A commercial motorcycle rider operating in Ibadan, Oyo State has passed away alongside a passenger in a road accident which took place around the 110 area of Alalubosa close to the popular Nustreams event centre.

A local trader in transit to sell some food materials at the Sabo area of Ibadan has been involved in an accident alongside her son.

The duo were on a motorbike around the Alalubosa area when they were hit by a commercial bus. The woman's son and the motorcycle rider popularly called Okada Man died on the spot while the woman survived with serious injuries.

A source revealed to Tori News that the woman who was in a state of coma was swiftly rushed to the hospital by the first responders. The gory event which took place at 6:00pm caused a traffic jam on the busy road with a large scene of sympathizers.

The accident scene was littered with fresh human blood and the wares belonging to the woman currently hospitalized.

The identities of the victims are yet to be ascertained but an eye witness confirmed that the Okada Man is of northern extraction.

Watch a video from the accident scene below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4YObs7gmBs

Source: https://www.tori.ng/news/88702/fresh-accident-at-alalubosa-area-of-ibadan-claims.html

A single man based in Lagos State is organizing a national search for a beautiful lady he met in a bus heading to Ago Palace Way yesterday night.

Reports gathered have it that he was thrilled when he met her and also paid her transport fare as the driver had no change to give her. His tweet has gone viral and efforts are being made to locate the young lady presumed to be single.

See his tweet below:

VillageTownCrier‏
@osahon87

If you are the light-skinned lady I met in a bus heading to Ago Palace Way, Lagos yesterday that I paid your tfare; I will like to see you again. Pls contact me. You have all I have ever wished for in a woman. @Gidi_Traffic

https://twitter.com/osahon87/status/956115202642202624

It was a scene of intense heat, fire, smoke and tears as business owners lost goods worth millions of naira in a raging fire accident.

A fire outbreak on First Avenue in the FESTAC town part of Lagos State has razed a car and furniture shops in the area with about 26 vehicles and 4 motorcycles destroyed, TORI NEWS can authoritatively report.

The fire incident reportedly broke out at about 12pm around the FESTAC link bridge as the tanker driver attempted to mount the sloppy bridge, a police officer told a TORI NEWS reporter.

Multiple accounts gathered revealed there was no casuality and the tanker driver in the eye of the storm was not in sight as he had evaded the scene for the fear of being mobbed.

The inferno however threw the area into pandemonium with residents and other business operators scampering for safety.

The first respondents at the scene of the accident blamed the Local Government authorities over the inability to site an Emergency Service Agency around the opulent FESTAC Area.

"The government has failed us again. This disaster could have been averted if the fire services came on time.

"The fire incident started at 12pm and it took the firefighters almost two hours when the fire had escalated to visit the scene and salvage the situation. We struggled helplessly for hours with the little we had," an angry resident revealed while speaking to journalists.

A resident, in the rowdy scene who sympathized with the yet to be identified car shop owner claims the owner would have lost exotic vehicles including a Venza and others reportedly worth about N500 million.

An official of the Lagos State Fire Service told TORI NEWS correspondent that his office was contacted around 12pm when the fire was raging and they swung right into action.

Officials of the LASEMA Response Unit, LRU, were spotted at the scene trying to assist in quenching the fire at different ends of the scene.

Multiple police officers were also seen at the scene of the fire incident patroling the area to prevent the breakdown of law and order while also trying to maintain an appreciable flow of traffic.

"The FESTAC bridge road will be blocked throughout today" a police officer at the scene who didn't want his identity revealed stated.

"We are trying to control the crowd and make sure nobody gets hurt. We were called at 12pm and we have been here (at the scene) trying to do our bit.

"Our DPO is also on ground trying to liase with officials of the Emergency Services," the officer added.

Scores of motorcylists and hundreds of sympathizers were seen at the razed area just as motorists lament bitterly in the gridlock caused.

Watch the video recorded by a TORI News correspondent below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J2hUeQ0ItQ

Source: https://www.tori.ng/news/83143/how-26-vehicles-4-motorcycles-and-others-were-dest.html

Nigeria is heading to the polls again in 2019 and the weapon of populism which is a political approach that seeks to disrupt the existing social order by solidifying and mobilizing the animosity of the "common man" or "the people" against "privileged elites" and the "establishment" is being deployed massively to sway weak-willed people as usual.

The Nigerian electorate could be likened to that beautiful but orphaned teenage girl roaming the unsafe streets homelessly without the essential guidance of her parents or family members.

Her first hurdle will be her encounter with some elderly wolves in human clothing regarded as paedophiles trying to take her home as if they are interested in fixing her present predicament. But when they get home, her first lesson would be that nothing is free in this world. She would be forced to pay labouriously with what is between her legs.

After being pleasurably used, abused and dumped on the streets where she came from, another paedophile targets her with a different approach in exploitation of her naivety to lure her to his den. They will come with different offers of money, clothing, shelter, food, security, true love and even job just to secure her behind closed doors and have a carnal knowledge of her till her life is completely ruined. One of them might finally decide to end her earthly sufferings by using her for money-making rituals.

This simple analogy embodies the plight of the Nigerian masses right from the inception of the military era since 1966 till date. No political leader dead or alive would honestly admit his misrule; not even the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha whose legendary loot keeps returning to Nigeria posthumously almost two decades of his demise. Even a former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) and 'Saint' Muhammadu Buhari once cleared Abacha of corruption charges at the tenth year anniversary of his death in 2008.

I remember vividly the widespread celebrations across Nigeria when the death of Sani Abacha was announced on the 8th of June. 2008. Some called an end to his 5-year tumultuous reign of blood and terror an ‘art of God’ while others in the know called it another ‘machination by power hawks’ who simply got rid of an obstacle before them. The jollifications of that fateful day could be likened to the national hysteria felt in Zimbabwe when the 37-year reign of former President Robert Mugabe, 93 was ‘militarily’ laid to rest on the 21st of November earlier this year. Critical and discerning minds wondered why they celebrated his exit considering the fact that his crony, President Emmerson Mnangagwa self-styled ‘the Crocodile’ who was part of the Draconian rule for decades is now at the helm of authority. The people have been tortured and marginalised so much that they just want to be happy for a second even if that will mean them being mere ‘happy fools’with due respect.

When President Muhammadu Buhari kept contesting serially for Presidency from the year 2003, we all believed the 74 year had a metaphysical antidote to our challenges. Buhari insisted that he kept throwing his hat in the ring every 4 years due to the failure of the Nigerian State to get better.

Today, Buhari is President and we can’t categorically say life in Nigeria has reasonably improved. Even his ruling party member, Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha admitted that 89% of Nigerians are not happy even though we don’t know the parameter the statue-obsessed APC chieftain used in arriving at that figure. Under Buhari, we can only take our grievances to our nearby religious institutions and keep hoping for the best as Karl Max postulated.

In less than two years, Nigerians will be heading to the polls again and it seems that orphaned teenage girl on the street is about to be s*xually-abused once more by the paedophiles. A former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was a part of the APC process has devised a new strategy to lure the poor girl home again for notorious defilement. Nigerians might be sold into modern slavery again like the illegal migrants in Libya for the next 4 years.

Atiku, a shrewd and opulent businessman has opted to use the slogans of ‘restructuring’, ‘youth emancipation’ and ‘job creation’ to win the support of Nigerians. Atiku has been actively using social media platforms namely Facebook and Twitter to worm his way into the hearts of Nigerian youths who constitute about 60% of Nigeria’s population and also dominate the internet space.

Atiku has also been rolling out his economic achievements while he served as the Vice President with former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the year 1999 till 2007.

"I run my businesses to international standards. Let any of those who want to compete with me show what they have managed successfully. I’ve lifted over 45,000 families out of joblessness and poverty through my microfinance company in my State Adamawa and we’ve have empowered mostly women."

“As VP, I assembled what is arguably the best Economic Team ever in Nigeria. It was made up of young, world class professionals, who came home to work. Some of those professionals are now political leaders, governors and world leaders in their own right" Atiku has boasted on separate occasions.

Atiku claims the banking consolidation process he backed politically has protected commercial banks from collapsing today which is applaudable. According to the itinerant politician, he oversaw the telecoms revolution which enabled 99 million Nigeria to have mobile phones.

"In my home state of Adamawa for example, I’ve created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect ones. We are the largest private employers of labour in the state only second to the state government. It’s not a lot, but it does help reduce unemployment. Who do you think are holding those jobs? Yes, young people." he claimed in his open letter to ace Nigerian comedian, I Go Dye.

To cap it all, Atiku revealed that he was worth several millions of dollars before venturing into politics and that he even bankrolled the PDP at some point. His CV is alluring enough to sway millions of Nigerian youths living without purpose and motivation due to the unending impecuniosity in the land.

Nigerian youths believe Atiku could translate his personal economic prosperity records into a national one that would affect the lives of Nigerians positively. Aside the seeming unfounded perception that Atiku who has been carefully avoiding a visit to the United States of America due to alleged links with the Halliburton Scandal might be too corrupt to trust with the Nigeria’s already emaciated treasury, he seems to have the political framework to give Buhari a run for his money in 2019.

