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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Youth Leaders Give KESIEC Passmark On LG Election

It is that time of the year when we take stock of the year, the goals we set out to achieve and how much we have grown as individuals. The Christmas and New Year holidays are fast approaching and not only will there be an abundance and variety of food, many people will travel and leave their exercise routines behind, to ‘take a break’. Ask yourself; do you take breaks from brushing your teeth and expect them to be clean and healthy? So why take a break from exercising?

It is said that the manner in which we end a day, month or year determines how the next begins. Adopt these tips below to keep us on track to starting the New Year on a high note.

Make exercising a priority

Do not let the fact that there is no gym in your village stop you from exercising. Bodyweight and light resistance exercises can be done anywhere and are very effective. Wake up early and get it done before friends and family have the opportunity to distract you.

Eat before leaving the house

This is such a ‘major key’ to avoiding the weight gain that is so prevalent during the holidays. If you have something to eat before going on a trip, to a meeting or dinner, you will be less likely to stuff your face and will be able to be a little more selective given the choices available.

Walk more

Since you would not be rushing to work or meetings during the holidays so why not take the time to walk to your friend’s house, to the store or to church? You will probably learn a little more about your environment and meet some interesting people along the way. Walking is also a great way to clear your mind, think and plan.

Watch the alcohol and sugary drinks; drink a lot of water

It is okay to have a drink or two but try to avoid binge drinking as alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks are calorie dense and will increase your body’s appetite for food. The likelihood of having a hangover and missing your morning workout is also increased. Did I mention drinking lots of water? It is very important to stay hydrated.

Enjoy those Christmas treats (but in moderation)

Please make sure you enjoy your meals during the holidays. A trick that works when it comes to treats is, eat them if they are only available in that region or during that this time of year. Leave out snacks that are available year round. Remember to watch your portions, can you cut that cake in two and save me a piece?

On that note, here is wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year filled with God’s blessings and great opportunities. Keep striving to be, Stronger Than Yesterday!

About Obinna

Obinna Udora is the founder of FitNigeria™, a health and fitness brand launched in New York, and based in Lagos, Nigeria. His mission is to make fitness enjoyable and available to everyone in Africa, starting from his country, Nigeria.

You can find out more about the brand via social media @fitnigeria. Visit website: www.fitnigeria360.com.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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We Plotted Jonathan’s Fall In Sokoto –Amaechi

The plots that cost Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the 2015 presidential election were mainly planned, hatched and perfected in Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate.

This revelation was made by Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Aminu Tambuwal, at the Government House.

He said Nigeria would have been worse off economically if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had won the presidential election.

The former governor of Rivers who was in Sokoto to present a keynote address at the 15th National Council on Transportation said: "I have been to Sokoto severally, especially in 2015 during our struggle to change Nigeria. Sokoto played a very critical role in that struggle. The then governor, Aliyu Wamakko and then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, worked together and closely with us to ensure we achieved our objective.

"The two of them moved with us to the APC; they were equally part of the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I recall my conversations with Tambuwal when we moved to APC. I had told him that we had moved and he asked whether I was the only one. I told him that I moved with the governors, but he inquired if his governor, Wamakko, equally moved with us. I told him we will issue a statement concerning his governor. As God will have it, the governor himself issued a statement declaring that he was solidly in support of the movement to the APC.

"This meeting today reminds me of all that struggle and our meetings in Sokoto, especially with Wamakko and Tambuwal to strategise for the 2015 presidential election. I must thank him and other Nigerians for that support because the desired change would not have come if they did not come together to support and work for the APC to ensure the emergence of President Buhari.

"The truth of the matter is that as Nigerians, we knew it would have been difficult for Nigeria if PDP had won that presidential election. All of us were scared of what would happen to Nigeria and that was why we decided that the only way to stop what will happen is to ensure that PDP did not win and to God’s glory and our prayers, APC won.

"When I said things would have been difficult, I was talking about the economy. As at that time, if you remember, fuel queues had returned, poverty was coming back, the money stolen was too much that there was no money in the hands of Nigerians, and there was need and desire for a change, and effective change that will safe resources for Nigerians."

He commended the state government for hosting the 15th National Council on Transportation, saying, the conference will provide avenue to participants to brainstorm on issues and proffer solutions.

He also commended the Sokoto government for completing Sultan Abubakar International Airport and assured that the ministry would complement Tambuwal’s efforts to enhance economic activities in the state noting that transportation served as bedrock of facilitation economy.

"We are in Sokoto to discuss transport policy, the modality in transportation and how to take transportation to the next level. I know that what will interest you is what will happen to your state in terms of railway. The railway line connecting Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto is in the pipeline.

"Once we conclude the technical aspect, we will take it to the president for approval. Once we conclude works on these states, the 36 states mandate, which the president gave us, would have been concluded. I was pleased to see that the airport has been completed.

"There are only three of us that were Speakers that governed a state. It is you (Tambuwal), the governor of Plateau State and myself. We must ensure that we did not disappoint the people. The reason is that the experience we gathered in the legislature is enough to govern a state. I am sure that you are going the way they expect you to go and I wish you the very best," he said.

Tambuwal, who expressed his government’s commitment to cooperate with Federal Government to ensure success of projects and programmes geared toward uplifting people lives to better, urged transport ministry to install more scanners at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport Sokoto to ensure increase safety and screenings.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Anambra Youths Urge INEC To Retrieve Sen. Uba’s Certificate – The Eagle Online

Malta Guinness, one of Nigeria’s malt drink producers, will give consumers the chance to fulfill their dreams in the latest Malta Guinness "Go Get It" consumer promotion. It will provide a prize fund of over N100 million and help turn loyal Malta Guinness consumers from Malta Goodness into Greatness.

The brand’s ambassador Basketmouth, carried out a simple test on social media, asking Nigerians to share their idea of what N1 million could do for them. The winner of the test was also unveiled at the promo launch.

A young, small scale farmer, Babayemi Ibrahim, who exhibited the ‘can do’ spirit by sharing an inspiring video of how he plans to use the money to boost his rabbitory and expand into crop farming in order to take his project to the next level and contribute to sustaining food security in Nigeria, won.

The company said the money would go a long way to fuel his dreams, as they will also provide him with a suitable mentor to guide him on his path to greatness.

In the coming weeks, Malta Guinness will make another 13 millionaires in its "Go Get It" national consumer promo, which will run for 90 days, with a give-away of over N100 million to consumers of Malta Guinness.

Brand Manager, Malta Guinness & Non Alcoholic drinks, Ifeoma Agu, said the great taste, natural goodness, energy and vitality of Malta Guinness has been fuelling the greatness of Nigeria since 1990: "The most loved malt brand in Nigeria, packed with vitamins and iron and provides the fuel to help drive Nigeria’s can-do attitude. We believe dreams require energy to sustain and make real, hence Malta Guinness will be providing Nigerians with the energy needed to make their dreams come true, turning Malta Goodness into Greatness."

From August 8 till November 16, consumers are advised to look out for special promotional cans and bottles of Malta Guinness variants (Classic and Herbs Lite) and SMS the code under the crown or can ring-pull with name to 32011 for a chance to win a share of N100 million.

Every week, one winner will emerge while three winners will win N100, 000 each. Furthermore, consumers will win N5, 000 plus airtime worth millions of naira daily.

"This is how we show our appreciation and sincere care for all our loyal consumers who have supported us over the years. As an innovative brand, Malta Guinness is the first brand to launch an "Under the can ring-pull" consumer promotion along with an "Under the crown" promo. We have partnered with Interswitch to deliver seamless, cardless withdrawals using a Paycode and Pin on ATMs nationwide for the daily cash prizes.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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I Will Not Die Because I'm David While Buhari Is Pharaoh

Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode has replied Pastor Moshood Ifayemiwo who predicted that the vocal critic of President Buahari will die soon.

READ ALSO: Buhari critic, Fani kayode will die soon - Nigerian pastor in America predicts

Femi Fani-Kayode in his reply to the man of God said that it is not his destiny to die prematurely because he is an annointed child pof God.

He proceeded to reveal the end of people who worked against him one time or the other.

He said six senators who bitterly worked against him during his ministerial screening died within a short period of time and even a president who ordered for his probe dropped dead too.

The former minister of Aviation said people who go against him tend to end up dead or afflicted with bad-luck

His full statement read:

"I saw the counsel that I was offered in this piece. I thank him for his concern for me and his prayers.

"I do however urge him to dig deeper.

"I know the author and I respect him immensly.

"He made geat sacrifices during the June 12th struggle and he suffered torture and incarceration for two or three years.

