiciary must continue to uphold its independence, and to serve the two arms of government by protecting those governed in the state.
In a welcome address, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Charles A. Ajuyah noted that this legal year ceremony was a period of stocktaking and sober reflection of the role of those in the Bar and Judiciary.
Justice Ajuyah emphasized that it was time to rededicate themselves to the dispensation of justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour, adding that to achieve this, all agencies connected with the administration of Justice must cooperate for the betterment of the legal profession.
Earlier, a Special Church Service was held to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 Legal Year at the Saint Peters Anglican Cathedral (Bishop Court), Asaba.
In his sermon at the service, the Bishop In-Charge, Right Reverend Justus N. Mogekwu stated that judges are not just ordinary people but authorities recognized by God in the dispensation of justices, both punishment and corrections in the society.
Reverend Mogekwu noted that judges represent God on earth, adding that they are the hope of the common man, even as he said that they should be fair in the dispensation of Justice.
He advised them to distinguish themselves as judges whom God had ordained to dispense justice with all sense of righteousness and equity.
Highpoints of the occasion was a Special Thanksgiving by the Judiciary and the inspection of the Nigeria Police Force quarter guide by the Deputy Governor.
ABSU Rape Victim Located
Abimbola Adetayo
The victim of the Abia State University who was gang-raped by her male colleagues is alive and well. The victim was identified by a coalition of different human right groups including but not limited to Project Alert, National Human Right Commission amongst others. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the groups listed above. The centre of rehabilitation is still unknown!
in other reports:
Nigerian police have questioned two students after a video of an alleged gang rape in what appeared to be a university hostel was posted on the Internet, causing widespread outrage.
The video, no longer available online, clearly showed the face of the assaulted woman, pleading with her assailants to stop.
"Two men were brought in yesterday (Friday) for questioning at the state's criminal investigation department," Bala Hassan, commissioner of police of Abia state, told AFP.
The pair, who are students at the state's university, were still being detained on Saturday but deny any role in the video.
Police were trying to identify the scene of the crime and the identity of those involved.
"We have gone back to the university to see if we can make more arrests based on information posted on the Internet," said Hassan.
"More than 15 detectives have gone to university hostels. They go around to check those names posted on the Internet and they are trying to identify the hostel seen on the Internet."
He said police had not received a complaint.
Investigators' initial response to the video has been criticised as lax.
"We are taking this seriously," Hassan insisted. "We want to find concrete information. Full names, not nicknames ... so that we can check on the registry of the university."
In a statement cited by local media, Abia's state government said it had run its own investigation and concluded that neither the alleged victim nor the perpetrators were linked to Abia's state university.
"The conduct of the Abia state government is inexcusable," said Chidi Odinkalu of the Open Society Justice Initiative help group, who added that most rapes in Nigeria go unreported.
"We've not provided a caring and thoughtful enough institutional framework to enable victims of rape to come forward," Odinkalu added.
Parliament had on Thursday called for a proper police investigation.
The victim of the Abia State University who was gang-raped by her male colleagues is alive and well. The victim was identified by a coalition of different human right groups including but not limited to Project Alert, National Human Right Commission amongst others. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the groups listed above. The centre of rehabilitation is still unknown!
in other reports:
Nigerian police have questioned two students after a video of an alleged gang rape in what appeared to be a university hostel was posted on the Internet, causing widespread outrage.
The video, no longer available online, clearly showed the face of the assaulted woman, pleading with her assailants to stop.
"Two men were brought in yesterday (Friday) for questioning at the state's criminal investigation department," Bala Hassan, commissioner of police of Abia state, told AFP.
The pair, who are students at the state's university, were still being detained on Saturday but deny any role in the video.
Police were trying to identify the scene of the crime and the identity of those involved.
"We have gone back to the university to see if we can make more arrests based on information posted on the Internet," said Hassan.
"More than 15 detectives have gone to university hostels. They go around to check those names posted on the Internet and they are trying to identify the hostel seen on the Internet."
He said police had not received a complaint.