Atiku has been accused of merely telling Nigerians what they want to hear in his bid to control the blossoming political business in Nigeria. This might not be far from the truth as politicians in Nigeria have graciously used populism to hoodwink the people in whose names they sign fat cheques and get richer while the people whose interests they are supposed to represent become their victims.

Most times, one would wonder how Buhari and his APC friends sleep well at night with the ‘Change’ slogan turning negative before their very eyes.

The leadership of the APC deployed populism in securing power and Atiku, a former member seems to have borrowed a leaf from that playbook to win power ahead of 2019. An X-ray of the campaign promises of the APC seems to show the party intentionally made bombastic promises reminiscent of the Tales by Moonlight told to kids whose brain capacities lack maturity.

The bitter truth is that Buhari would have never happened if the right questions were asked as the party manifesto circulated the media space in 2015.

The APC promised to create 3 million jobs annually and nobody cared about asking the party how; not even the seasoned economists in Nigeria pleaded with the APC to draw a roadmap for the achievement of that mirage in a regressive system like Nigeria. Buhari allegedly promised to make N1 equal to $1 and we never asked how!

Today, about 4.58 million jobs have been lost under Buhari (2016 NBS report) not to talk about the worsening issue of under-employment which has made suicide beguiling to people.

The party also promised to revive the local economy, diversify it and develop vast infrastructural facilities at a period when the price of oil – the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy was dwindling and we asked no further questions. What about the promises of fixing the issues of power supply, security, Boko Haram and others? They have been replaced by either the usual blame game or the endless call for patience. Those listing security as one of the achievements of the Buhari administration might be yet to entertain the gun-wielding Fulani Herdsmen unleashing terror across the different geopolitical zones in Nigeria. What about the Boko Haram sect? A recent investigation by Daily Trust newspaper shows that the terrorist group has killed about 1,100 Nigerians since the government prematurely claimed in 2015 they have been technically defeated.

Did the APC undertake an assessment of our moribund power plants and hapless DISCOs before promising steady electricity supply during the campaign period? The answer is a blatant NO considering the odd realities on ground.

What about Buhari’s promise to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria? He is the biggest high-profile medical tourist in the world currently while the State House Clinic established to cater for the Presidency can’t boast of common Paracetamol and syringes despite the huge budgetary allocations.

Buhari was presented as the ‘Incorruptible Judge’ who would knock out corruption which is a citizen of Nigeria like Anthony Joshua but nobody asked how. Today, the anti-corruption fighter jets have only been dropping bombs in the camp of the opposition members. Kudos to Buhari for recovering over N5 trillion from looters thus far but it is disheartening that no major conviction has been secured since 2015. There is a palpable fear that these corruption cases would be squashed if a new government particularly from the opposition party - PDP wins power in 2019. Nigeria is still riddled with weak institutions and widespread poverty which are like catalysts for graft. Under the present administration, tertiary institutions have been closely competing with thunder in the area of ‘strikes’.

A recent anomaly in the system was when it was discovered that one Adamu Abubakar Rasheed, the son of the current Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC - Professor Adamu Abubakar Rasheed bagged a PhD degree in Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom and the man, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Bayero University, Kano celebrated it on social media with colourful pictures without considering the political implications of his actions. Buhari and the APC leadership promised to restructure Nigeria but never explained how as they today hide under the ambiguity of the concept.

Now the Waziri of Adamawa, Atiku is here with the revised textbook of populism and his media team appears to be doing a fantastic job with the contents. You will know politics is about to get comical when you see a ‘yesterday man’ of 71 contesting for Presidency and at the sametime advocating for the youths to be given a chance. Atiku’s claims about the marginalization of the youths would have looked valid and sincere if he could step down and sponsor a youth he must have mentored all his life. An Atiku Presidency means the youths will wait for another 8 years before it might be their turn because he will certainly gun for a second term as an African man who knows the sweetness of the political business. Specifically, he is giving the youths some 10 years to fully take over government after he must have been done with his two terms.

It’s a good thing Atiku has been promising the creation of jobs which is a global campaign promise in the league of politicians but we need to ask him how and when? This is not about pessimism and scepticism but there is a need for Atiku to show us his economic blueprint and timeframe to actualize it before he blames the Buhari administration and advocate for endless patience like Mama Peace. This is necessary so that the despondent youths can realize what they are up against so that 8 years of faint hopes wouldn’t be wasted.

One wonders how Atiku can restructure Nigeria and devolve powers to the state governments considering the current posture of the National Assembly and the 36 Houses of Assembly concerning restructuring. The National Assembly expressed their nonchalance towards restructuring when they voted against the devolution of powers to the state governments in August, 2017. Is Atiku planning to enforce restructuring by decrees just like the military era? Or Atiku will be the Nigerian version of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman who is breaking standard governing protocols?

This imminent Wild Goose Chase is synonymous to President Donald Trump disdain for the ObamaCare, obsession with travel ban, and building of the wall at the Mexican border at the profligate cost of $66.9 billion aside the annual maintenance cost of $150 million according to the Senate Democrats. Today, Trump has been coerced into supporting the relocation of the Israeli capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem purportedly to score high ratings among the Evangelicals as a fulfilment of his election campaign promise.

Atiku delivered a wonderful speech at the recent national convention of the PDP but one grey area was when he advocated against the high recurrent expenditure in Nigeria. He harped on; “a smaller, more effective government that does not consume 75% of the federal budget just on paying salaries”. This is intriguing but it would be more explicit for Atiku to spell out how he intends to reduce the over-bloated salary burden on the federal government. Will he cut the salaries of civil servants, lawmakers or even downsize the present workforce? Can an all-embracing man like him latching unto all Twitter trends for support summon the courage to take food off the mouths of the ‘great’ Senator Dino Melaye and his colleagues? That will be a blockbusting drama to watch!

U.S President Donald Trump was able to create a record of 261,000 jobs in October, 2017 partly because of the working nature of the American system. One wonders if such a revival is possible in Nigeria where the country is at the brink of collapse after its life has almost be snuffed out due to age-long looting by political businessmen still being recycled till date.

I have a premonition that Nigeria might be ultimately sold to China when Atiku is done recouping his invested funds which some journalists, publicists and other political stakeholders have eaten over the years of his failed attempts at winning power.

A parting question; will Nigerians want to return to the PDP days especially with the latest damning report by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, DFID Nigeria that a about $32 billion was lost to corruption under the previous 6-year administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan?

Osayimwen Osahon George is a Political Scientist and a journalist. He writes from Lagos State.

Source: https://www.tori.ng/news/83065/atiku-abubakar-2019-before-nigeria-is-eventually-s.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Obinoscoppy

Banky W, a handsome gentleman-turned-attention-freak appears to be acting as if he has missed the camera, lights and action he enjoyed while Wizkid and Skales were signed to his record label which raked cash windfall in those days.

Nigerian celebrities have overtime been accused of grossly abusing the utilization of social media which affords unlimited freedom to an extent based on ill-supervised community rules.

They have often times uploaded contents that buttress their seemingly perfect lifestyle of opulence for the purpose of subtly oppressing their ostensibly despondent followers. This accounts for one of the reasons why the social media space especially Instagram is flooded with falsehood as people attempt to replicate the subject-matter of the popular book – ‘Sizwe Banzi Is Dead’, a play by Athol Fugard. The internet has been riddled with irritating cheap publicity stunts by people old enough to lead Nigeria to our Nirvana.

The truth is that showboating on social media has been tentatively linked with lonely people of low-self esteem who want to enforce themselves and influence the mental processes of others going about their daily productive duties.

This odious act tantamount to the issue of poverty mentality in the Global South prompts most Nigerian public figures to constantly make calculated attempts to take undue advantage of the media to hijack headlines. They just want to be talked about by the people at all costs. The inordinate efforts are fuelled by the proliferation of blogs in Nigeria which feed on any little details about celebrities simply for traffic no matter how immaterial they might be. Anything for the clicks suits the blogs regardless of the veracity!

We have heard cases of a prominent Nigerian actress of A-list class named Oge Okoye stealing a picture of dogs belonging to an American celebrity Kenya Moore, singer KC Limpopo stealing a dollar photo of a foreigner, married mother of one, Maheeda notoriously stripping herself n*de on Instagram to gather followers, Davido clownishly flaunting wads of cash, frequently staged celebrity bust-ups and Toke Makinwa making a dry reality show of her life on Instagram amongst others. The list of frivolities being perpetrated by supposed mentors and idols on social media is endless and repugnant.

The latest has been the serial movie of a wedding ceremony between Bankole ‘Banky W’ Wellington and Adesua Etomi tagged '#Baad2017'. Right from the announcement of their engagement on social media, Banky W has technically dragged the newspaper headlines with President Muhammadu Buhari, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Boko Haram sect which dominate media contents on a daily note. This was backed by their happy-ending relationship in the blockbuster movie – ‘Wedding Party’ where the duo got married in spite of challenges that punctured the level of trust in the union.

Celebrities with millions of followers helped in propagating the engagement gist coupled with the alternative media making news out of every unnecessary detail that came out of the proposal. The traditional introductory ceremony which took place shortly after the engagement of the duo was almost bigger than the dream wedding party of an average Nigerian person who resides in a ‘blessed country’ where poverty and unemployment are rife.