I commend him for his courage at that difficult time in our history.

"He can however be rest assured that I am not an Amalekite. I am David. He can also be rest assured that Buhari is not a Saul that was annointed by God but rather a Pharaoh and a Herod all rolled into one that was annointed by the devil.

"No-one will chop my head off or kill me before my time and neither am I a messanger. I am David.

"I am a King and I will chop off the heads of the Amalekites and ALL my enemies at the soonest.

"One by one they will fall until the spiritual circle is complete and the way is clear. I do not fight my battles: God fights them for me. I am David.

"Behold they fall one by one already. Slowly but surely.

"Consider the following: The 6 Senators that bitterly opposed my Ministerial nomination on the Senate floor, that said I would be a Minister only over their dead bodies and that got up and insulted me during my Senate Ministerial clearance hearing in 2006 all died of strange dieseases within a few years.

"Meanwhile ALL the Senators that got up, spoke for me and supported me that day are all alive and well till today. Two of them went on to be made Ministers a few years later and two of them were elected governor.

"Again the northern traditional ruler that wrote OBJ and said that I should be removed as a Minister in 2006 for being anti-Islam and anti-north was killed, together with his Senator son and his grandson, in a horrific plane crash a few weeks after writing his letter.

"Again all of the Senators that sat on the Senate Commitee on Aviation that probed me in 2008 (led by Senator Anyim Ude) all paid a terrible price and none of them came back to the Senate at the next election except for one.

"And the one that came back was the only one on the Commitee that showed me kindness and that was fair to me during the proceedings. Not only did he come back to the Senate but he was also later made a Minister.

Again the President that told EFCC to maliciously charge me to court in 2008 for doing no wrong dropped dead in 2010.

"Again the Head of the EFCC that executed the plan for him was removed from her job unceremoniously, lost her 35 year old child and lost her husband a few years later.

"Worst still, the officer that was sent to lead the team that arrested me in the Nigerian Senate was murdered three years later by men of the underworld.

"I was prosecuted for 7 years and on July 1st 2015, 7 years to the day when the whole ordeal started, I was discharged and acquitted of all charges by the courts.

"One year later they came after me again on the orders of the new government and once again history repeated itself.

"Just like before the President that ordered that the EFCC should maliciously charge me to court in 2016 for doing no wrong is bed-ridden and brain dead in a foreign land today and will leave this world very soon if he has not done so already.

"Again the Head of the EFCC who executed the plan for him has been rejected by the Senate twice and has not been cleared or confirmed.

"Much will still happen. Wait and see. It is just a matter of time. These things do not happen by my power but by the power of God.

"Anyone that seeks to destroy me, that seeks my hurt, that seeks to abort God’s plan for my life or that wishes me ill always has a terrible end or is stalked by misfortune and tragedy.

"I am David. I cannot be cut short and I cannot die before my time. I will carry out my assignment in this nation and on this planet successfully before I am called home whether my detractors like it or not.

"The bible says "touch not my annointed and do my prophets no harm".

"Many in our nation still have much to learn from that. They would do well to learn it fast. Meanwhile I shall live long and prosper because the Lord is with me."

"And like David at Ziklag I shall pursue, overtake and recover all that my enemies have taken from me. The Lord is faithful to His own. Shalom," he said.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Our Pilgrims Will Enjoy The Best Of Hajj And Umrah Services – Muhammad

Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad is the managing director and chief executive officer COMEREL Travels and Tours Limited. In this interview with TAOFEEK LAWAL he speaks on the company’s plan to improve on its services to Nigerians embarking on Hajj and Ummrah. Excerpts:

When did your company start operation and what achievements have so far been recorded?

The company was established in 2003 and we have been in operation since then; mainly in Hajj and Umrah services. Umrah is all year round. We have other packages – like family tours – that we undertake to other parts of the world like Malaysia.

We also organised one for China which coincided with the Beijing Olympics. I think our most important service is Hajj and Umrah which we do innovatively and to the best of our ability. We are trying to assist the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to make Hajj and Umrah hitch-free and project the image of our company. We want Nigeria and NAHCON to be proud of us as we provide services according to international best practices.

In the course of operating the travel and tours, you have been to other parts of the world. In what ways do you think we can practice to meet the global acceptable standard?

I think as far as services in Hajj and Umrah are concerned, we have met that. NAHCON has helped us by raising the bar every year since its establishment especially as it commenced during the tenure of the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello who was the pioneer chairman of the commission, followed by the current chairman, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar. They have set out a lot of conditions aimed at improving the standard of the services in Hajj and Umrah. They (NAHCON) come to our offices for inspection.

You fill their form every year and explain what you do and how you do it. They come to see physically what you have done, the quality of your staff and qualification, if you are paying your taxes or not and whether you are meeting the standard set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and many other such conditions. They will check to see that your papers are correct; and that you provide services that you advertised to the people. There was a time people could carry briefcases and move around as tour operators, collect people’s money and disappears into thin air without any trace. That is in the past and if anybody tries that now, the long hands of NAHCON will catch such a person and mete out the necessary justice on the fellow.

NAHCON inspects the services we provide through facilities visits, our location and follows it up in Saudi Arabia. This they do by coming to Saudi with us, inspect our (tour operators’) hotels, check our contract with the hotels, see if the location is as advertised by the agent and speak with the pilgrims by asking them about the services of the tour operators regarding how much they (the pilgrims) paid and whether they are getting services commensurate with what they have paid and so on. They do this in Madinah and in our hotels in Makkah. They monitor the transportation, the quality of feeding and the facilities provided at Mina and Arafat. They check what pilgrims are given, the food they are served and so on. With this they grade and categorise the companies. We have categories A, B and C. Since they started we have always been in the A category. Even the services in Mina and Arafat are categorised into four. We have the A+, A, B and C. It will interest you to know that we have always been in the A+. Actually, Comerel Travels and Tours started the A+ tents in Mina and Arafat specifically in 2014. They put these together and grade the companies according to the services they render. What we do to meet up with such standard and to attain what we have got now is to look for the best.

We use only the best of the hotels in both Makkah and Madinah.

The Oberoi Hotel in Madinah is actually within the Haram (holy mosque). As you come out of the hotel, you are in the Haram. And in Makkah, some of our rooms overlook the Ka’aba itself so that from the room, if a pilgrim is lucky, he could be in the Haram overlooking the Ka’aba, that is, the aerial view. When it comes to buses, we use the buses that are only for that year. If the Hajj is for 2016 for example, we look for 2016 buses or even the ones for 2017 . Sometimes it depends on how the lunar month moves round the year. It may come at a time you are in this year but you are using vehicles that are made for the next year. So we have been able to achieve that in a lot of operations we have undertaken for the Hajj. So as far as transportation is concerned, we use the best and as one of the pilgrims said; you need to look round to get the quality of the buses our pilgrims are using. Our PROUDLY NIGERIAN stickers are on them. We do not use them in Nigeria but we use them during operations in Hajj so that you are not in any doubt that this is a Nigerian company providing these type of services that you can hardly get anywhere. And of course the pilgrims enjoy it, see it and have said often that "I really feel proud to be part of Comerel Travels and Tours and being conveyed to the holy territories with buses fitted with state of the art facilities like cameras, the LEDs and every other things you can think of.

You have spoken extensively on what your company has done in the areas of hajj and ummrah and the status you have been able to attain but away from that there have been uproars about increment in Hajj fare. NAHCON just marked its decade anniversary conference where lectures were delivered; you were part of that meeting held at the National Mosque, Abuja. Can you tell Nigerians what the discussion was all about?

One of the things that were discussed during the NAHCON conference was the issue about the cost of Hajj as you have rightly mentioned. The chairman of NAHCON informed the gathering of the many savings that he was able to make for both the pilgrims and the commission and the government too. He said NAHCON was able to save $18.6million for the accommodation in Makkah and Madinah. For accommodation in Makkah, $6.3million was saved while in Madinah, it was $12.3million. All the stakeholders were present at the conference and they all bared their minds on the way forward for smooth Hajj operations in Nigeria. Unlike in the past when only the pilgrims’ boards were invited, people from the academia were also present and contributed greatly to the debate.

The banks were also represented because it involves money and all the necessary explanations were given. Also not left out were Islamic intellectuals, Ulamas and experts from the aviation industry and Islamic jurisprudence. The event was chaired by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar who also doubles as the President General, National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). NAHCON chairman, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar while acknowledging some challenges also highlighted some notable achievements of the commission which include the purchase of the N2.4billion Abuja Metro Plaza to be used as the permanent headquarter of the commission. He also talked on direct negotiation of Madinah accommodation contracts, the trimming of NAHCON zonal offices to five for effectiveness and cost saving as well as the planned rolling out of Hajj saving scheme to facilitate gradual detachment from government funding and the establishment of the Hajj training institute towards professionalising Hajj administration in Nigeria.