Investigators' initial response to the video has been criticised as lax.
"We are taking this seriously," Hassan insisted. "We want to find concrete information. Full names, not nicknames ... so that we can check on the registry of the university."
In a statement cited by local media, Abia's state government said it had run its own investigation and concluded that neither the alleged victim nor the perpetrators were linked to Abia's state university.
"The conduct of the Abia state government is inexcusable," said Chidi Odinkalu of the Open Society Justice Initiative help group, who added that most rapes in Nigeria go unreported.
"We've not provided a caring and thoughtful enough institutional framework to enable victims of rape to come forward," Odinkalu added.
Parliament had on Thursday called for a proper police investigation.
Israelis, Palestinians Argue Their Case
Michael Bowman
On the eve of a U.N. Security Council meeting expected to consider a Palestinian petition for statehood, Israeli and Palestinian officials remain deadlocked over whether and under what terms negotiations should resume.
Israelis and Palestinians took their arguments to the American people on Sunday in a bid to explain their respective positions. At a minimum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ actions at the United Nations last week dramatically refocused the world’s attention on the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seizing the spotlight at the General Assembly meeting and sparking a flurry of activity among the Middle East Quartet, comprising the U.S., U.N., European Union, and Russia.
Returning to the West Bank from New York, Abbas told jubilant crowds that a “Palestinian Spring” has begun with the bid for statehood. The United States has threatened to use its veto power in the Security Council to block the Palestinian request for U.N. membership.
Appearing on U.S. television, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to blast the Palestinians' U.N. bid.
“The Palestinians want a state, but they have to give peace in return," he said. "What they are trying to do in the United Nations is to get a state without giving Israel peace and security, and I think that is wrong. That should not succeed.”
Netanyahu spoke on NBC’s Meet the Press program. He repeated his call for immediate peace talks. Palestinians say negotiations are futile. Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi appeared on ABC’s This Week television program.
“For the last 20 years, we have been negotiating, ad nauseam, with a process that has no relationship to reality," she said.
Ashrawi said Palestinians will not negotiate while Israel continues to build Jewish settlements and refuses to honor borders that existed before Israel gained control of Palestinian territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
But Prime Minister Netanyahu insists fruitful negotiations are possible.
“It is possible that you insist on the things that make life possible for the Jewish state, and make peace possible," he said. "The core of the conflict is the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel in any boundary. A peace that is based on lies will crash. I am responsible for the fate of the one and only Jewish state. And I am not going to recklessly feed more territory to the insatiable crocodile of militant Islam.
Hanan Ashrawi says it is Israeli intransigence that has long stood in the way of peace.
“Israel has placed so many pre-conditions. It wants to annex Jerusalem. It wants to remove the [Palestinian] refugees from the agenda. It wants to keep its troops in the Jordan valley. It wants everything, and then says ‘Let’s talk’. No, these are unacceptable pre-conditions," she said. "Either you negotiate in good faith and act accordingly in order to achieve the two-state solution, or this option will no longer be available, particularly given the Arab Spring. This is a new phase, a new ballgame.”
Security Council veto threats do not appear to have dampened Palestinian enthusiasm or anticipation surrounding the bid for U.N. statehood recognition, nor led Palestinian officials to embrace Middle East Quartet calls for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks.
For Monday, the Security Council’s official agenda lists several morning meetings and consultations regarding Libya. Consultations on admission of new members will come in the afternoon, New York time.
On the eve of a U.N. Security Council meeting expected to consider a Palestinian petition for statehood, Israeli and Palestinian officials remain deadlocked over whether and under what terms negotiations should resume.
Israelis and Palestinians took their arguments to the American people on Sunday in a bid to explain their respective positions. At a minimum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ actions at the United Nations last week dramatically refocused the world’s attention on the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seizing the spotlight at the General Assembly meeting and sparking a flurry of activity among the Middle East Quartet, comprising the U.S., U.N., European Union, and Russia.