Banky W in obedience to the sound of his name showed how bankable he could be after raking cool cash from the Empire Mates Entertainment, EME record label and other massive commercial endorsements. He gathered his celebrity friends for a fashion show with glamorous pictures of their expensive attires, shoes, wristwatches and other privileged wares flooding social media pages in batches. From the 19th of November, 2019 till date, the wedding party which initially started in Lagos State has been the talk of the town with the venue finally moved to South Africa.

The truth is that the trendy and alluring photos of the wedding party have appealed to the minds of Nigerians who have admired them with a high percentage of envy and lingering hate. This in turn makes the couple so vulnerable security-wise (and even spiritually if I am to think like an African for a second) as they could be placed on surveillance just like billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans did with his high-profile victims. It must have been on this note that the leadership of the Lagos State Police Command once cautioned comedian AY Makun when he flaunted some hard currencies from his brother’s wedding ceremony on Instagram. According to the police, that act attracts criminals to them easily. It should be noted that Lagos has been battling with the menace of muggings, burglary and kidnappings in recent times despite sterling innovations by security chiefs.

Most Nigerian ladies wished they could be Adesua Etomi for a minute while their male counterparts wanted to take the place of Banky W even if it’s going to be for a second. Others longed for a ‘Tonto Dikeh marriage’ kind of outcome which is associated with celebrities in Nigeria. This is the ugly side of life but we have to face it even though reality bites.

Banky W undue publicity spurred mother of four, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde who has been married for 21 years to advise Banky W to exercise due diligence in the usage of social media to avoid detrimental effects.

"Dear Banky and Adesua, After Capetown, everyone leaves...it's just you two. My darlings if possible, stay off social media a bit. Communicate continuously. Preserve your friendship not just your love. Even as you two have now become one, don't forget to respect your individuality. We love you and are rooting for your special Love," she wrote.

Her golden advice which reeks of experience appeared to have fallen on deaf ears as the trends of showmanship and showboating amid an austerity period continued, with Banky W dominating entertainment news in Nigeria like the boss.

Fast-forward to today (28th of November), Banky W while showcasing the luxury of his hotel room in Johannesburg mistakenly exposed the nudity of his beloved wife, Adesua whose glory was only veiled by her panties as she backed the camera while dressing up. Eagle-eyed Nigerians downloaded the video, did a screengrab of the Adesua scene and shared on social media for gossips.

The multimedia contents have garnered thousands of views on social media to the dismay of the newly-weds who are managing the situation well to the best of information gathered from their Instagram accounts. This absurdity committed by Banky W underscores the need for the education of Nigerians on social media usage where we have been constituting nuisance by reporting our daily lives to people who hardly care.

It’s inglorious for the body of our beautiful and decent Edo princess, Adesua to be exposed to public viewership just because of the seeming youth exuberance of Banky W who has ignored the Yoruba saying that;

"If a farmer's yam tuber harvest is too big, he would cover it with his hands".

In simple terms, this emphasizes on the need to hide your massive success from your neighbours to prevent any undue envy that could lead to spiritual attacks and cold war.

Banky W has succeeded in humiliating Adesua beyond measure as we Nigerians are very conservative people who scorn n*dity at least in public to protect our societal values and sanity. The issue can die for today but the internet never forgets and his singular act will be a vivid point of reference in discussing the ills of social media. This is not the United States of America where reality star, Kim Kardashian and her sisters strip to get moneyed endorsements from adult contents or a Chrissy Teigen-John Legend union where n*de picture leaks is as normal as drinking water.

36-year old Banky should learn from Dbanj and his signee, DJ Xclusive who are presently basking in the joy and peace of marriage after engaging in it secretly. Sound Sultan is another great artiste and father who sells his art on social media not his marriage to protect the sanctity of the institution.

Life in Nigeria is harsh due to the hard economic realities thereby making it risky to share success stories without being hurt by hateful comments. Several people are angry online for reasons they can't just explain. People upload pictures to hide their pains because they want to catch up with people like Banky W who have consciously and unconsciously kept them on their toes with the photoshopped parts of their lives.

The bitter truth is that majority of commenters on social media are not happy for Banky W and can't wait to voraciously feed on contents which would point to the crash of the marriage.

We pray Banky W learns from this experience which must have left Adesua and her family members devastated after their daughter has enjoyed a scandal-free career thus far.

Written exclusively for Tori News by Osayimwen Osahon George

Source: https://www.tori.ng/news/81669/banky-w-more-stories-on-adesua-etomis-unclad-image.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

A young love-struck couple decided to abandon elements of civilization by taking their pre-wedding photo-shoot to the past with the wealth of the local tradition expressed.

Chizurum Chukwuocha a.k.a 'All Weather', has decided to finally tie the knot with his fiancee, Nkechi after a successful courtship over a period of time.

Their pre-wedding photo-shoot captures the environment of love in the medieval period before the advent of onstentatious products and lifestyle linked with the 21st century.

An excited Chizurum made an appraisal of his beautiful wife-to-be in a message sent exclusively to TORI News, and can be read below:

"Vivian Nkechinyere Asogwa (Princess Nk) is a pretty damsel whose heart is that of a gold, her smiles brings forth the sparkles of emerald, very prudent in speech.

"She's a God fearing woman, my prayer warrior. i met her on that faithful day after church service, enjoying herself in an exotic restaurant. Like play - like play, things began to go down well, our love grows stronger every single day and finally landed us on the aisle.

"25th of November is the day I will forever dedicate to God almighty for joining us together as one. I love you NKzurum."

Speaking about the couple, a longtime friend of the groom, Odinaka George, who shared the photos said; "Chizurum is my friend, we met way back from IMT Enugu in 2005, he is a kind-hearted, accomodating and takes everyone as his brother. I wish him and his wifey the very best in their marriage."

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/80375/love-drunk-man-climbs-palm-tree-to-profess-love-to.html

Since the year 2008 when social media usage started gaining prominence in Nigeria - the acclaimed giant of Africa, friendly interactions have been boosted among different people from diverse locations, colour, gender, race and other notable extractions.

The internet has created a hotspot for Nigerians to meet new people, reconnect with old friends and mostly kick-start romantic relationships with a wide range of people as against the old practice of accosting people at events and other public gatherings for the same purpose. This has also given adequate oxygen to internet-based s*x work.

According to research, the internet has become one of the most preferred methods of communication as potential clients and prostitutes discreetly reach agreements online and set meeting points. Commercial s*x workers across the world have tapped into the provisions of the internet to create a better contact point between them and their customers.

On the global scene, a first-ever study of the U.S. s*x industry shows that many prostitutes prefer to make transactions over the internet now, where rates are higher and they are less vulnerable to arrest or assault according to a 2014 report on NBC news.

The study found the underground s*x economy in the eight cities brought in nearly $1 billion per year. The five-year study focused on eight cities namely; Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, San Diego, and Washington and was based on interviews with prostitutes and pimps in all venues including massage parlours, brothels and escort services. It did not include the p*rnographic movie industry which is legal.

Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) which involves buying and selling online has come to stay in Nigeria with the strength of the internet today. The mode of operation is simple; all you need to is to purchase a Smartphone that could guarantee you clear pictures and then subscribe to the internet to connect with the world.

“Flirting online could be fun. It gives you access to a wide range of ladies. You check out their profiles, browse through their different pictures and send your desired one a message. Who knows, you might be lucky to get a favourable response from her. I can’t imagine myself wooing ladies on the streets. I could get embarrassed for that” a Nigerian youth based in Lagos State, the financial hub of Nigeria said.

Nigerians are not only transacting deals on goods like we have e-commerce sites - Jumia, Konga, Payporte, Yudala and others but also services just like it happens in other places in the world.

Practitioners of the oldest profession in the world - prostitution have found it convenient to relate with the outside world through their social media accounts. The fact that Nigeria has over 91 million netizens has created a fertile market for s*x business.

The Nigerian 'pleasure market' is not as organized and audacious as we have in the developed societies where we have escort companies, p*rnstars, professional pimps and others attached to the prostitutes despite the seeming illegality in some countries.

A study by the reporter showed that the Nigerian market could be safely divided into two groups namely; the traditional or full time prostitutes and the alternative prostitutes or freelancers according to his tentative descriptions arrived at in the course of observations and interactions.

Members of the traditional group are the conventional s*x workers you find in brothels, beer parlours, popular junctions in scantily-clad clothes openly trading their services without restraints and mind-boggling boldness. The alternative group could safely be explained as the average next-door neighbour trying to make extra bucks with her body. This could be very clandestine to save the image of the person involved. The business suffers from acute stigmatization on religious and moral grounds but the market is disturbingly large and in high demand.

Monica, a 25-year old lady from Anambra, South-eastern part of Nigeria based in Lagos is living her dreams from the black market where she comfortably makes money simply “enjoying herself”. All she needs to do is to update her Instagram account with alluring photographs of her luscious body parts on display, add a catchy hashtag and the messages will keep rolling in. The light-skinned lady of average height has been touring countries. She has been to Ghana and Dubai. She plans to visit more countries with proceeds from her work.

The motivation behind this trade by promising and educated Nigerian ladies remains elusive as it’s an area they will never want to address.