Your company just won NAHCON’s award of excellence as the best performing tour operator during the 2016 hajj exercise, what does the award mean to you?

The award means a lot to us. It shows that NAHCON recognises what we are doing in the area of service delivery to our pilgrims. It also shows that at Comerel Travels and Tours, every one of us is better than anyone of us. It shows that with team work we can take Nigeria places. We will not relent in giving the best to our customers at all times. The award encourages us to do more for our pilgrims and they can be rest assured that at Comerel, what we give is the best and nothing but the very best, always.

What are those things that your company does that distinguishes you from others?

First we do not compromise our standard because what we promise is what we give to our clients. As I stated earlier, we go to any length to give our pilgrims maximum satisfaction so they can have value for their hard earned money. We are known for the best services in Nigeria and we compete favourably with the best service providers in the whole world. We provide maximum comfort for our pilgrims during their stay in the Holy Land through their accommodation and feeding arrangement as well as provision of the best transport services. This year too our pilgrims will enjoy the best of innovative services and In Shaa Allah we promise them the best.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Man Bagged 42 Months Jail Term For Theft In Ibadan

Forty-three-year-old man, Segun Akinleye has been sentenced to three and half years imprisonment with hard labour by a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State for stealing.

He was accused of stealing handsets at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

With charge no: MI/586c/2016, the convict was arraigned on a two count charge of stealing and unlawfully entering a ward at the hospital.

The prosecutor, Mr. Salewa Hammed told the court that the accused on February, 12th, 2017 at about 8.00pm at UCH , Ibadan stole Galaxy Tab III valued at N65,000 and a blackberry phone valued at N50,000.

Hammed said the stolen phones belonged to one medical practitioner at UCH, Dr. Kalejaye.

The Prosecutor said the accused also did unlawfully entered East 1 ward at the hospital, with the intent to commit felony on the aforementioned date and time adding that the offences contravened sections 390 and 412, Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to count 1 but pleaded guilty to count 2.

He confessed that he did not steal any phone, but that he did entered the premises claiming he only went there to charge his phone.

To press home his charge, the prosecutor called on three witnesses from the emergency department of UCH to testify against the accused person.

The witnesses are: Dr. Kalejaye, Dr. Oluwande Olufajo and Dr. David Kolawole who told the court that before the accused was eventually caught, there had been several cases of stolen phones in the ward with some of the cases reported at the appropriate quarters.

Kolawole confirmed that the accused person was found at the emergency department of the hospital where he claimed to have come to charge his handset

The medical doctor who worked at the East 1 on the day the incident occurred, told the court that he was called to attend to patient who was dying and needed urgent attention and that he left his phone in the doctor’s room which has a mini entrance supposedly to be for doctors only but that within 10 minutes that he went back to the doctors room, he couldn’t find his phone.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Abiola Richard sentenced and convicted the suspect to three years and six month imprisonment with hard labour.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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The Danger Of JAMB’s Cut-off Mark

It is no longer news to that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set a new record with its recent policy.

An all-time low cut-off mark of 120 was benchmarked for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

Barely a decade ago, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which is set by JAMB used to be the most dreaded in the whole of the federation, after top professional examinations, such as ICAN, etc.

UTME used to be regarded as the true test for the best and brightest as most candidates hardly scaled through in one sitting. Such was the horror of the examination that it became a popular saying in Nigerian local English (pidgin) that: "JAMB don jam that boy/girl".

Passing UTME then at the second attempt would certainly make anyone a hero in his immediate environment, and most likely win such candidate a slot in his or her school’s hall of fame. It was a thing of pride for the parents as well. This writer was one of those who wrote the very last Unified Matriculation Examination (UME) before it was later changed to UTME. I was privileged to pass in just one attempt but it was not without sweat.

I felt I was going to read my life out. I spent the last two weeks to my UME with a now retired principal, who was always challenging me to study hard. But, he was taken aback and criticised the rigour I subjected myself to while preparing for the examination.

That was going to be the first and the last time my dad ever told me to please study hard. Same can be said for people who wrote theirs prior to 2009 and a little after then.

It is also true that many never considered going to universities because of the JAMB hurdle, and as such, they resorted to what was the easiest option then – preliminary studies and diploma courses.

With the new JAMB policy, who is ever going to go through the rigour of extensive reading in preparing for UTME? Who is ever going to celebrate a so-called successful candidate with 120 score out of a possible 400?

In less than a decade ago, scoring 120 won’t even get a candidate into the Colleges of Education or polytechnics, much less a university admission. It is crystal clear that the reduction in the cut off mark does no candidate any good. Rather, higher institutions will benefit more in terms of generating more money to run their operation. But, should this be the aim of education?

I have since wondered if the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, are aware that admitting students with 120 score in JAMB is equivalent to passing university students who scored 25/100 in a course.

While some may argue that the cut-off marks count little seeing institutions will conduct their post-UTME, is it not exasperating to know that the Ministry of Education considers anyone with such abysmal score of 120 worthy of admission into our universities? The policy also clearly stated that the highest cut-off mark any institution can fix (for any course) is 180. That, at its best, is mediocrity at its peak.

As it stands, the rationale behind this policy is still clumsy and up for anyone’s guess. But one thing that is so obvious is that, with the new cut-off marks, the number of applicants to institutions will skyrocket and this means more money for the institutions. The policy also gives room for exploitation and inconsistency, because with a swell pocket and right connections, candidates who scored 120 could be admitted at the expense of brilliant candidates who scored250.

Now, we know how much fortune higher institutions in Nigeria stand to garner from this policy. One thing we really don’t know is how badly our education would have been affected.

No matter the rationale behind this policy, to admit students with 120 scores into our universities is a great disservice to our beloved nation. Every well-meaning Nigerian must see this policy as an aberration that must be condemned. If nothing is done against this bizarre policy, it could prove to be the final nail in the coffin our education.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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N11tn Electricity Scam: ICC Hears SERAP's Petition

The International Criminal Court in The Hague is considering the petition on the allegations of widespread, systematic and large-scale corruption in the electricity sector since the return of democracy in 1999 and under the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria, anti-corruption advocacy group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has confirmed.

In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the organization said that, "SERAP can confirm that the ICC is now considering our petition. We have received communication from Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit of the ICC indicating that the court will give due consideration to our petition."

According to SERAP, the information is contained in a letter with reference number OTP-CR-245/17 received by the organization today. SERAP quoted the letter as reading in part: "This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office.

We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision."

Timothy Adewale said: "SERAP appreciates the prompt attention to this matter by the ICC. We urge the court to pursue this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by taking the case forward as required by the provisions of the Rome Statute, and ensuring a thorough investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of grand corruption in the electricity sector in Nigeria."

It would be recalled that SERAP last week sent a petition to Mrs. Fatou Bensouda Prosecutor the ICC asking her to use her "good offices and leadership position to investigate whether the allegations of widespread, systematic and large-scale corruption in the electricity sector since the return of democracy in 1999 and under the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria amount to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and to prevail on the Nigerian government to surrender all suspected perpetrators for trial by the ICC."

Office of The Prosecutor Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute and deposited its instrument of ratification on 27 September 2001.

In the petition dated 16 August 2017 and signed by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the organization said that, "allegations of corruption in the electricity sector in Nigeria have had catastrophic effects on the lives of millions of Nigerians, akin to crimes against humanity as contemplated under the Rome Statue and within the jurisdiction of the Court."

According to SERAP, "The Rome Statute in article 7 defines ‘crime against humanity’ to include ‘inhumane acts causing great suffering or injury,’ committed in a widespread or systematic manner against a civilian population. The common denominator of crimes against humanity is that they are grave affronts to human security and dignity. Therefore, the staggering amounts of public funds alleged to have been stolen over the years in the electricity sector create just these consequences. Crimes against humanity are not only physical violence; allegations of corruption in the electricity sector hold a comparable gravity, which the Prosecutor should examine and thoroughly investigate."

The petition reads in part: "The elements that need to be established to prove a "crime against humanity "under article 7(1)(k) of the Rome Statute are that, the perpetrator inflicted great suffering or serious injury by means of an inhumane act; that the perpetrator was aware of the circumstances, and that the act was committed within a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population; and that the perpetrator knew of that link."