Returning to the West Bank from New York, Abbas told jubilant crowds that a “Palestinian Spring” has begun with the bid for statehood. The United States has threatened to use its veto power in the Security Council to block the Palestinian request for U.N. membership.
Appearing on U.S. television, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to blast the Palestinians' U.N. bid.
“The Palestinians want a state, but they have to give peace in return," he said. "What they are trying to do in the United Nations is to get a state without giving Israel peace and security, and I think that is wrong. That should not succeed.”
Netanyahu spoke on NBC’s Meet the Press program. He repeated his call for immediate peace talks. Palestinians say negotiations are futile. Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi appeared on ABC’s This Week television program.
“For the last 20 years, we have been negotiating, ad nauseam, with a process that has no relationship to reality," she said.
Ashrawi said Palestinians will not negotiate while Israel continues to build Jewish settlements and refuses to honor borders that existed before Israel gained control of Palestinian territories in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
But Prime Minister Netanyahu insists fruitful negotiations are possible.
“It is possible that you insist on the things that make life possible for the Jewish state, and make peace possible," he said. "The core of the conflict is the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel in any boundary. A peace that is based on lies will crash. I am responsible for the fate of the one and only Jewish state. And I am not going to recklessly feed more territory to the insatiable crocodile of militant Islam.
Hanan Ashrawi says it is Israeli intransigence that has long stood in the way of peace.
“Israel has placed so many pre-conditions. It wants to annex Jerusalem. It wants to remove the [Palestinian] refugees from the agenda. It wants to keep its troops in the Jordan valley. It wants everything, and then says ‘Let’s talk’. No, these are unacceptable pre-conditions," she said. "Either you negotiate in good faith and act accordingly in order to achieve the two-state solution, or this option will no longer be available, particularly given the Arab Spring. This is a new phase, a new ballgame.”
Security Council veto threats do not appear to have dampened Palestinian enthusiasm or anticipation surrounding the bid for U.N. statehood recognition, nor led Palestinian officials to embrace Middle East Quartet calls for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks.
For Monday, the Security Council’s official agenda lists several morning meetings and consultations regarding Libya. Consultations on admission of new members will come in the afternoon, New York time.
Wikileaks: Vice President Jonathan, a "corrupt and ineffective state governor"
Elombah.com
A US Ambassador called current President Goodluck Jonathan a "corrupt and ineffective state governor". He also said the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House includes "past reports of corruption, political thuggery, and payments to "militant factions".
A Wikileaks Reports stated that as President yar'adua remains in serious condition in Saudi Arabia, "dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health have given way to broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days.
Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties, at least nominally, his authority has taken such a battering that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much less enforce his writ in government and the party.
We will report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options in the current situation. Whether Jonathan thinks he can ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear.
Senator Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is ironic since the ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both the president and the vice president leave the scene".
Though Wikileaks did not contain the December 2 Report, in another report the US Ambassador said: "We are preparing a report (septel) on the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House as there have been past reports of corruption, political thuggery, and payments to "militant factions" from his days as Governor of Bayelsa State as well as questions about his competency in general.
"As Nigerians come to grips with the probability of Yar'Adua's demise, there appears to be growing public support -- even in the North -- for Vice President Jonathan to assume the presidential mantle. Despite widespread doubts about Jonathan's integrity and competence, there is encouraging deference, at least in public, to the principle that the constitutionally-prescribed line of succession should be respected."
See the first Full report below:
SUBJECT: HOPES DIM ON PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S HEALTH
REF: A. QUINN-MCCULLOUGH E-MAIL 12/01
¶B. ABUJA 2152
¶C. ABUJA 2132
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (S) Nigerian President Yar'Adua remains gravely ill,
according to multiple sources. One confidant at Yar'Adua's
bedside insisted to Ambassador on December 1 that Yar'Adua is
still unwell but does not yet appear to be at death's door;
however, a doctor treating Yar'Adua told CG Jeddah at about
the same time that the Nigerian president is in his final
days. We suspect the latter report is more credible; so, we
are looking at contingencies for the Mission. USG next steps
should include a call to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to
underscore the importance of constitutional due process. A
contingency statement and press guidance are also being
prepared. The prospect that the widely-disparaged Jonathan
may be on the cusp of the presidency is a matter of growing
concern for some Nigerians. END SUMMARY.