“They are so business-minded. They just want to deliver their services and leave the house of their clients after being paid. They hardly talk about their personal lives” a source in the know revealed.

A fraud investigator in a top multinational firm in Lagos, Daniel Stephens (not real name) who buys s*x online believes the ladies have no excuse for doing such jobs since they are not handicapped. He believes they are driven by greed and laziness.

“They are no excuses for selling your body but life is all about making choices. No matter how hard life gets, one could engage in artisanal jobs or enrol in teaching or sales jobs pending on when things get better. With my experience, I think most of the ladies naturally enjoy having s*x and drinking heavily. It’s some sort of lifestyle for them” Stephens concluded.

Popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Eskimi, Naijapals, Mobofree, Badoo and other small mediums have created an ease in doing business across the length and breadth of the country.

Focus of late has been shifted to Instagram where a lady can expose her b*obs, hips, flat tummy and bum to amass thousands of followers more than prominent celebrities. As the pages skyrockets in terms of followership rate, increased interaction is witnessed in her private box known as Direct Message (DM). Pleasure services in this regard are delivered at cut-throat prices due to the corporate nature of the platform of negotiation. This has proved to be highly lucrative with light-skinned ladies taking the centre stage of attraction.

As Onlinebootycall.com, Hornymatches.com, Fling.com, Cdate and other communities that enhanced ‘one night stands’ brought Americans and Europeans together for s*x in the early 2000s, internet users in Nigeria wished there could be local platforms of that nature in the country as Hi5 struggled.

The growth of Instagram has finally answered the obnoxious prayers of such fellows as a smaller community linked with it and identified as ‘Insta Messenger’ has become the hottest spot for online prostitutes.

The application which is found on Google Play on Android phones as well as iPhones or other smart devices is designed to connect you with individuals within your locality and other close by areas within your state. Although, the mobile application wasn’t purposely designed as for casual relationships with the opposite s*x, young Nigerian ladies with a myriad of successes of business transactions have invited friends to also open accounts and meet men for the delivery of pleasure services.

Users of this online community are not totally commercial s*x workers but 80% of them are into the discreet trade. The deal is codenamed ‘Hook-Up’ according to the information gathered from some male members who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

Some female members on Insta Messenger boldly indicate on their profiles that they want only s*x for money and nothing more. Some list their intoxicating s*xual offers supported by their massive breasts and backsides on display as veiled in see-through clothes.

According to reports gathered, you can either have the ladies on a part time note regarded as ‘Short Time or Short Rest’ or “Overnight”. The Short Time schedule is cheaper. It mostly involves a round or two of s*x depending on the amount of money involved and expertise in negotiations. This could cost N4,000 and above depending on the taste of the girl involved.

The Overnight package involves she sleeping over at your place during which you are entitled to at least three rounds of s*x before 6am in the morning. This costs about N7,000 and above depending on who is involved. If she is based in the highbrow Island area of Lagos, you might fork out about N20,000 to N30,000 for the session because ladies from that axis have better access to wealthy men.

A sales representative, Hassan Ahmed (not real name) who has transacted business on the online community in the cities of Ibadan and Lagos believes the platform is addictive and unbelievable.

“The mobile application makes s*x too easy I must confess. I have used it in two major cities in Nigeria at different times and the female members have been very responsive. They are just normal ladies in serious relationships with some guys not aware of their secret hustle. I am addicted to the platform. I have deleted the application more than 20 times but I always download again when I am Hot” he concluded with laughter.

Aside the ‘freelancers’, random interviews conducted on the mainland axis of Lagos State revealed some mainstream prostitutes who reside in brothels on a full time note are also using Insta Messenger. Most of them are based in Festac Town, Ikeja and some in the Ago Palace Way ares of the economic epicentre of Nigeria. They will direct you to their ‘hotels’ as they call it from the platform. Married men prefer this group of pleasure workers due to issues of venue.

The economic crisis in Nigeria has aggravated moral decadence in Nigeria as young ladies between the ages of 18-30 as seen on Insta Messenger easily raising money from promiscuous men to settle common needs.

Unlike other developed countries in the Global North, Nigeria has no concrete quantitative research conducted on the online prostitution business among her youths. It appears that this is a topic a lot of people shy away from despite being aware of its pronounced existence.

Written exclusively for Tori News by Osayimwen Osahon George

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/80196/how-the-internet-changed-the-face-of-prostitution.html

CC Seun Lalasticlala Ishilove Obinoscoppy Mynd44

The Nigeria political conversation has gone wrong overtime. It is a worrisome situation indeed. How our political institutions, under the watch the ruling All Progressives Congress has been fondly found wanting on the issue of corruption.

Permit me to say this legendary maxim “how is the mighty fallen?” If the change administration could be involved in such a saga among numerous others, then who is safe?

Recently, it was Baru Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru versus the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu over $25 million dollars quagmire. Then now, the Almighty return of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, a former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms to the civil service.

Sincerely, without fear or favour, I have followed the debate, contending realities about the said Maina Gate. It is critically obvious that Maina seems to be a victim or scapegoat in the hands of the political cable of the Buhari led government. Mr maina was returned to the service, a letter was sent by the constituted authorities. The court acquitted him all charges brought against him. It is expected that the complainers ought to have re-appealed the case, but that wasn't done.

So Mr Maina after winning his case has the constitutional rights to be reinstated and all allowances due to him paid. The point is simple, Maina was accused, he was charged to court and he was declared free of the charges brought against him by law. So therefore, he is free to be re-instated to his position like any other Nigeria who is victorious in a court case.

Did you know that other bodies are involved in cases of pension affairs? For your knowledge, let me bring to your table the details of other establishments that collaborate with the pension office over any issues on civil servants pension. They include and not limited to the following: 15 representatives from the EFCC, 2 representatives from the ICPC, 4 representatives from the state security service, 2 from National Intelligence Agency, 15 from the office of the head of service, 3 from the office of the accountant general of the federation, 2 from attorney general office, while other core representatives are from public complaint commission and national association Nigeria pensioners respectively.

This is the issue. If all these aforementioned bodies are involved in the Maina Gate, how come they are all quiet and silent while only Mr Maina is accused?
Where are they above mentioned names? Why can't the government agencies in question not be called to give account of the roles the play? This is a national issue, and it is expected to me treated nationally without any form of prejudice or fear or favor.

Back to the case of Baru versus Kachikwu, the latter said the former didn't carry him along, so therefore all contracts signed without the knowledge of his desk or office are illegal. That is understood because of lack of due process. Then in case of Maina versus the government agencies present and involved in the issues of pension, have they come out to say Maina acted alone without their consents? No. So why focusing on Maina’s return, calling him so many unprinted names while his counterparts from other government establishments, who worked hand in hand with his office are left out?

The PDP on the other hand has every right to dance to the thrones with the issue at hand. But this issue is not political at all, it should be national. Because whatsoever ever we do today shall resurface tomorrow. So we must learn to do things with posterity in mind.
Maina didn’t act alone, Maina was charged and acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction, his accusers didn't appeal the case of his victory. So the man is innocent.
There is no need criticising him over what those in authorities took parts in.

Government and governance continue indeed. Whether it happened under PDP or APC, Maina is a Nigerian and must be treated as one.

Points of interest from the Maina Gate:

1. Maina worked with over 6 government agencies as constituted by the law of the federal republic on pension matters.

2. Maina was discharged and acquitted by the court of competent jurisdiction.

3. [/b]Maina accusers didn't re-appeal the case.

[b]4. [/b]Maina was returned to service.

From the above mentioned points, what then makes Maina guilty aside political sentiments and emotional analysis without fact?

This situation is not as bad as it appears. Nigerians must learn to look into matters from the standpoint of truth than mere sentiments.

Until all the agencies involved in the pension scam are brought to testify against their involvement and role they played on this, Maina should not be seen as the evil genius and corrupt fellow because he didn't act alone.

[b]Written by Rwang Patrick Stephen, a Lecturer at the Federal University Kashere, Gombe State.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/78332/the-hydra-view-of-maina-gate-contending-issues.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Tonyebarcanista Dominique

"Sex is sweet" is the name of a youth church programme to be organised in Kaduna. This has been frowned at by puritans. What can you say about the image below:

News correspondents of the Hello Oduduwa team have reported the story of a family that traditionally rears crocodile as a cultural value passed on from their dead parents in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Follow the story below:

I am Chief Raufu Yesufu Delesolu, the Oota Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Ask anyone around the Oje axis in Ibadan for directions to Delesolu Compound, you can be sure you’ll get there without having to ask again. “Ile Dele”, as they call it, is well known especially because a crocodile is being reared there.

In a bid to find out why a crocodile is being reared in a compound in the heart of one of Ibadan’s most popular markets in Ibadan, the quartet of Emmanuel Okafor, Wole Adejumo,Segunfunmi Adedeji, Tunde Ayanda and Tunde Ajibade went to the compound.

Having to wait as the head of the family, Chief Raufu Yesufu Delesolu, who doubles as the Oota Olubadan of Ibadanland was holding court proved useful. It provided a firsthand experience of what happens in Igbejo Delesolu. He was overseeing a matter brought by traders in the market. When he had settled the matter, we were ushered into the hall and one after the other, Chief Delesolu did justice to the questions posed by the team.