"The consequences of allegations of corruption in the electricity sector are similar to those of the offences in article 7(1). Corrupt officials and corrupt contractors in the electricity sector know well that their conduct is criminal and injurious, and the denial of human dignity coupled with a radical breach of solemn trust, aggravate their alleged crime."

"SERAP considers these allegations of widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector as amounting to crimes against humanity and therefore clear violations of the provisions of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. SERAP believes that these allegations have given rise to individual criminal responsibility of those suspected of perpetrating corruption in the electricity sector, as entrenched in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court."

"SERAP considers the apparent failure of successive governments and high-ranking government officials to prevent widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector as amounting to complicity under the Rome Statute. SERAP therefore believes that the widespread and systemic nature of large scale corruption in the electricity sector fits the legal requirements of a crime against humanity."

"The 2006 Commonwealth working group on asset repatriation specifically refers to corruption including in the electricity sector being defined as an international crime. SERAP believes an international investigation by the ICC would complement the anticorruption initiatives by the current government and contribute to ending a culture of impunity of perpetrators."

"SERAP believes that substantial grounds exist to warrant the intervention of the Prosecutor in this case. Pursuant to the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor has power to intervene in a situation under the jurisdiction of the Court if the Security Council or states parties refer a situation or if information is provided from other sources such as the information SERAP is providing in this case."

"SERAP is seriously concerned that the instances of corruption highlighted above and details of which are contained in the enclosed From Darkness to Darkness report are not isolated events, but illustrate the widespread and systematic nature of large scale corruption in the electricity sector under the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. This level of corruption has limited access to and affordability of electricity in Nigeria."

"Widespread, systemic and large-scale corruption in the electricity sector and the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support the operations of Discos have resulted in regular blackouts and disproportionately affected the most disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors of the population who cannot readily afford expensive generators in order to have a reliable power supply. The situation is not likely to improve considering that the production of electricity is not proportionate with the rapidly growing population."

"The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has adjudged the failure of the States "to provide basic services such as (…) electricity" as violating the right to health." SERAP argues that Nigeria is bound to make full use of the resources available to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity, even in times of resource constraints. Under international law, vulnerable members of the society must be protected by the adoption of relatively low-cost targeted programmes even in times of severe resources constraints."

"SERAP also notes that allegations of corruption in the energy sector have resulted in the epileptic and interrupted supply of electricity and corresponding deprivation and denial of the citizens’ access to quality healthcare, adequate food, shelter, clothing, water, sanitation, medical care, schooling, and access to information."

"SERAP notes that lack of access to uninterrupted energy/electricity services has forced many citizens to use and collect frequently contaminated surface water for drinking and household uses; and denied the citizens the ability and services for boiling, purifying, disinfecting, and storing water, as well as for irrigation to increase the productivity of lands, thereby decreasing the availability of food supplies and undermining employment opportunities."

The report also said that, "The total estimated financial loss to Nigeria from corruption in the electricity sector starting from the return to democracy in 1999 to date is over Eleven Trillion Naira (N11 Trillion Naira). This represents public funds, private equity and social investment (or divestments) in the power sector.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Italian Student Visa-help!

Italian Student Visa-help! - Travel (2) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Travel / Italian Student Visa-help!

(152513 Views) I Need South Africa Visa Help / Cable Visa Help / FRENCH TOURIST VISA : Help Needed (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) ... (119) (Reply) (Go Down)Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 9:29pm On Jul 14, 2012 aytevans: yes Going to Abuja for application is this possible? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by eesaah(m): 12:08pm On Jul 15, 2012 @rubenic, Were you able to do your document translation and legalization in Abuja? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 12:26pm On Jul 15, 2012 eesaah: @rubenic, Were you able to do your document translation and legalization in Abuja? yes Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by eesaah(m): 1:00pm On Jul 15, 2012 ^^^ pls what is the contact address of the document translation office in Abuja? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 2:31pm On Jul 15, 2012 I don't know the physical address of the translator. The embassy however give me the phone number of the translator's contact person, Mr Solomon. I could send you his number if you want. Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by eesaah(m): 3:41pm On Jul 15, 2012 @rubenic, I will appreciate that. Thanks alot Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 3:50pm On Jul 15, 2012 eesaah: @rubenic, I will appreciate that. Thanks alot 08066032447 Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 1:48pm On Jul 18, 2012 @boss-man what visa category does student visa fall into? do you have the application form? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by bossman4: 9:07pm On Jul 18, 2012 [quote author=rubenic]@boss-man what visa category does student visa fall into? do you have the application form? if you do, please kindly forward a copy to [email protected]. thanks[/quote

Sorry, I just saw this. I will send it to you tomorrow. I actually used shengen form tho it was italian visa I was issued. I will send the two types I currently have to you. It shud be under long stay category. Are you ready to apply now? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 12:28am On Jul 19, 2012 [quote author=boss-man][/quote] Yes though I've not gotten the legalized documents. thanks Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 6:31pm On Jul 20, 2012 superior1:

I am not sure about that, I only know what what I did at the Ministry of education is called legalization, infact if you read up articles on DV, you will see it written that your document must be legalized by the constituted authority in your country before presenting it at the embassy.

Yep, I have done that at the process is quite straight forward, just go to Evaluation dept of the ministry of education at Fed Sec, Abuja with the orginals of your certificates and some cash, with less than 10k u will be through with the process, it shouldnt take you more than a day but i advice that you go there as early as possible the designated date.

@ boss-man, I want to know if you included your school transcript among the documents you legalize/certify at the ministry of education. They were asking me to ask my uni to send the transcript to them directly cause the transcript i took to them was my student copy. Did you say you paid 53k for the pre-enrolment at the embassy?, cause the last time i visited their embassy, they were talking of 110k.

The problem with the Italian embassy is that they don't have a clear cut process on their study visa, you have to rely on the explanation of the confused gatemen (since they will not allow you in to make inquiry) and i suspect they atimes front for corrupt officials of the embassy. I have been there to make inquiries two times and i left both times getting confused the more same with me i paid 110k on the 25 of july Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by superior1: 6:36pm On Jul 20, 2012 ^^^^did u say July or you meant june?, when are they asking you to pick your document? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 7:02pm On Jul 20, 2012 superior1: ^^^^did u say July or you meant june?, when are they asking you to pick your document? june sorry im a bit worried concerning this legalization of a thing i cant belive i just made that mistake of july instead of june...its written 25 october....and im in soup for that because the uni's deadline is 4th oct..my major fear is for the embassy not to extend the date as they usually do.....but anyway im already in italy and im applying in the same way as italians do Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 7:10pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: june sorry im a bit worried concerning this legalization of a thing i cant belive i just made that mistake of july instead of june...its written 25 october....and im in soup for that because the uni's deadline is 4th oct..my major fear is for the embassy not to extend the date as they usually do.....but anyway im already in italy and im applying in the same way as italians do you going for undergraduate too? have u applied for visa?

Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 7:31pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: you going for undergraduate too? have u applied for visa? yes undergraduate....i live in italy,have a permanent resident here in italy.so my own procedures is quite different Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 7:33pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: yes undergraduate....i live in italy,have a permanent resident here in italy.so my own procedures is quite different ok. how is living in Italy like?