----------------------------------
YAR'ADUA'S CONDITION REMAINS GRAVE
----------------------------------
¶2. (S) Multiple sources agree that President Yar'Adua remains
gravely ill. Late November 30, Kwara State Governor Saraki,
one of the Yar'Adua confidants who have gathered in Jeddah,
told Ambassador that Yar'Adua was responding positively to
treatment, had returned to his room, and had eaten. On
December 1, however, Saraki acknowledged that Yar'Adua's
condition was serious, even if he didn't appear to be at
death's door. Information Minister Dora Akuniyi, known to be
a straight shooter, separately confirmed to Ambassador on
December 1 that Yar'Adua is in very bad shape, and promised
an update later that day. Also on December 1, a doctor
involved in Yar'Adua's treatment at King Faisal Hospital told
CG Jeddah that the Nigerian president's condition is
"malignant and irreversible," and that the end could occur in
a matter of days or less (ref e-mail).
¶3. (SBU) Senate President David Mark publicly dismissed calls
for Yar'Adua to step down for health reasons, and instead
urged Nigerians to pray during the next nine days for
Yar'Adua's recovery. Separately, the ruling People's
Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that the National Assembly
had no power to remove Yar'Adua unilaterally from office, and
a PDP spokesperson reaffirmed support for Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan.
-----------------------------
FOCUS GROWS ON VICE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------
¶4. (C) As doubts intensify that Yar'Adua will leave the
hospital alive, the role of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
is generating new speculation and concern as Yar'Adua's
constitutionally anointed successor.
¶5. (C) Jonathan Mark, Special Assistant to his father Senate
President David Mark, told PolOff December 1 that Vice
President Jonathan visited his father, a close friend and
fellow Catholic, on November 29 to seek his advice. Contrary
to his public denial, Jonathan reportedly told Mark that
certain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign. The
Qcertain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign. The
younger Mark said his father advised the Vice President
against resignation, assuring him that he enjoyed the full
support of the Senate and the country's constitution. The
younger Mark added that there is considerable discomfort
among Senate leaders over the religious and "North-South"
undertones of the debate over Jonathan's future.
----------
ABUJA 00002163 002 OF 002
NEXT STEPS
----------
¶6. (C) In addition to an immediate telephone call from
Assistant Secretary Carson to Jonathan in the event of
Yar'Adua's death, to underscore our support for
constitutional due process and not him as a person, it would
be appropriate and productive for the White House to issue a
condolence statement from one head of state to another. We
are also drafting contingency statements and guidance, and
are reassessing Mission resources in the event of fast
changes on the ground. The Defense Attache and Regional
Affairs Offices are closely monitoring sentiments and
activities in the military.
-----
KUDOS
-----
¶7. (SBU) We would like to thank our colleagues at Embassy
Riyadh and especially CG Jeddah for their outstanding support
in tracking Yar'Adua's condition.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶8. (C) Dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health have given way to
broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days.
Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties,
at least nominally, his authority has taken such a battering
that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much
less enforce his writ in government and the party. We will
report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past
as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options
in the current situation. Whether Jonathan thinks he can
ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply
playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear. Senator
Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is ironic since the
ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both
the president and the vice president leave the scene.
Yar'adua, Ribadu, Aondoakaa and I - by Emeka Ugwuonye
Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye
Ribadu
...Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen
cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out....................