When asked what was behind the rearing of a crocodile by the family, his response was “it is not a religious thing; it is just a family tradition. When our father came to Ibadan as a soldier, he had it.

He had first settled in Ojaaba but when the place became too small for him and his family, he approached Iba Oluyole who was ruling Ibadan then and he gave him the place we are now. And when they came, they agreed that there had to be a crocodile”.

While making it clear that the tradition is as old as Oje Market itself, he shed more light as he said “the present crocodile is not the first. The present one was brought in 1940”. Not done, Chief Delesolu explained that “we moved into this hall in 1949. That was when I was in Class One. And since then, I have never seen anyone bringing palm oil or salt to say they are doing any ritual. The only instruction our parents would give us was that we should go and fetch water and pour it where the crocodile is. Sometimes they would tell us to fetch six buckets each and we would be in a hurry to do so; in order to have time to play football”.

He agreed that the crocodile has been a centre of attraction for decades; “back then, Europeans would come and see the crocodile. They were the ones that made us know that we should be feeding it with chicken. Our fathers never gave it chicken; all they did was just pour water. It used to go out then. It would go and stay in the pond near Ojo ‘Badan’s house. Maybe if not for that pond, it would have gone away long ago.
Funny enough some herbalists would come and even people looking for children. There was a day some people in white clothes came and wanted to start circling the place but we quickly stopped them so that they won’t give our compound a bad name. I said this is not the Ka’aba, why would you be going round it? So we drove them away”.

But does the croc perform any particular function? Oloye Delesolu said “as a family, we believe there are some things that cannot be seen by the ordinary eye. Maybe it has a way of protecting children in the compound. For instance, high fever is not heard of in the compound. You can see that we ran a pipe there; those days we used to pour water and drain the water manually, it would sometimes snatch containers and damage them with its teeth.

It lays eggs, even without mating. It laid eggs some months ago and to retrieve the eggs, we would trick it with a chicken and use the wood there to enclose it at the other end before someone can enter to pack the eggs.

There is nothing religious about it; it is just a family tradition. We are not the only ones that have a crocodile in Ibadan.”
We didn’t leave without asking if there a taboo guiding the tradition or what would happen if there is no crocodile , he looked at the team and said “like I said, it is not a religion. When you know that this thing is your tradition, your family custom, that oh, this was how my fathers did it, you will want to continue that way.

It has never harmed anyone and we don’t even allow it to go out so it is not posing any danger to anybody.
We buy chicken for it but meat sellers in the market come to give it meat, sometimes when animals get killed by vehicles, they will come and give it to the crocodile”.

Again we asked, can there be more than one? “Sometimes Hausa traders bring crocodiles for us to buy but we don’t oblige them because we are not rearing it for food so we don’t need more than one at a time. And when that one dies, whoever is the head of the family at that time will buy a new one”.

When we asked how Igbejo Delesolu came to be, Chief Delesolu laughed and said “Allahu Akbar, this is our own Aso Rock because our family has about 131 compounds extending from Alafara Oje. Igbejo is what our fathers had before the British came with their court system and established customary courts. What we do here is to ensure that peace reigns in the market and till date, if there are disputes in the market they will come here and the matter will be resolved”.


Source: Tori News

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Tonyebarcanista Dominique

I have always argued that one of the prime challenges of Africa is the quality of leadership. Africa, a continent naturally endowed with vast mineral resources has been plagued with self-seeking representatives who are disconnected from the people whose interests they are supposed to protect.

The state's treasury is the motivation of African political actors who tend to corner public funds throughout their tenure in office for the purpose of banishing poverty from their generation and any other group affiliated with their family names. From the 93 year old Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to Faure Gnassingbé of Togo to Paul Biya of Cameroon to Alpha Conde of Guinea, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and other sit-tight leaders; most African leaders contest and win political power with no clear-cut plan of how to judiciously utilize it. This is part of the reasons why the people still wallow in abject poverty and limited chances of human development.

As China and France positively focus on developing electric cars to eradicate the pollution of air by the emission of greenhouse gases from vehicles, the government of Sierra Leone has comically banned people from "jogging in groups" as it constitutes security threats. Live bullets are still being fired at protesters in Southern Cameroon and Kenya over political issues without any complicit security operative being brought to book for the purpose of deterring any future occurrence of such. Egypt is still maintaining its zero tolerance for press freedom, Nigeria is hoping to start manufacturing pencils in the year 2018 as part of her self-sustainability agenda, the state house clinic in Nigeria despite being allotted an enormous sum of N3.2 billion from the 2015 national budget can't boast of basic medical materials like drugs, syringes, functional X-ray machine and the rest. Our leaders of 'Change' still fly abroad to tend to their health while they leave the ‘death traps’ called local hospitals for the poor masses to possibly die if the opportunity comes. These are aberrations compared to a recent technological watershed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai in September this year successfully tested its first Volocopter autonomous flying taxi drone. They plan to build an Uber-like flying taxi service. This test flight has been described as the world’s first drone taxi service. Why can’t Nigeria and Africa as a whole grab headlines with feats of this magnitude?

Now to the crux of the matter, topping the chart on misplaced priorities in Nigeria in recent times is the erection of an ostentatious statue for the embattled President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma during his visit to Owerri - Imo State, Southeastern part of Nigeria on Saturday, 14th of October, 2017 for an event hosted by Governor Rochas Ewelle Okorocha who has been making headlines over the constant demolition of market structures in the state with the ground accidentally littered with different samples of human blood. The All Progressives Congress governor reportedly erected about 7 of such statues for other local and international personalities yet to be unveiled.

The erected statue of Zuma has been rumoured to cost a whooping sum of N520 million which is obviously inconceivable. Zuma had earlier been conferred with a title of Ochiagha Imo (The head of Imo warriors), by Eze Imo, His Royal Highness Samuel Ohiri. The Imo State government also named a road after the South-African President – Jacob Zuma road after conferring on him the highest Merit Award in Imo for reasons best known to Governor Okorocha.

It was gathered that the purpose of the 2-day visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide free education for poor children in Africa and to strengthen socio-economic relations and deepen cooperation in education which is highly applaudable.

The seeming extravagant bronze statue of Zuma has overshadowed the goodwill of the meeting considering the current economic realities in Nigeria.
This has caused an outrage on social and online media with Nigerians expressing displeasure about the celebration of Zuma who has been touted as an icon of corruption by his own people. As Okorocha erects a magnificent statue of a well-clothed Zuma in Nigeria, a naked statue of Zuma purportedly lies in his country for the essence of ridicule. Zuma has been accused of heartlessly mismanaging government funds in his country. He used over $500,000 of public funds in upgrading his apartment housing his numerous wives in the province of KwaZulu-Natal which he was compelled to refund. He flamboyantly constructed a cattle enclosure, amphitheatre, swimming pool, visitor centre and chicken run in his family house.

The Supreme Court of Appeal recently ruled that Zuma should face trial bordering on charges of corruption ranging from fraud, racketeering and money laundering. It agreed with a lower court ruling last year that prosecutors could bring back 783 counts of corruption relating to a 1999 arms deal worth $5 billion. The charges had been set aside eight years ago, enabling Mr Zuma to become president. Corruption just like the administration of a former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan blossomed under Zuma graciously.

According to the African edition of the Global Corruption Barometer released in December last year, 83 per cent of South Africans believed that corruption was increasing and 79 per cent believed that the government was doing a poor job of fighting the trend. In fact, South Africa has experienced its most turbulent year since the end of apartheid in 1994 leading to a non-stop drama featuring allegations of high-level corruption and illicit influence by private interests which have led to court cases.

In March, 2016, Zuma was accused of allowing members of the affluent Indian-born Gupta family to wield undue influence, with a deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas saying he was offered the job of finance minister by one of them.

The family was accused of wielding enormous political influence in South Africa, with critics alleging that it is trying to selfishly capture the state to advance its business interests.

Zuma’s eventful presidency which expires in 2019 has seen him survive eight votes of no-confidence, making him the most colourful and controversial president South Africa has had since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

The state of the South Africa economy under Zuma has also left much to be desired following a historical youth unemployment rate and a fragile economy which just recovered from economic recession. South Africa is becoming Africa's ‘new Mexico’ where drug cartels flourish. It should be recalled that the infamous Ozubulu church massacre in Anambra State earlier this year emanated from South Africa under the leadership of Zuma who has been openly rejected by his people severally in bold protests.

His reputation has depleted the membership of the ruling African National Congress ANC as some visionary party bigwigs left to salvage what is left of their integrity and join the "wailing wailers". Zuma's reign has overseen regular bloody incidents of xenophobia with Nigerians living in the country being at the receiving end. Our Igbo brothers during 'business' in South Africa have been regularly killed by police operatives without any meaningful probe into the anomaly for the purpose of curbing future occurrences.

Zuma is a proud polygamist following a Zulu tradition and currently has four wives. He is also known for his infidelity and has fathered a child with another woman. His private life has also put him in bad light according to media reports. Zuma married six times in total; he has 21 children and has married twice since becoming president in lavish traditional ceremonies.