which city/town do you reside? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 7:47pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: ok. how is living in Italy like? which city/town do you reside? i live in trieste, west of italy a wonderful city i must tell you.Italy as a country now is not very encouraging but dont let it demoralize you for we all have different star..schooling in italy is not very demanding if you are a foriegner.... Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 7:52pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: i live in trieste, west of italy a wonderful city i must tell you.Italy as a country now is not very encouraging [/b]but dont let it demoralize you for we all have different star..[b]schooling in italy is not very demanding if you are a foriegner.... Could you please clarify the bolded Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 8:13pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: Could you please clarify the bolded 1[/b]not very encouraging:i meant getting a job is really difficult compared to the past few years things becomes difficult when there isnt no job.Immigration laws are getting more rigid against foriegners...[b]2,schooling in italy is not very demanding if you are a foriegner:i meant they are very flexible in with students,they are very patient with intellectually low students.In addition fees are relatively low,you are given a maximum 20hours a week to work. Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 8:30pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: 1[/b]not very encouraging:i meant getting a job is really difficult compared to the past few years things becomes difficult when there isnt no job.Immigration laws are getting more rigid against foreigners...[b]2,schooling in Italy is not very demanding if you are a foriegner:i meant they are very flexible in with students,they are very patient with intellectually low students.In addition fees are relatively low,you are given a maximum 20hours a week to work. thanks for the clarification. As for the job, i think its not peculiar to Italy alone. can you read Italian language? I'm trying to book a temporary accommodation but the site is in Italian. Can you help me out? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 8:33pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: thanks for the clarification. As for the job, i think its not peculiar to Italy alone. can you read Italian language? I'm trying to book a temporary accommodation but the site is in Italian. Can you help me out? sure if you want....why dont you follow the school's accomodation agency... Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 8:50pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: sure if you want....why dont you follow the school's accommodation agency... Application has not yet commenced (will commence around August). i need to attach proof of accommodation to my visa application. here is the link www.uniaffitti.it Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 8:55pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: Application has not yet commenced (will commence around August). i need to attach proof of accommodation to my visa application. here is the link www.uniaffitti.it are you looking for accomodation in siena? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 8:59pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: are you looking for accomodation in siena? Yes Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 9:07pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: Yes i saw a room 300euro with wireless internet in zone of san marco the announcer said it will be free by september... Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 9:10pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: i saw a room 300euro with wireless internet in zone of san marco the announcer said it will be free by september... thanks dude! how do i book the accommodation? are there cheaper ones? Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 9:23pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: thanks dude! how do i book the accommodation? are there cheaper ones? it said interested persons should call 3495623494....you cant book for it online...why dont you try trivago.it if you want to book for a hotel online trivago is well known...just sugesting Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 9:28pm On Jul 20, 2012 my facebook id is ernest ohiremen odeh if you want to know more..im having a milan jersey as a profile pic Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 9:30pm On Jul 20, 2012 there is no English version of the site Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 9:32pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: there is no English version of the site there is Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by rubenic(m): 9:44pm On Jul 20, 2012 ernestleon: my facebook id is ernest ohiremen odeh if you want to know more..im having a milan jersey as a profile pic i just sent u a request on FB Re: Italian Student Visa-help! by ernestleon(m): 9:44pm On Jul 20, 2012 rubenic: i just sent u a request on FB yah i saw it

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HP Pavillion Notebook 17-e010ed 8gb RAM 750gb

Nairaland Forum / Science/Technology / Technology Market / HP Pavillion Notebook 17-e010ed 8gb RAM 750gb (649 Views) HP Envy 15 Core I5,8gb Ram,750gb,beats Audio,2.6ghz.SOLD SOLD / HP Pavilion 15-core I5 4gb Ram,750Gb Hdd,2gb Nvidia Graphic,Windows 8.1@N130,000 / SOLD!! Envy M6 - Core I5/8gb Ram/750gb Hdd/beats Audio/kb Light - N63,000 **** (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) (Reply) (Go Down)HP Pavillion Notebook 17-e010ed 8gb RAM 750gb by aberyomi09(m): 4:37pm On Aug 26Got a USA Used HP Pavillion Notebook in like new condition. Product Name 17-e010ed Microprocessor AMD A10-5750M APU with Intel HD Graphics 4000 (2.5 GHz, 3 MB cache, 4 CPUs) Memory 8 GB DDR3 Video Graphics AMD Radeon HD 8670M (1 GB DDR3 dedicated graphics ) Hard Drive 750 GB 5400 rpm SATA Hard drive Display (17.3&quot HD+ BrightView LED-backlit Sound DTS Sound+ with dual speakers Keyboard Full size, textured island-style with numeric keypad Battery Battery last about 4 hours

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➜ ➜ ➜Currency/E-currency Market Deals➜ ➜ ➜

Zamfara Police Command on Tuesday said it had commenced massive search for three policemen who went missing after Monday’s attack on their outpost in Keta village, Tsafe Local Government Area.

A press release issued by the command’s spokesman in Gusau, DSP Mohammed Shehu, denied online media reports that the policemen and their DPO were kidnapped.

READ ALSO: Tension in Abuja as factional students' associations clash over ASUU strike (photos, video)

"No one was kidnapped as a result of the attack on the facility," Shehu said, and called on the general public to disregard the report.

He explained that a police outpost is not managed by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), adding that the three missing policemen run into the bushes when the outpost was attacked.

The spokesman said "at the moment, combined units of Police Anti-Robbery Squad, Anti-Kidnapping and Mobile Force are combing the bushes in search of their colleagues as well as to arrest the gunmen."

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen reportedly brandishing heavy arms attacked Keta village on Monday afternoon but the police said normalcy had been restored and assured that the attackers would be arrested and prosecuted.

PAY ATTENTION: Watch more videos on NAIJ.com TV

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the police in Kogi have killed a suspected notorious robber and kidnapper on their wanted list for many years, the Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu said in Lokoja on Monday, September 4.

Mr.

Inalegwu said that the suspect, identified as Lukman was killed by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Obeiba, Ihima area of the state on Sunday, September 3.

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NSCIA, Akinola, Soun, Olasunkami, Others Congratulate Muslims

THE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has congratulated Nigerian Muslims and the entire Muslim world on the occasion of the 1438 AH Eid al-Adha celebrations.

The organisation, headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said this year’s celebrations were particularly significant with the occurrence of three sermons (khutbah) within the span of two days — the khutbah of ‘Arafat on Thursday, 9 Dhul-Hiijah, 1438 AH (yesterday) and the khutbahs of ‘Eid and Jumu’ah today, 10 Dhul-Hijjah, 1438 AH.

In a statement signed by its Deputy Secretary-General, Professor Salisu Shehu, the NSCIA said these were great days every Muslim should reflect and use the "rare opportunities and virtues they present" to invoke the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

"Fellow servants of Allah, it is imperative to remember what ‘Idul Adha symbolizes — piety. This act of godliness, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim, calls for perpetual sober reflection, submission to the will of Allah, and sincerity of purpose from all of us. Allah says, "It is neither their meat nor blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him" (Q 22:37).

"On this note, we urge all Nigerian Muslims to continue to be good ambassadors of Islam as we continue to promote and embrace peace, justice and righteousness, which are the hallmarks of our religion.

The Council beseeches Allah to restore peace and stability to all the troubled parts of our great country and the entire world. We also pray unto Allah to grant our President, Muhammadu Buhari, sound health and wisdom to be able to steer the affairs of our beloved country Nigeria to greatness," the statement said.

Dawud Akinola

The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, particularly described the celebration on a Friday as an excellent opportunity to earn bountiful blessings of Allah.

He called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of the festival by being always ruled by fear of God in all their undertakings and being submissive and grateful to Him.

The Muslim leader equally called for sacrifice on the part of the leaders and the led so that the country could move forward.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Aare-Musulumi-in-Council, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe, Akinola expressed gratitude to Allah for another opportunity for him and millions of other Muslims the world over to celebrate Eid al-Adha.

"I am particularly grateful to Allah for making it possible for our leader, President Muhammad Buhari, to recover from his illness and return safely to Nigeria.

I pray Allah to bless him with long, quality life and the grace to better the life of Nigerians.

"I congratulate our spiritual leaders, the Imams, and the Alfas as well on witnessing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

"I seize this opportunity to remind us all of Allah’s words in Chapter 22, verse 37 of the Holy Qur’an, which states that, ‘It is not the meat of your animals nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him’.

"In essence, we should always be guided by fear of Allah in all our undertakings as the sacrifice establishes that Allah made the animals submissive to us so that we too can be submissive and grateful to Him.

"I appeal to all believers to live in line with the spirit of the Sallah of sacrifice and live in harmony with others.

"I pray Allah to empower the government to overcome the various challenges before us. I ask Allah not to deny us all the reward of the season."

Soun of Ogbomoso

The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, in a goodwill message signed by his private secretary, Toyin Ajamu, use the occasion to condemn those he described as propagators of hate campaign in the country.

He said Nigerians, regardless of tribal and religious differences, were known to be peace-loving, law-abiding and accommodating.

While urging religious and political leaders to caution their followers and supporters against making inflammatory statements against any tribe, Oba Oyewumi tasked government at all levels to live up to expectations by providing succour to the masses so as to avoid crime, violence and other forms of social unrest.

"We praise Almighty Allah for giving us the grace to witness yet another Eid-el-Kabir.

"Let us celebrate the festivity by embracing piety, alms-giving, love and selflessness in our daily lives. Islam is a religion of peace and as such, we should be our brother’s keeper at all times.

"Nigeria is a blessed country and we can only maximize its potentials if we continue to live together as one big family," the traditional ruler said.

Akinlabi Olasunkanmi

A former Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, advised the faithful to remember to pray for "our leaders" to rule with the fear of Allah and ensure equity, justice and fairness among the different ethnic groups in the country.

According to the former senator for Osun West Senatorial District, this is the only way to engender confidence in the people and assure the government of cooperation, peace, unity and "full recovery of our economy."