Ribadu, describing the plans and method of EFCC against him, wrote as follows:
"They thought I would be angry and would show up and say, “Look, I have my asset declaration forms. How dare you take me to court?” And when they get me there, they take my passport, possibly put me into prison. We’ve seen this happen across Africa -not just Africa, across the world. The case is still on. About a month or two ago, my lawyers presented the asset declaration. And the court said it was not just that, “but we want to have a physical look at him. He is an accused person, he must come before the court.” Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, In an interview with Ron Singer on February 23, 2010
Fellow Nigerians, can you now understand why EFCC charged me to court under the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria for "breaching my contract with the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC'? You don't need to look further, the former head of EFCC has explained their modus operandi above. My worry is never so much the madness of Mrs. Farida Waziri and her fellow elements in the EFCC or the other shenanigans that rule Nigeria. My worry has always been those innocent Nigerians in the Diaspora with all their nice educational certificates but who could not tell their right hand from their left. They believe everything they hear. And the Government of Nigeria knows that they are truly not bright; so the government sells them dummies all the time. The first step to creating a better Nigeria is actually by being able to ask your government touch questions.
Now, As I read the Wikileaks' revelation of Ribadu's conversation with Ambassador Sanders, I laughed. Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out. In January, 2008, they flew me to London for meetings. During those meetings we held, they begged me to convey the sum of 2 million dollars to the judge as bribe. We had detailed discussions because I wanted to understand their thought process, and the degree of concern they had about losing at the tribunal. They wanted to disguise this bribe in the fees they owed me. They made it clear that unless I did it, they would not pay me right away. I felt so insulted that they could drag me into such a mess over my fees. It was as if I had not earned my money after hard work. Why would they insist on my cooperation in such a scheme? Also, I discovered that they had already sent some money to the judge. But the mechanism they used could only allow them to give smaller amount at a time. They felt I could provide them excellent cover for a substantial payment to the judge.
This is not a joke. I have the dates. I have my ticket. I have the name of the hotel and room number that the Attorney General lodged in and you can call the hotel to confirm this. The hotel would confirm his presence in that room on those dates and my own hotel would confirm my presence in an adjourning hotel on the same dates.
I felt that these people were insulting me. I realized that the Government would even pay me up to 5 million dollars for a role in bribing the judge. I refused to play along. Even after I returned to the US, the government continued to pressure me. This led to an exchange of emails. (They still exist and they were written in February of 2008). In my email to the Attorney General, I threatened to sue all of them including the judge. Only then did they relent. But they made sure that they did not pay my fees.
Also, Oandoaka was so scared about Ribadu. He explained to me that Ribadu had certain hold over his predecessor which was why the latter would do anything to please Ribadu. As he put it, "If Ojo were stopped in the middle of the high way and asked to sign any document from Ribadu, he would sign without reading it". Oandoaka feared that Ribadu had friends in the US law enforcement who would help bug his hotels in the US. That was why Oandoaka would officially check into a hotel in Washington, but would quickly and secretly stay in another hotel even though he remained officially checked in elsewhere. On several occasions, he urged me to counter Ribadu's activities in Washington. But I explained to him that there was no way for me as a lawyer to go about Washington trying to counter Ribadu. And besides, that was never necessary. I tried to explain to him that the US authorities were actually more informed about the situation in Nigeria than the Nigerian Government seemed to realize.
I understood the plans for the removal of Ribadu and the choice of Ribadu's successor. Mrs. Waziri was picked to replace Ribadu by Oandoaka because Mrs. Waziri was considered weak, desperate for a share of the national cake, and highly corrupt. At that time, for me, Farida Waziri was just a name. It is correct that Yar'Adua's fear of losing at the Tribunal caused him to depend on people, some of whom were against Ribadu. The same people endorsed Mrs. Waziri. Initially, the removed Lamode of the EFCC, but they realized he could play ball and they left him.
My observation of the Nigerian government was from close quarters and as a lawyer, I could understand a few things easily. Much of this will come out in the cases I have against the Government, no doubt. For example, I was an official guest to the President of Nigeria and I will be requesting for the transcripts of my meeting with the President and some members of his cabinet. It is just unfortunate how Nigerian leaders have played the people. Nigeria is not really a country. It is just one big criminal gangland.
Anyway, Ribadu has just told you how they worked. It was not Emeka Ugwuonye that said it. They like to put you into their criminal justice system as a way to control you. They believe they would silence me if they charged me with criminal offenses. But as I have said before, they are the criminals and I would say it to Jonathan in his face. Indeed, they are actually unintelligent. They believe that if they can kill a man, they can also kill truth. But I think they should try to get a basic lesson in history.
Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire
President
ECULAW GROUP
Website: www.eculaw.com
Tel: 202-459-3382
Fax: 240-489-9300
Ribadu
...Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen
cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out....................
Ribadu, describing the plans and method of EFCC against him, wrote as follows:
"They thought I would be angry and would show up and say, “Look, I have my asset declaration forms. How dare you take me to court?” And when they get me there, they take my passport, possibly put me into prison. We’ve seen this happen across Africa -not just Africa, across the world. The case is still on. About a month or two ago, my lawyers presented the asset declaration. And the court said it was not just that, “but we want to have a physical look at him. He is an accused person, he must come before the court.” Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, In an interview with Ron Singer on February 23, 2010
Fellow Nigerians, can you now understand why EFCC charged me to court under the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria for "breaching my contract with the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC'? You don't need to look further, the former head of EFCC has explained their modus operandi above. My worry is never so much the madness of Mrs. Farida Waziri and her fellow elements in the EFCC or the other shenanigans that rule Nigeria. My worry has always been those innocent Nigerians in the Diaspora with all their nice educational certificates but who could not tell their right hand from their left. They believe everything they hear. And the Government of Nigeria knows that they are truly not bright; so the government sells them dummies all the time. The first step to creating a better Nigeria is actually by being able to ask your government touch questions.
Now, As I read the Wikileaks' revelation of Ribadu's conversation with Ambassador Sanders, I laughed. Ribadu's story in some respect is consistent with my own notes. Ya'Adua was so freaking scared that the tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe was going to nullify the election in which Maurice Iwu massively rigged him into power. This was the defining issue in Yar'Adua's thinking. That was the central force behind the elevation of Attorney General Aoandoaka from just another attorney general to a key figure in Yar'Adua's kitchen cabinet. That was the defining rivalry between Oandakaa and General Abdulahi (the chief of staff at the presidency) that led to the latter being forced out. In January, 2008, they flew me to London for meetings. During those meetings we held, they begged me to convey the sum of 2 million dollars to the judge as bribe. We had detailed discussions because I wanted to understand their thought process, and the degree of concern they had about losing at the tribunal. They wanted to disguise this bribe in the fees they owed me. They made it clear that unless I did it, they would not pay me right away. I felt so insulted that they could drag me into such a mess over my fees. It was as if I had not earned my money after hard work. Why would they insist on my cooperation in such a scheme? Also, I discovered that they had already sent some money to the judge. But the mechanism they used could only allow them to give smaller amount at a time. They felt I could provide them excellent cover for a substantial payment to the judge.
This is not a joke. I have the dates. I have my ticket. I have the name of the hotel and room number that the Attorney General lodged in and you can call the hotel to confirm this. The hotel would confirm his presence in that room on those dates and my own hotel would confirm my presence in an adjourning hotel on the same dates.
I felt that these people were insulting me. I realized that the Government would even pay me up to 5 million dollars for a role in bribing the judge. I refused to play along. Even after I returned to the US, the government continued to pressure me. This led to an exchange of emails. (They still exist and they were written in February of 2008). In my email to the Attorney General, I threatened to sue all of them including the judge. Only then did they relent. But they made sure that they did not pay my fees.
Also, Oandoaka was so scared about Ribadu. He explained to me that Ribadu had certain hold over his predecessor which was why the latter would do anything to please Ribadu. As he put it, "If Ojo were stopped in the middle of the high way and asked to sign any document from Ribadu, he would sign without reading it". Oandoaka feared that Ribadu had friends in the US law enforcement who would help bug his hotels in the US. That was why Oandoaka would officially check into a hotel in Washington, but would quickly and secretly stay in another hotel even though he remained officially checked in elsewhere. On several occasions, he urged me to counter Ribadu's activities in Washington. But I explained to him that there was no way for me as a lawyer to go about Washington trying to counter Ribadu. And besides, that was never necessary. I tried to explain to him that the US authorities were actually more informed about the situation in Nigeria than the Nigerian Government seemed to realize.