Okorocha who was accused last year by pensioners of owing pension arrears ranging from 22 to 77 months decided to mock his people by celebrating Zuma with epic profligacy and ignoring legends like Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Emeka Anyaoku, Sam Nbakwe, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other prominent Igbo bloods who have represented the ethnic nationality at various laudable capacities. It appears that Nigeria is growing but the growth has been negative as usual. We have graduated in flying colours from celebrating our own leaders of questionable characters and we are now honouring the lax personalities of other countries probably in a bid to institutionalize corruption in Africa.

One wonders the rationale behind Okorocha's 'capital project' considering the fact that Zuma might never step into the state again in his life coupled with the impoverished state of Imo people where the people of Mbaise have been teased about living on humongous dowries paid by suitors for their beautiful daughters due to the paucity of funds.

Now, why did Okorocha embark on such a dance of shame that has grabbed the headlines on the basis of oddity? Did he ever consider public perception? Who are the political advisers that gave him the nods on the construction of the statues? What was he aiming to derive from Zuma considering the 'merchant nature' of politicians who always want something back? What has he really benefited from Zuma? Does he believe Zuma could sell his presidential ambition to other African leaders? Does he belong to the same social or powerful cult group with Zuma? These are some of the disturbing rhetorical questions being asked by Nigerians on social media. It appears Mr. Okorocha feels like an achiever considering the 27 cakes he received from the different local government areas in Imo in celebration of his 55th birthday on the 22nd of September, 2017.

Okorocha seems to have adopted President Muhammadu Buhari's golden silence style of ignoring the public reactions till they die down naturally. After all, he can't contest as governor again in Imo after serving for 2 terms of 8 years. Okorocha might never find a need to answer questions but he has scored a dying minute political ‘own goal’ against himself ahead of his presidential bid.

Anybody who was seeing him as the future president of Igbo extraction will be having a rethink by now before Okorocha uses scarce state funds to build flying houses.

Osayimwen Osahon George writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He is a Political Scientist and a journalist.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/77174/why-okorocha-probably-erected-a-statue-for-preside.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Obinoscoppy Dominique

One of the leading lecturers of the department of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State - Dr. Olugbemiga Afolabi recently posted on Facebook that there is no significant difference between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party, PDP.

Dr. Afolabi made the claim in reaction to the crisis of the state-owned oil company - Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) involving the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu and Group Managing Director (GMD) Dr. Maikanti Baru.

"I wrote before the 2015 elections that Buhari is just slightly better than Jonathan, but that both are bad for Nigeria in every sense material or otherwise. Many picked offence. But events have proved me right that humongous stealing and corruption is still pervasive as before. Those who have hijacked Nigeria will not let go easily. The details coming out of every facet of governance under Buhari, inclusive of NNPC, Senate, House of Reps and the 36 States is as repulsive as repugnant".

This kind of thought is common among Nigerians of late although alot of people fail to admit the sense of truth here and it has been noticed that their confidence in Buhari who has failed to present his minimum educational requirement for the Presidency post - Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE result is not based on facts but phantom feelings in view of the recent developments in Nigeria.

The Buhari product was marketed to Nigerians and accepted widely using his perceived integrity and sturdy intolerance for corruption. In fact, a popular maxim linked to his person during the heated 2015 presidential election was that "if Nigeria doesn't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria".

Buhari was given the messianic status and the poor masses looked unto him as the missing piece of the puzzle called Nigeria. But Buhari started showing signs of his future failure of integrity test from the 29th of May, 2015 during his inauguration when he plagiarized the words of former French President, Charles de Gaulle which reads "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody" without giving appropriate credit.

Two of the cardinal points of this current administration are the fight against graft and security; one can't beat his chest to the fact that Buhari is a success if the score-sheet is being rolled out with a scholarly rating of his performances in those areas not to mention the state of the Nigerian economy.

The crisis of confidence between Baru and Kachikwu appears to be the gold-laden coffin of Buhari's anti-graft war which has been described as a clandestine weapon graciously deployed against dissenters in a democratic dispensation.
In an August 30, 2017 memo to Buhari, Kachikwu accused the GMD, Baru of awarding $25billion contracts without consulting either his office or the corporation’s board.

He blamed the GMD for alleged insubordination, lack of adherence to due process and running a “bravado management style”. Kachikwu said he was being sidelined by the GMD and other heads of parastatals in major decisions and appointments. He averred that he has been blocked from meeting with the President by some officials ostensibly working in cahoots with the GMD.

The other details are more disturbing than the unemployment and under-employment rate in Nigeria. Even a person with a blocked nose will perceive that Baru could be aspiring to be the next beleaguered former Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison Madueke under the nose of 'Saint Buhari'. In fairness, today’s response by Baru where he stated that no law obliges him to discuss contract details with Kachikwu requires the expert intervention of lawyers and the law court to reach a compromise.

“It is important to note from the outset that the law and the rules do not require a review or discussion with the Minister of State or the NNPC board on contractual matters.

“What is required is the processing and approval of contracts by the NNPC Tenders Board, the President in his executive capacity or as Minister of Petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council, as the case may be. There are therefore situations where all that is required is the approval of the NNPC Tenders Board while, in other cases, based on the threshold, the award must be submitted for presidential approval. Likewise, in some instances, it is FEC approval that is required” part of the long statement stated.

It should be noted that the oil and gas sector which accounts for over 80% of Nigeria's national revenue is the headquarters of graft in the country. One of the biggest heists in Nigerian history came to light in 2014, when a former Central Bank governor Lamido Sanusi (now Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II) revealed that the equivalent of $20bn had disappeared from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) between 2012 and 2013. The issue today is yet to be fully resolved despite the intervention of the British auditing and consulting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PWC.

Buhari's government is set to go down as one of the most corrupt and fantastically irresponsible administrations in the history of Nigeria if the definition of the term 'corruption' is well understood and juxtaposed with the gory happenings at the corridors of power where the future over 80 million Nigerian youths are being eaten away by their representatives.

According to the Wikipedia, corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit.

In another perspective, Stephen D. Morris, a professor of politics, also writes that political corruption is the illegitimate use of public power to benefit a private interest.

On the basis of the aforementioned, there is no gainsaying the fact that Buhari might be directly and indirectly involved in sharp practices if we are not being economical with the truth. Firstly, Buhari, the custodian of our commonwealth has been running an opaque administration and he betrayed the sacrosanct principle of accountability when he failed to disclose his health status as well as the source and cost of his medical bills in London, United Kingdom for 103 days suspectedly drawn from the tax payers sweat.

Under Buhari, the foremost anti-graft body - Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is failing to fully account for the total amount of money and assets recovered from dishonourable public officials. Even the embattled acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu couldn't put a figure to the recovered loot during his senate screening earlier this year. Lack of transparency creates a safe haven for petty, grand and systemic corruption. There are fears that the loot could be 're-looted' as the rumoured case of the late Gen. Sani Abacha loot under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Constituted Authorities or Constituted Thieves?

One enigmatic characteristic of the Buhari administration is the reputation of his cabinet members, political associates and generally other appointees attached to him by party or ethnic lines. This is like a case of a Pastor keeping suspected armed robbers as close friends. It’s only a matter of time before the police whisk him away for the crimes of his friends.

One of Buhari's right-hand men, David Babachir Lawal - the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been embroiled in an over N200 million grass-cutting scandal.

Mr. Lawal allegedly used his company Rholavision Engineering Ltd, while still being its director, to receive consultancy contract to clear invasive plant in Yobe State from Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE, an intervention agency under his office. Buhari cleared him of all the charges in his letter to the senate only for the President to make a U-turn in the face of public pressure and daunting evidence. Till date, the issue of corruption right in front of Buhari is being handled like an 'in-house family affair'.

The suspicious N13 billion Osborne funds stashed in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos State in which the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency - Ambassador Ayo Oke was fingered is also yet to be addressed by Buhari despite the fact that his amiable deputy, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo presented his panel probe report before him about a month ago.

This has given credence to the rumours that Buhari knew about the funds appropriated for a covert operation that looks non-existent. Buhari's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari has been accused of obtaining N500 million bribe from South African telecommunication company, MTN to lobby its soft-landing after the heavy fine slammed by the Nigerian government.

Mr. Kyari has also been accused of prospecting on behalf of a private business - Valiant Offshore Contractors Limited that is being fronted by the major owner of SeaWolf Oil Services Limited, the single biggest debtor of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

According to investigative online newspaper - Sahara Reporters, Seawolf Limited owes First Bank of Nigeria about N160billion, as a result of which two oil rigs owned by the company have since been seized by AMCON and parked at the Lagos Marina.

Rumours have it that Kyari has also being frolicking with an alleged morally-bankrupt businessman, Jide Omokore who is being tried by the EFCC alongside Diezani Allison Madueke and Kola Aluko over what could be regarded as 'legendary fraud'.

Kyari has been linked with a prominent role in blocking an investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into a huge fraud by Sahara Energy. Some sources claim Kyari has his hands and legs in the plight of Magu as he seeks to remove him for a fresh candidate that could do his bidding. While these are still mere allegations that should be properly investigated with Kyari questioned, Buhari has confidently looked the other way.

Members of the opposing People's Democratic Party wouldn't have enjoyed this level of presidential grace. The Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Toyin Ojo; and the Accountant General, Mrs. Oluyemisi Owolabi are languishing in EFCC cells over the alleged misuse of bailout funds by the Ayodele Fayose administration.