Olasunkanmi called on all Nigerians to live in harmony with one another and imbibe the true spirit, lesson and importance of Eid-el-Kabir which, according to him, are sacrifice, love, giving and sharing.

The former minister used the opportunity to pray to Allah to strengthen President Muhammadu Buhari and give him good health to enable him to steer the ship of the nation successfully.

He observed that in order to surmount the current economic challenges, the citizens must exhibit commitment to the cause of one, united Nigeria "under agreeable restructuring" and cooperate with the authorities to enable us come out stronger as a nation.

MMWG

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called on leaders in the country to reflect on the origin of Eid-el-Kabir and resolve to make sacrifices for the good of the people.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the MMWG said: "The Festival of Sacrifice we are celebrating has a lot of lessons to teach leaders and followers. These include steadfastness, sincerity of purpose and true service to the people.

"The current political dispensation in Nigeria has turned service upside down as those who should serve the people are now being served by the people in spite of their stupendous wealth.

"Most of our elected and appointed public functionaries see public office as sources of wealth. Thus, they get to office and start accumulating wealth illegally to the detriment of the people that they out to serve without caring about the punishment and the wrath of Allah on them. This is the basis of our corrupt tendencies.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Curtain Falls On Savannah Conference Six Play-offs

Hostilities in the Kwese Premier League Savannah Conference Six Play-offs will climax today at the lndoor Hall of the Murtala Square Kaduna. After playing four games each since the opening day of the championship, defending champions, Kano Pillars remain the only unbeaten team winning all their matches. Wednesday was observed as rest day. On Monday, Kano Pillars defeated Gombe Bulls 104-97, beat Kada Stars 91-58 on Tuesday and defeated Bauchi Net 85-44 on Thursday after resumption of play following Wednesday’s rest day.

Against Niger Potters which had not lost any game before meeting the defending champions, Pillars humiliated the Minna boys by 103-71 points.

So far, only Kada Stars have not won a game in the play-offs that will see four teams advance from the Savannah Conference to play four other teams in the Atlantic Conference next month in Kano. Kada lost their first game to Plateau Peaks 69-88, lost the second match 58-91 to Kano Pillars, third to Gombe Bulls 53-90 and yesterday narrowly to Bauchi Net 70-73.

Gombe Bulls bounced back from two earlier loses to Kano Pillars 97-104 and 105-106 against Niger Potters to win two straight wins against Kada Stars 53-90 and Plateau Peaks 90-57. They however have a must win game on Saturday against neighbours Bauchi Net to book a place in Final 8. Bauchi Net have so far won only a game against the whipping team of the Conference, Kada Stars 73-70 and like Kada are also technically out of qualification after losing three games.

The race for qualification and classification is what has heightened confrontation within the last two days. Kano Pillars, Niger Potters, Gombe Bulls and Plateau Peaks look good to scale through depending on the last games on Saturday particularly for Peaks and Bulls.

Meanwhile, the final games at the Conference holds as from 10am to 4pm to accommodate Conference champions line up in team jersey, remarks and presentation of trophy to Conference champions.

Today’s Fixtures

Gombe Bull vs Bauchi Net

Kano Pillars vs Plateau Peaks

Niger Potters vs Kada Stars

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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President Buhari Sharpens Focus On Niger Delta

OUT of the blue, a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA spouts. They kill soldiers and policemen. They kidnap and kill oil company workers. Piracy on the high seas. They asked oil companies to stop operations and pack out of the Niger Delta region.

They blow up oil pipelines, power and other infrastructure. They attack and kill prominent individuals, ransacking homes up and down the coastal areas, including lately, Lagos and Ogun states. All these for what?

It is still unclear what they want. From the diverse, if vague and inchoate voices of the militants, some say they want to take control of the oil resources in the region. Sometimes when the rhetoric gets uglier, they call for the breakup of Nigeria as a country!

The scariest part of what is happening is that the media, in their appetite for sensational stories are egging them on to make a great display of seditious, anti-national sentiment. In the last stages before her government’s defeat of the Irish Republican Army, IRA Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher likened publicity for the terrorist to oxygen needed for survival. "We must deny terrorists the oxygen of publicity," and the independent English press gave the Prime Minister a free pass.

In the midst of these unfolding events, President Muhammadu Buhari had maintained an uncharacteristic aloofness. Many had thought for instance that he would tackle the new onslaught on the economy with the same hawkishness that characterised his tenure as military Head of State in the 80’s. But he did not panic, either.

In fact, several of the political leaders of the Delta, themselves severely under pressure for their inability to keep up with salary payments have been in the forefront of the calls for the "strongest possible military action" against the terrorists. The country’s third richest state, Delta State gave notice a week ago that workers salaries can no longer be guaranteed. So far, the President has resisted the urge to pull the trigger. Yes, the army has mobilised to the region but military action has been stayed as the country absorbs the incredible shock that has come with the fall of oil revenues. Records of oil exports are at their lowest levels in 30 years.

The Punch newspaper, in an editorial on Friday July 1, warned the government about inherent "landmines" in any negotiations: "It is like dealing with a blackmailer: he keeps making all sorts of demands, reasonable and otherwise. Worse, there is a high probability that other splinter militant groups will emerge based on the negotiations with the NDA. They will threaten the state expecting to be negotiated with. At the end of the day, the government would have numerous groups to contend with than it can handle."

In my conversation on this issue with General Babagana Munguno, the National Security Adviser precisely two weeks back, he informed this reporter that he met 14 groups claiming leadership to the renewed onslaught on the nation’s economic jugular vein. Each of the groups had been brought to him by a serving governor or a former one; a serving minister or one that had left office with assurances that "this group is the one to talk to."

The amazing discovery he made from his meetings is the lack of unity among them as each group that came attacked the one that came before it as inconsequential. Leaning on an editorial by the influential British newspaper, the Economist, the Punch recommended strong military action. Quoting the Economist, the newspaper said: "Buhari should not try to buy them off. Rather, he should arrest those those who have committed acts of violence or extortion."

At a meeting with the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact group led by His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff at the State House, last Thursday, President Buhari spoke most extensively on his own approach to the crisis in the region.

He told Diete-Spiff, himself a former military governor of the old Rivers State that peace and stability in the the Delta region and the country is the priority of his government and there will be no compromise on this. To show respect for the visiting ruler, President Buhari recalled that he was "a bloody army Lieutenant" when the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass was a military governor.

He disclosed that his decision on what to do dealing with the problem of the region will be based on the reports he is expecting from the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu who is interfacing with all stakeholders; the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta overseeing the amnesty programme and the new management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Allaying fears that he would jettison the Niger Delta Peace Plan he inherited from the previous administration, President Buhari told his visitors that he had read the agreements and the gazette outlining the amnesty programme. He said he had asked his officials on assignment on the Niger Delta to look around and see how many of the signatories to the amnesty agreement are still around.

"Let them find out what has been achieved and what is left and then write a report. I have asked the Minister of State Petroleum to work with the oil companies. We need to get as much intelligence as is possible before we start talking. I sympathize with the investors who borrow money, half way through, their investment is blown away.

"I have encouraged law-enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you (Amanyanabo). When I move in, I will have plenty of information so as to deal with the issue once and for all. We will talk to as many groups as possible. We won’t give up. Whatever remains of the Yar’Adua agreement will be met."

He then talked about the impact of the collapse of the oil prices, which averaged about 100 US Dollars from 1999 to 2015, saying that its fall to about 30 Dollars a barrel some weeks ago was shocking. "I would have been in coma if not for the fact that I was in Oil (sector as a past minister) for three years." He then sent an important message at this meeting: "We intend to rebuild this country so that our children and grandchildren will have a good place. But a lot of damage has been done. Tell the people to be patient. When you get together, pacify the people. Let them be patient. We will utilise (their) resources with integrity."

The President’s conciliatory note came a day after he hosted the National Council of Traditional Rulers to a Ramadan Iftar, at which event he asked the rulers to "beg the militants in the name of God to stop their sabotage of the economy." He appreciated the efforts they and the oil companies were making and said he did not wish to undermine them. This equally signaled a highly conciliatory direction for the resolution of the crisis.

It is clear from the foregoing that the President is taking a bit of time but it is also because he is determined to find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis in the Delta. It is important for the country that a lesson be learned from the many past meetings and agreements between government groups and the militants that have yielded only short-term political dividends. What is wrong with those agreements that they don’t last? How many of those agreements, joint statements, ceasefires and peace declarations do we have on record so far? Why haven’t they given us peace?