I understood the plans for the removal of Ribadu and the choice of Ribadu's successor. Mrs. Waziri was picked to replace Ribadu by Oandoaka because Mrs. Waziri was considered weak, desperate for a share of the national cake, and highly corrupt. At that time, for me, Farida Waziri was just a name. It is correct that Yar'Adua's fear of losing at the Tribunal caused him to depend on people, some of whom were against Ribadu. The same people endorsed Mrs. Waziri. Initially, the removed Lamode of the EFCC, but they realized he could play ball and they left him.
My observation of the Nigerian government was from close quarters and as a lawyer, I could understand a few things easily. Much of this will come out in the cases I have against the Government, no doubt. For example, I was an official guest to the President of Nigeria and I will be requesting for the transcripts of my meeting with the President and some members of his cabinet. It is just unfortunate how Nigerian leaders have played the people. Nigeria is not really a country. It is just one big criminal gangland.
Anyway, Ribadu has just told you how they worked. It was not Emeka Ugwuonye that said it. They like to put you into their criminal justice system as a way to control you. They believe they would silence me if they charged me with criminal offenses. But as I have said before, they are the criminals and I would say it to Jonathan in his face. Indeed, they are actually unintelligent. They believe that if they can kill a man, they can also kill truth. But I think they should try to get a basic lesson in history.
Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire
President
ECULAW GROUP
Website: www.eculaw.com
Tel: 202-459-3382
Fax: 240-489-9300
Dutch Judges refuse to dismiss Nigerian terror case
Netherlands Judges refused on Monday to dismiss a terrorist case against a Nigerian activist charged with conspiring to attack oil pipelines in his homeland as well as people smuggling and fraud. Sunny Ofehe, a Netherlands-based activist who campaigns to bring peace to the oil-rich Niger Delta, urged
judges Monday to dismiss a terrorism case in which prosecutors have charged him with conspiring to attack oil pipelines in Nigeria as well as people smuggling and fraud saying the charges are based on "premeditation, prejudice and profiling."
However, prosecutor Gert Veurink dismissed Ofehe's claims as "a conspiracy theory" and urged judges at Rotterdam District Court to let the case continue.
The claims and counterclaims came during a preliminary hearing in the case
Judges refused to throw out the charges and adjourned the case for six weeks. No trial date has been set.
Nigeria, an OPEC member nation, is one of the top crude oil suppliers to the U.S. Its Niger Delta, a region of mangroves and swamps about the size of South Carolina, has seen oil production for more than 50 years, with Royal Dutch Shell the dominant force.
Despite the oil wealth pouring into Nigeria's federal government, villages in the delta remain in abject poverty and pollution from spilled oil has caused tremendous ecological damage.
In 2006, militants began a campaign of kidnappings and pipeline bombings in what they described as a political campaign, though some attacks seemed carried out by criminal gangs.
A government-sponsored amnesty program in 2009 led to a sharp reduction in attacks, but many in the region have become disillusioned by a lack of jobs. Meanwhile, oil thieves continue to drill into pipelines to siphon crude for makeshift refineries that dot the region.
Ofehe said the terror charge of conspiring to bomb an oil pipeline is based on three tapped phone calls to a contact in Nigeria. His lawyer, Ed Manders, told the court Ofehe spoke to the man because he wanted to film a pipeline attack to help raise awareness of such attacks.
"He wants to show the world the abuses in the Niger Delta," Manders said.
Manders called the charge "character assassination" that could lead to Ofehe being kicked out of the Netherlands as an undesirable alien.
Judges also rejected Manders' argument that the case should be tossed out because prosecutors have so far refused to hand over the results of their initial investigation into Ofehe. Manders told judges the refusal to turn over evidence amounted to an abuse of process.
The first probe led to charges of involvement in people smuggling and fraud. Ofehe insists he is innocent of all the charges.