A former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola who is now the Minister of Works, Power and Housing was accused of spending a ridiculous sum of N139m on the drilling of two boreholes and another N78.3 million for the upgrade of his personal website during his tenure as governor. The figure for the latter was later beaten to N10 million through a suspected media manoeuvre.

Fashola is not alone in this; a former governor of the oil-rich Rivers State - Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who is now the Minister of Transport has been accused by Rivers state government of embezzling a whooping sum of N3 trillion in 8 years. As usual, the allegation has been countered with a press statement from Amaechi's camp and the EFCC has kept mum.

Similarly, a former governor of Ekiti State and now Minister of Solid Minerals Development - Kayode Fayemi has been accused by the Ekiti State House of Assembly of raiding the state's purse of N40 billion during his single tenure. The lawmakers have laboured in vain to draw the attention of the EFCC to the historical fraud.

To be continued tomorrow..................

Written by Osayimwen Osahon George from Lagos, Nigeria.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/76318/nnpc-crisis-the-corrupt-side-of-buharis-antigraft.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Obinoscoppy Dominique Tonyebarcanista

When I just joined Twitter, or say, when I just realised how to use the very complicated micro-blogging platform, one of the phrases I came in contact with is “Everything in Nigeria will Kill You”. I think someone also had a chapter in his book titled that. It is one shocking fact that is hard to put away – one that all indices in the country support clearly. It is worrisome to say the least, it is even disturbing as one lives this reality daily. This reality pits Nigerians and all that they hold dear against an evil that seems it will never go away.

As usual, filled with enthusiasm, I packed my bags and headed to Enugu as we continue to work towards ending Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria. I was filled with the joy of another learning opportunity – opportunity to learn lessons from others working in various states, the excitement of sharing our side of the story in Ekiti State and by extension, the south west. I also saw the opportunity to see what the south east looks like after the brouhaha that followed the Operation Python Dance.

It was not my first sojourn into the region. It would be my second after East 101. My first trip to Enugu was beautiful – new food, new tongue, new people. It was going to be my second – an opportunity to build on the first beautiful impression I had, an orgasmic feeling I wanted again.

Akure is a beautiful place in its right and one of the interesting thing about it is the easy access that you have to all other parts of the country. It gives me pleasure to travel outside Akure by road. The chance to see people, interact with them and learn one or two things about Nigeria. The journey from Akure was near perfect until we got to the Benin-Asaba road and ran into a gridlock. Everyone thought there had been an accident or that one of the many trailers on the road had broken down or that a part of the road had gone bad – these are the usual suspects for traffic lock down in our dear country.

It will amaze you to learn that the gridlock was caused by men of the Nigerian Army who narrowed all the vehicles to a single file (for whatever reason, I always believe that when security check points are mounted, they are essential unless when used as collection points for money). Just as we were been passed to move on, we heard a gun shot and people in the vehicle were enveloped by fear. A soldier, one of the men at the check point, had shot into the air for no reason. For no reason.

A man paid to protect the people sent shivers down their spines for no reason and then I imagined what if people who respond badly to shocks were on that road, a Nigerian soldier would have caused more harm for such person without provocation. Tell me again if Nigeria doesn’t want Nigerians dead.

The journey continued without any funny incident but every kilometre covered reminded me of the horrible road between Onitsha and Awka, then the Awka to Enugu road. The fear of what to encounter there frightened me after every thought of it.

In 2016, when I visited Awka for a week long social impact programme by the Editorial CDS of Awka NYSC, I saw the bridges built by Obiano and the machineries on the Onitsha-Awka road. I returned to Akure singing the praises of Gov. Willie Obiano and told my people that truly Obiano is Working. However, since I have not heard nor read the news of the commissioning of the road, my fear became stupefying.

I never knew all along that I was not alone. On ascending the Niger bridge in Onitsha, people began murmuring about the state of the road ahead in mockery of the posters that littered everywhere talking about Willie. I was not only shocked but filled with disappointment when I saw that the state of the road had gone from bad to worse in just a year. The shame of a road sandwiched between Onitsha and the bridges of Obiano in Awka. It ridicules the achievements of Mr Gov as advertised on TVs. Then I wondered, why lie about these things? An irony? A billboard of Willie’s conferment of a chieftaincy title stands at the end of one of the bridges, just after a very bad portion of the road. Then an Obiano is Working branded bus drove through the muddy road slowly to avoid skidding off its lane. The shame that governance is in Nigeria.

It didn’t get any better as the journey progressed. A part of the Awka-Enugu road is in a state where no vehicle can ply it again, at least, for the rainy season. Many trailers loaded with goods are trapped on that road.

As usual, Nigerians would always find their ways out of the death trap set for them by Nigeria but the question is always “are there better alternatives”? There are always alternatives, always, but are they in any way better? Improved service or convenience? The answer remains NO, for now.

The alternative route from Awka to Enugu is an abandoned bridge where only one vehicle can pass at a time. This route is not good enough for bicycles let alone cars or buses. This route that Nigerians have come to accept as their alternative is nothing but a disaster in waiting. This alternative route is now a commercial centre as hawkers have shifted their base here and they have been joined by a gang of young men who smoke and consume alcohol while they work as Toll fee collector and traffic officers. This sad occurrence is possible because Nigeria (Federal and State) have decided to allow her human capital base continue to degenerate.

The above scenario replayed itself in about 4 places on the Kabba-Ikare-Ado axis. Yes, when I was returning for fear of travelling that horror of a road again, we were advised to travel through Nsukka to Okene road.

It is shameful to admit that the alternate route gave me more nightmare than the first. I was dazed when I heard that the Iyamoye-Omuo road was not motor-able at the time and we detoured to the Kabba-Ikare-Owo road. This road was like a “Copy and Paste’’ version.

Nigerians were travelling through thick forests and filled with fear. No one knows what lies ahead and people coming from the other end were asking what lies ahead of them. I saw Nigerians sharing hope with one another. Drivers telling one another to proceed with caution and saying words of prayers for one another. For more than 4 hours, I couldn’t concentrate on anything, not even the silent prayers I was saying for myself and the nation. Not even on the prayer for the businesses of Nigerians that have taken big hits because trailers carrying their merchandise are either trapped in some muddy forest or the many others that have fallen on one another. It was a shame, a distasteful look. One wondered again and again, why do we have leaders and people who care less about our well being and derive joy from sending us to early graves through avoidable deaths.

It beats me how people who we elect from amongst us continue to act like these problems don’t exist and continue to live in opulence when 99% of the nation is enveloped in untold hardship.
It is beyond my comprehension how Nigeria continues to put us in impossible positions yet expect us to remain together in peace. It confounds me how Nigeria treats us as slaves in our own country yet want us to develop and compete with others favourably in the next three years.

Again, more than ever, the road trip showed me that the citizens can not afford to always stay in the background when matters that affect them are discussed. We must go beyond all the divides to raise our voice and take actions that will give us a better life.

We can not afford to leave our lives in the hands of a few group of people who have equated us to pawns in their chess game of money and politics.

Written by Arakunrin Abayomi Tajudeen Sarumi

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mydn44 Obinoscoppy

Source: https://aatsarumi.com.ng/2017/10/01/nigeria-wants-you-dead/

From historical flooding to earthquakes, mudslides, landslides and hurricanes; it appears the world might end soon as spoken about in the book of Revelations in the Holy Bible. Nigeria might not be experiencing the worst of natural disasters like the hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Katia and Jose but it appears a seeming human disaster tagged ‘Hurricane Nnamdi Kanu’ spinning in the South-east might tear the country apart in the face of President Buhari in no distant time.

In the latest season of the endless political drama tilted 'Nigeria', President Muhammadu Buhari and the leader of the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB - Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have taken dominant roles of the antagonist and the protagonist with their parts alternating depending on where you stand tribally.

The audience is being tortuously and distractingly entertained with a show of influence between both parties. Buhari is staging the cultural Operation Python Dance II right beside the compound of Nnamdi Kanu's father's compound at Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia in Abia State. The dance isn't by beautiful ladies and energetic men in colourful native attires showing the flexibility of their body structures while people wined and dined as we are used to. It's a dance exasperated Nigerian soldiers who treat every national assignment with discontentment with life and the depressive economic realities in the most populous black nation in the world. It’s a dance where the music is replaced with gunshots and horse whips with smiles replaced with hot tears and agony. I am talking about the dance of widespread fear, panic, flesh and blood. This is what happens where the python, a reptile that is known to swallow its preys dances for you.

Before now, Nnamdi Kanu, 50 traversed the polity as an emperor walking majestically among his teeming followers who found his feet attractive to kiss; an act that is reminiscent of the master-slave relationship in the medieval period. Gradually, he gathered momentum and courage to flout the bail conditions he signed to while Buhari struggled with his undisclosed illness in London, United Kingdom. His words against the Nigerian government carried fire, fury and stark hate thereby threatening the ‘theoretical unity’ the major tribes in Nigeria share.
Nnamdi Kanu enjoyed the open and unwavering support of some professional politicians from the main opposition party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party namely a former minister of Aviation Femi Fani Kayode and the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Peter Fayose. Other politicians in the Southeastern part of Nigeria on a clandestine note drummed support for the young man like he was divinely mandated to break the Igbo Nation out of the ‘Zoo’ which he regards Nigeria as. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo socio-cultural group stood solidly behind Nnamdi Kanu. A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo also suddenly fell in love with making videos to mock the President while the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful released more press statements than a media house. The situation was tantamount to the perfect picture of the fate of your house in the hands of rats when you embark on a lengthy vacation.