The second issue the President is obviously weighing is the integrity of the country’s internal capacity for the resolution of crises. Over the years, this country has evolved ways of dealing with problems, real or imagined that threatened its existence from time to time. The amazing thing about it is that solutions emerge from within, that is without the involvement of external influences. This why we have come this far. In his desire to build a country in which every part is carried along, he is mindful of the fact that if any part of the body is paralysed, the whole body cannot be said to be alright. The President is mindful of the fact that the Delta region is an important part of the whole.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons On How To Draw)

Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) - Art, Graphics & Video (2) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Science/Technology / Art, Graphics & Video / Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) (117177 Views) Oscar Ukonu: The Nigerian Who Can Draw Everything With Pen / How To Draw A Minion... / How To Draw A Detailed Smiley Face Using Adobe Illustrator (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) ... (21) (Reply) (Go Down)Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 3:22pm On Nov 08, 2013 femzi007: dis is my pencil drawing of burna boy.used 2B pencil without grid.he retweeted it on twitter

Great job! There may be a few tweaks needed here and there, but this is good. Welldone. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 3:27pm On Nov 08, 2013 For everyone, saturday 16th November, at Muri Okunola park, from 12pm next week. There's also formal lessons at Cafe Maison, Lekki or you could contact me on [email protected].

Now, let's get back to the drawing! For the benefit of those learning, could we NOT post any images of drawings which are NOT part of the challenges posted here? If you wanna show off your drawings, please create a separate thread. Thanks, guys. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by adexsimply(m): 3:39pm On Nov 08, 2013 *sighs* Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by jumzzy448: 3:57pm On Nov 08, 2013 I'm highly impressed that this is actually coming from a female. Op, keep up the good work. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by femzi007(m): 4:11pm On Nov 08, 2013 didnt learn drawing in a day,nd am stl learnin sef ..and OP am sorry i deviated ppu's attention wit my pix.. Ure doing a gr8 job,nd i jx luv art..more grease 2 ur elbow..do continue Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Goldenheart(m): 4:43pm On Nov 08, 2013 One thing about drawing is, there will always be something to criticize on.... Where in lagos is the art class taking place?!

Im right there 1 Like Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 4:48pm On Nov 08, 2013 For everyone, saturday 16th November, at Muri Okunola park, from 12pm next week. There's also formal lessons at Cafe Maison, Lekki or you could contact me on [email protected].

Can we all work on our control hands a bit? It's like driving a car. Get a sheet of paper and cover it with scribbles, vertical lines and horizontal lines, they way you probably used to draw as a child. All these exercises are meant to relax you so you don't start telling yourself "I can't draw, this is too hard". it's s not. You just need some practise. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by prof800(m): 5:04pm On Nov 08, 2013 Goldenheart: One thing about drawing is, there will always be something to criticize on....

EXACTLY! I like this statement. 1 Like Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Feraz(m): 6:56pm On Nov 08, 2013 Davijunson: @poster, tnks for bringin this thread up....i love art a lot esp drawin...buh since i entered sch, i avnt had d tym to draw again n it had a negative effect on ma drawings....i really need someone to giv me some lessons on drawin as i av neva attended any art class before...(i'm a science student studyin elect engine)....pls inbox me on ma mail...i'd be happy to hear frm yu.... Edited - Likewise me...didn't draw throughout secondary school except biology drawings and all those ish...while in the University, during drawing class, I decided rather than allow the paper waste, why not I try drawing randomly...this is one of 'em...

Redmosquito, I see you... Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Ardedaryor(m): 7:04pm On Nov 08, 2013 Intrestingly u'myoozing Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by prof800(m): 7:07pm On Nov 08, 2013 @feraz... You this my naruto/anime guy...ehn ..? why did you remove that sketch na..? :-/ Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Feraz(m): 7:11pm On Nov 08, 2013 prof800: @feraz... You this my naruto/anime guy...ehn ..? why did you remove that sketch na..? :-/ lol...you see am? Na mistake oh before I see say she sound warning...but I'm quite impressed with her....though one of it is my profile picture...

Pls, who knows how much a good sketchbook goes for and where it can be gotten? Onegai: For everyone, saturday 16th November, at Muri Okunola park, from 12pm next week. There's also formal lessons at Cafe Maison, Lekki or you could contact me on [email protected].

Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by ugsams(m): 7:32pm On Nov 08, 2013 Thanks op this will add value to my knowledge Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by newacca: 7:43pm On Nov 08, 2013 I love the Art world. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by sleekp1: 7:57pm On Nov 08, 2013 Great work, thanks @op. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Nobody: 8:23pm On Nov 08, 2013 I really need to hone my drawing skills.Nice thread op.Would try to draw along with u tomorrow. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Nobody: 8:26pm On Nov 08, 2013 femzi007: dis is my pencil drawing of burna boy.used 2B pencil without grid.he retweeted it on twitter u be badoo o!nice work! Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by lirusehn: 9:05pm On Nov 08, 2013 NICE FOLKZ b like *i must commend her* knwin fully it calls for no commendation and here is mine Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 9:29pm On Nov 08, 2013 Feraz: Edited - Likewise me...didn't draw throughout secondary school except biology drawings and all those ish...while in the University, during drawing class, I decided rather than allow the paper waste, why not I try drawing randomly...this is one of 'em...

Who knows how much a sketchbook goes for and where I can get it? Thanks...

Redmosquito, I see you...

Hey, you could go to Artworld and buy a sketchpad for like N1,000. Or some shops in VI sell for N500. But you get limited sheets in that sketchpad (like 30). What I can do, is for those coming for the Drawing class, is buy you sheets of paper, A1 size, at N7/sheet. Most art students divide those sheets into half or more sizes and make their own sketchpads with hardbacks or a plywood or masonite board backing, for support. Not only can you add more sheets to that sketchpad, it's reusable and will cost you much less than a pre-made one and can take over 200 sheets. So it lasts longer. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Nobody: 9:30pm On Nov 08, 2013 am not too late onegai, you doing a great job...following wish I was in lag 1 Like Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by tolam4skywd(m): 9:38pm On Nov 08, 2013 Great job @ op... Also wish I stay in lag but all d same I can still learn smtn 4rm diz thread... Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by tolam4skywd(m): 10:00pm On Nov 08, 2013 Oga boss @ op.. Shey month try?? Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 10:12pm On Nov 08, 2013 tolam4skywd: Oga boss @ op.. Shey month try??

there's no image attached, dear. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 10:29pm On Nov 08, 2013 How's it going so far? Do you believe that the world is full of shapes? Not yet? Okay.

Scientists (people who have more time and better facilities on their hands than the average Naija person, sadly) have discovered that every child has a good sense of Drawing and Perspective, but around the primary school learning age, over half of them begin to lose their ability to draw well. They realised that loss in Drawing ability coincided (big word for jammed) with when children began to learn the words of things around them. They theorised that as children grew up and used the more analytical part of their brain, the visioning part of the brain slowed down.

In plain english, the more you think, the less you see. Simple. Look at driving a car and talking on the phone, your brain CAN'T do two simultaneous, opposite things at the same time. Most drivers react well to sudden difference on the road: their foot hits the brakepad without them looking. Because driving is mostly instinct. Same with drawing, same with playing musical instruments. Those are movements based on instinct. You've done it so much, your brain can do it without you looking. Shey una remember that trick we all play on NL, "if you this read correctly, you read it wrong". That's instinct, your mind has filled in the gap for you, so you don't have to read the sentence.

That's why you cannot draw a hand properly unless you've been drawing for a while or I tell you to draw shapes. Because the minute you look at your hand to draw, your brain fills your mind with an image of what it THINKS the hand looks like, you draw that, and then go "ah ah, but this is not how my hand was, I can't draw".

I'm going to prove this to you, with our next drawing challenge. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 10:36pm On Nov 08, 2013 CHALLENGE 2: Ladies and gentlemen, please draw the following image the way it is posted, upside down. DO NOT ROTATE IT TO THE RIGHT ORIENTATION, just use your eye, measure a rectangle box and use that as the borders of your drawing, look at the picture, notice the chair is touching a particular point at the border of the picture, on your paper, locate that point, draw the chair. Continue to do so for all parts of the image.