We must Pay teachers' salaries........Gov. Uduaghan
Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has assured Primary school teachers in the State that there will be no longer delays in the payment of their salaries.
Dr Uduaghan who gave the assurance at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at St Patrick Catholic Church Asaba to mark this year’s Independence Day anniversary said henceforth, primary school teachers would be paid as promptly as civil servants in the state.
He said there was no reason why primary school teachers should not be promptly paid explaining that the state Government supplements council’s funds every month to enable councils pay primary teachers promptly.
Promising that the issue would be effectively addressed, the governor said ‘Primary school teachers are supposed to be paid few days after JAAC meeting but I am surprised to hear that their salaries are delayed. I think there is communication problem and I assure teachers that this will be addressed.’
Dr Uduaghan said civil servants in the state are promptly paid and explained that teachers should enjoy the same gesture as civil servants and receive their salary on or before 24th of every month.
He promised to tackle the rehabilitation of roads in the state immediately the rains were over even as he disclosed that efforts were being made to control erosion and flood in Asaba and other urban centres.
The governor enjoyed Deltans to cooperate with his administration in its determination to accelerate economic growth especially in the energy sector, agriculture and health among others.
His words ‘we are making effort to improve electricity supply. Indeed we have paid for turbines and once all our efforts succeed we will enjoy stable electricity.
Dr. Uduaghan who almost outlined his score card promised to appoint local government caretaker committee soon, to run the affairs of Local Governments before the election into the councils.
On security he assured Deltans that his peace and security agenda will be religiously pursued in spite of the challenges facing the nation.
The Governor called for prayers to enable the Nation surmount the security challenges facing it.
Explaining further he said, we need prayers to check successfully the security challenges facing the nation. Indeed the challenge is daunting but with prayers we shall overcome it.
In his sermon, a catholic priest Rev. Aniyem Buchi enjoyed the political class to keep their promise to the electorate and provide dividends of democracy to the people.
Rev. Aniyem said it was necessary for politicians to attend to the welfare of workers so that through then the economy will blossom.
The interdenominational church service featured thanksgiving prayers and choir ministeration.
Dr Uduaghan who gave the assurance at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at St Patrick Catholic Church Asaba to mark this year’s Independence Day anniversary said henceforth, primary school teachers would be paid as promptly as civil servants in the state.
He said there was no reason why primary school teachers should not be promptly paid explaining that the state Government supplements council’s funds every month to enable councils pay primary teachers promptly.
Promising that the issue would be effectively addressed, the governor said ‘Primary school teachers are supposed to be paid few days after JAAC meeting but I am surprised to hear that their salaries are delayed. I think there is communication problem and I assure teachers that this will be addressed.’
Dr Uduaghan said civil servants in the state are promptly paid and explained that teachers should enjoy the same gesture as civil servants and receive their salary on or before 24th of every month.
He promised to tackle the rehabilitation of roads in the state immediately the rains were over even as he disclosed that efforts were being made to control erosion and flood in Asaba and other urban centres.
The governor enjoyed Deltans to cooperate with his administration in its determination to accelerate economic growth especially in the energy sector, agriculture and health among others.
His words ‘we are making effort to improve electricity supply. Indeed we have paid for turbines and once all our efforts succeed we will enjoy stable electricity.
Dr. Uduaghan who almost outlined his score card promised to appoint local government caretaker committee soon, to run the affairs of Local Governments before the election into the councils.
On security he assured Deltans that his peace and security agenda will be religiously pursued in spite of the challenges facing the nation.
The Governor called for prayers to enable the Nation surmount the security challenges facing it.
Explaining further he said, we need prayers to check successfully the security challenges facing the nation. Indeed the challenge is daunting but with prayers we shall overcome it.
In his sermon, a catholic priest Rev. Aniyem Buchi enjoyed the political class to keep their promise to the electorate and provide dividends of democracy to the people.
Rev. Aniyem said it was necessary for politicians to attend to the welfare of workers so that through then the economy will blossom.
The interdenominational church service featured thanksgiving prayers and choir ministeration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)