If the scientists are right, (and they are), you will draw that picture I posted better than if it was upright in the nomal position. I presented this challenge to my mum, who has never drawn in her life, and she did well. You should have seen her laugh. So please, no erasings (I left my own mistakes for you all to see), take your time, take 30 minutes and carefully do it the way I described, and for your own sakes, don't rotate the picture to what you expect a picture to be, draw it upside down. Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by tolam4skywd(m): 10:38pm On Nov 08, 2013 Onegai:

there's no image attached, dear. it says d file z larger dan 200kb, so it didnt upload Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by yorex2011: 10:44pm On Nov 08, 2013 wow...nice thread... 2 Likes 1 Share Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 10:47pm On Nov 08, 2013 You will draw any picture upside well, because your analytical part of your brain DOES NOT understand what it seeing, and therefore cannot tell you "that is a woman in buba sitting down". Because it isn't telling you what to see, the visional or sensory side of your brain takes over and you see shapes and you draw shapes. Shapes are not scary to draw, everybody drew shapes as a child and your brain remembers how easy and relaxed that time was, sees clearly and you draw. Now, if I had said "let's draw a woman", a lot of us would have sweated in fear.

If you don't do the drawing upside down, that's your own method. However, this upside-down method has far repercussions. You wanna learn how to paint well (and not what I see here, that people call paintings), do it upside-down and eventually, you'll understand the concept behind the exercises that seemingly don't make sense. 2 Likes 1 ShareRe: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by Onegai(f): 10:48pm On Nov 08, 2013 yorex2011: wow...nice thread....havent drawn anything in a long while.....anyways i no pencil around..lemme draw myself when i was younger..

PLEASE DON'T POST PICTURES OF IMAGES NOT RELATED TO WHAT WE ARE DRAWING, SO AS NOT TO DERAIL THE THREAD. The last poster, please edit your post accordingly. 1 Like Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by yame014: 11:02pm On Nov 08, 2013 . Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by tolam4skywd(m): 11:13pm On Nov 08, 2013 Dnt knw y my pics z nt uploadin... Aaarrrggghhh!!! Re: Let's Draw! A Hand (Lessons on how to draw) by yorex2011: 11:15pm On Nov 08, 2013 drawing upside down i havent tried before head too small... 3 Likes (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) ... (21) (Reply) Download Picmix On Nokia (Go Up) Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2017 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise.

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terriclare576-blog · 7 years

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The Rising Menace Of Cultism

Despite the campaigns against cultism, cult related killings and other crimes have continued on the rise in many Nigerian institutions.

Youths are daily lured and initiated into various cult group a development that often lead to the truncation of their educational pursuit or even death.

For instance, the article below, first published by Edotrailers in February 2008, shows that despite the campaigns against cultism, killings by members of cult groups are rising daily in Edo State.

Igbinosa Jude, was a member of NBM (Black Axe), until he was arrested by the police in Benin City, Edo State recently. That was after a bloody confrontation with another cultist.

When Edotrailers trailed him to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID in Benin City, the state capital, he expressed his regret for having anything to do with the secret cult, which had brought him much pain and sorrow than he ever imagined.

"I joined the NBM (Black Axe) in 2007 and three weeks after, I had a police case which brought me to State CID," Jude told Edotrailers.

But that experience did not teach Jude the desired lesson. He remained a cult member afterwards. Last month he was arrested again after he allegedly shot Mrs. Veronica Omosefe, mother of Kelly Omosefe, a fellow cultist of the NBM (Black Axe) who had earlier renounced his membership of the cult during a forum organised by the management of University of Benin, Edo State. He was alleged to have shot her on the leg because Kelly Omosefe refused to come back to the cult group and was nowhere to be found when they stormed his house. Consequently, vigilante group operating around Murtala Mohammed Way, where the incident occurred rounded Jude up and handed him over to the police.

Edotrailer learnt that Kelly Omosefe who joined NBM (Black Axe) in 2004 in the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria was even lucky to be alive as he was not at home when they stormed his house because once initiated in cult, there is no going back. To default means death. For Jude, whoever nurses the plan to join the cult should kill it because cultism is a bad thing which one can only regret.

Kelly Omosefe whose mother was shot in the leg is still at large as his fellow cult members of the NBM (Black Axe) vows to hunt for him until he is killed for renouncing membership of NBM (Black Axe).

It remains to be seen if these regrets being expressed by them are genuine. Because cultism, despite the campaign against it and the clampdown on it, is still thriving. In the last three months, Edo State, particularly Benin City, has witnessed an orgy of cult violence leaving its in trail sorrow, tears and blood. More than 25 people were said to have been killed within this period. Independent radio, a private radio station in Benin was said to have reported that about 12 people were killed around the University of Benin environs. The gory manner some of the killings were carried out give it a reputation of merciless villainy.

A man who could not be identified, was killed at Obaruyi Street, around Okhoro by cultists suspected to be members of the NBM (Black Axe Confraternity). They pumped bullets into his chest and inflicted machete cuts all over his body in broad daylight.

Another person had all his limbs cut off on top of his bed in his room. He was said to have reported a cultist who had threatened him to the police. When the police arrested the cultist, his friends went and cut off his limbs for allowing the police to arrest their friend. He later died.

At the Textile Mill road, one youth was shot dead. The assailant came on an okada (Motorcycle), which sped off after several shots were fired at the victim. The killings forced many cultists to go into hiding as no one was sure who was going to be the next victim.

No one has yet identified what caused the spate of cult killings. However, there are insinuations that it was a fallout from the last general elections. Politicians allegedly used the services of the cult groups particularly Black Axe and Eiye Fraternity for the election. The disaffection that emanated in the course of the elections allegedly resulted in the serial killings that have kept Edo people on the edge.

The police were overwhelmed by the commando-like operation of the cultists but were able to arrest a number of suspected cultists. They have charged some of them to court already

Edotrailer met a few of them at the SCID yet to be charged to court. Among them are Nosa Obanor, a high school graduate, Zubairu Abdullahi, final year Business Administation student of University of Benin, Lucky Isuman, a high school graduate and Osaze Okungbowa who operates a video coverage outfit. They all confessed to being members of the cult although a few claimed to had withdrawn their membership.

Membership of the known secret cults on campus is no longer the exclusive preserve of students in higher institutions. For long, it has been entrenched in both primary and secondary schools. It has become pervasive and intractable.

Security agents have established that at least 35 cult groups exist in institutions of higher learning across the country. Some of the identified ones are Pyrates, Black Axe, Buccaneers, Eiye, Vikings, Black Berrets, Red Devils, KKK, Maifites and Black Heart. An educationist who does not want to be identified pointed out that the spate of cult activities is anathema to academic pursuits. With an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, the ivory tower can no longer live up to its name as the citadel of learning and knowledge.

Shortly after former President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office in 1999, he gave authorities of higher institutions across the country a directive against cultism. Following that directive, a large number of cultists renounced their members at colourful ceremonies organised in different institutions.

Last June, University of Benin again organised a renunciation exercise were more than 35 cultists publicly renounced membership of secret cults. Most people expected that the exercise would go a long way to eradicate the menace. "Cultism can be eradicated," said a former registrar at the University of Benin. She told Edotrailer that the latest renunciation exercise was a council decision. She added that the council had given approval for the exercise to hold regularly to expose the evils of cultism. According to her, both the religious and traditional institution attended the occasion. Those who renounced are being rehabilitated.

While the Muslim community rehabilitates those who are Muslims, the Christian community particularly the Anglican Church handles those that are Christians.

Apart from the renunciation exercise, the school devised other means to curb the cult menace. She noted that the management now require both staff and students to fill in an anti-cult form and swear an affidavit "that you are not a member of any secret cult and we place it in everybody’s file." She added that if investigation later reveals the contrary, such a person will face the music.

Edo State House of Assembly, said it is worrisome to see such killings of people by secret cult members. The parliament said it strongly frowns at the trend. "We would probably be considering a law to prohibit such killing. There is no law that legitimises killing. It is murder whether it is done by cult or non-cult members," a member of the Assembly who did not want his name in print for fear of being attacked by cultists, told Edotrailer. He noted that the Federal law in existence was very effective, adding that the House would be more interested in how to enforce that law. "Secret cults have to do with men and women who have accepted defeat and are mentally lazy, people who cannot use legitimate means to earn legitimate results.", said Peter Ogbebor, a security officer in Edo State.

Ogbebor told Edotrailer in Benin City that Edo State Police Command has a cardinal objective to deal with cultism in the state decisively. He added that they would not give cultists a breathing space. According to him, the police have arrested more than 100 cultists in the last three months. They were arrested either in the process of initiation or in the process of committing crime.

Members of a group of cultists used by a particular union during their struggle for power were also arrested. Many had been taken to court.

The politicians used the cultists to fight election, they (cultists) had arms that were procured to fight election and after election, it was diverted into cultism and thuggery. He urged churches, mosques and families to join in the effort to curb the menace.

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