As the pictures of Nnamdi Kanu’s soaring popularity littered social media platforms, the United Kingdom returnee launched the Biafra Secret Service and reportedly the Biafra National Guard which he called the vigilante groups. In fact, his inspection of the guard of honour at the inauguration of the BSS was spectacular and presidential.

There were social media arguments that Nnamdi Kanu could wield more influence than Buhari. Kanu even went as far as reiterating that he was ready to die for the Biafra cause and his followers could burn down Nigeria if anything happens to him. I remember vividly when he threatened former President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as his lineage with total annihilation over some comments of his which Kanu found unfavourable to his separatist cause.

In the absence of Buhari, a coalition of northern group, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum appeared to embark on an offensive crisis de-escalation move in the inglorious Kaduna Declaration that called for the exit of the Igbo's from the 19 northern states before the 1st of October, 2017 or face physical attacks. It took the intervention of Governor Shettima of Borno State and other stakeholders to make the infamous group rescind the order which had birthed a hate and genocidal song against the Igbos in the north. This would have not only claimed lives but properties of the prosperous Igbos would have been reduced to rubbles by the northerners who have a long history of restiveness and homicidal acts.

In the light of the foregoing, it was crystal clear that Buhari, a former military dictator rumoured to have a penchant for wielding the big stick generously at dissenting voices and being stingy with the carrot was going to pay Kanu an august visit. It was just a matter of when and how. All indications showed that Buhari was going to wait for the court of law to sanction the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu as filed by the government but the 74 year old retired Major General was impatient and had other plans. He opted to give Nnamdi Kanu a bit of his military orientation and the python was called to come dance for him at the heart of the IPOB headquarters.

One uncanny thing about Buhari is his level of unpredictability. You hardly know his direction and it’s debatable to say this attribute must have detrimentally affected his handling of the recuperating local economy. He loves to spring surprises and it’s almost impossible to know his enemies from his few words or physical reactions. In the last two years of being verbally attacked and mocked with his health by Fayose, Buhari has never mentioned his name in the media but the war between them is colder than Iceland. That is who the leader of Fulani descent is. The preparation of the dance of the python - Egwu Eke II has thrown Kanu's defiant and compact camp in disarray. His supporters have been reportedly subjected to inhumane conditions of military brutality while others have been killed. Kanu in a phone call put to him by Channels TV yesterday evening claimed the Nigerian Army invaded his house and killed 22 of his followers as well as his dog with his elderly father threatened with a gun. The IPOB has been declared a terrorist organization by the Nigerian Army and to compound their woes, the South-eastern governors in a fresh resolution have proscribed the pro-Biafra group which has been labeled a security threat. The self-styled Southeastern warlord has been relegated to the level of someone seeking public sympathy as he hides from the Nigerian Army. He is presently calling on the United Nation, European Union, and other members of the international community for intervention.

It seems Buhari’s military approach to the agitations which might be reasonable depending on where you stand has been reckless. But again, accidental human right activists heaping criticisms on him have forgotten that you can’t beat a child and as well teach him or her how to cry. You can’t hurt me and also teach me how to revenge although two wrongs don’t make a right and fire doesn’t quench fire; water does.
Those criticizing Buhari for making Kanu relevant following his initial arrest are only making a mockery of the wise saying that you can only trim the branches of an Iroko tree when it’s at the tender stage, it will demand sacrificial exercises to control when it reaches full maturity. No wise man finds rest in a room when a small snake is parading because the size can never be undermined when considering the grave danger it poses. The neglect and condoning of the nefarious antics of the late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf by security operatives and the state government in Borno State today has birthed the cancer of terrorism leading to the death of over 100,000 people (Shettima, 2017), displacement of 2.7 million people taking refuge at the Internally Displaced People's camps, destruction of infrastructural facilities in the northeast, setback in the aspect of agriculture and other crises which are chain reactions to public unrest. Remember that Nnamdi Kanu once attempted to talk an Igbo group in diaspora into raising funds for him to acquire arms to battle Nigeria for the independence of Biafra. He was like a ‘loose cannon’.

No sane leader will watch Nnamdi Kanu pollute the minds of his people through the Radio Biafra which was illegally being transmitted in the country from the United Kingdom. Another state was technically created inside Nigeria with emblems, flags, passports and currencies. The group even grew wings that it had the effrontery to declare that no election will hold in the Southeastern part of Nigeria and stakeholders started trembling with fear. They were forced to hold emergency meetings with their recalcitrant son pursuing a cause outside the dictates of legitimacy.

The last thing Buhari would want to be remembered for is the break-up of the Nigerian entity. Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through an act of political expediency avoided being associated with that by history. This is the last detail Buhari would like to be associated with in his Wikipedia page.

Right to self determination by a group of people isn’t illegal. It is recognized by the United Nations charter which Nigeria is a signatory too. The problem I have with the cause is that it has an egomaniacal outlook. There has been a proliferation of pro-Biafra groups following the success of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and IPOB which the leaders are drawing money from in exploitation of sympathizers. MASSOB is like a company run for 18 years by Ralph Nwazurike without a concise direction which is on purpose. Covert and overt followers are made to contribute to a common purse which is never accounted for just like the constituency projects of federal lawmakers and security votes of state governments.

For every statement in support of Biafra, you will see five others against it from the same people reported to be marginalized. The Igbos have never spoken in unison and this is a historic problem that could be traced to the failure of the British Indirect Rule system. There are claims that the voice of Nnamdi Kanu doesn't reflect the yearnings of the people which is a fact as he is not a constituted authority. The referendum he is seeking for is alien to the Nigerian constitution. His efforts shouldn't be originally directed at Buhari but the National Assembly for the amendment of the 1999 constitution to facilitate a referendum. Our constitution says in Section Two that Nigeria is one “indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state” to be known by the name the federal republic of Nigeria.

He should gather the South eastern governors, senators, House of Reps members in the Southeast, House of Assembly members, traditional rulers and representatives of dominant socio-cultural or political groups to speak in a common tongue and prosecute their demands of secession. This will give it a more far-reaching face and not his purported collaboration with an Osita Chidoka who is hoping to be an Anambra governor come November 18 under the banner of the United Peoples Party, UPP or a Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia-South Senatorial District) who plans to dig his grave at the Red Chamber where he has spent over 10 years making uncommon laws.
The level of hypocrisy in Nigeria is alarming and the country is built on lies. The country is cursed with ‘political entrepreneurs’ investing the angers and despondency of the downtrodden in their political businesses.

The only business venture that strives well is politics where the act of sleaze is not a sin. The Igbos claim to be marginalized but I have always argued that there is no challenge faced by the Igbos that is not evident among the other tribes. The bitter truth is that the country is sick without an available serum. The Igbos have argued that appointments in the country have been lopsided which is very true but in the real sense the issue of the reflection of the federal character principle in the area public appointments has never translated to national development. The north has produced more leaders today but the region has remained perpetually impoverished and starved of formal education which is the light every generation needs to move forward.

The truth of the matter is that everybody is fed up with Nigeria where a First Class university graduate is not even guaranteed of anything in the labour market. I have a very young friend who almost graduated with a First Class from a federal university and she has been forced to settle with a teaching job where she is earning a meagre salary that can’t cater for her transport costs pending on when God will ‘pick her call’. Yes, the pastors now are like the hope of Nigeria seeing our problems from the spiritual perspective.

People are hungry and angry despite the fact that some even have comfortable. The high rate of inflation in Nigeria has rendered the greenback worthless and figures of economic projections churned out by the National Bureau of Statistics every month have failed to connect with the realities on ground. Inflation rate in Nigeria for the month of August has dropped TO16.01% but the surge in food prices at the local market is astronomical. This is part of many issues interwoven with poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, healthcare, power, potable water, good roads and legendary corruption. Nigeria is truthfully a plague we should be divorced from but looking at the situation that way is like cutting off the head because of a disturbing migraine instead of settling for drugs.

I must admit that President Buhari’s body language has further divided Nigerians as he appears to have a score to settle with the Igbos. Buhari in 2015 told an American audience that he was going to treat Nigerians unequally, that is according to the support they gave him during the presidential election. What a gaffe!

We all know Nigeria has never been united and we have been wired by documentation procedures to think about our Local Government Areas and States of Origin first before considering ourselves as Nigerians. That is what our resumes even teach us except for those that have upgraded theirs to the latest standard.

President Buhari’s lopsided appointments are reprehensible, provocative and condemnable. It hurts more that the government has refused to prosecute the self-acclaimed youths behind the infamous Kaduna Declaration which almost tore Nigeria apart. I personally wish the Operation Python could be directed at the irate Fulani herdsmen committing all manners of atrocities across the geopolitical zones with the my-brother-is-in-power feeling. There is no special law for any ethnic nationality in a democracy and preferential treatments will always breed discord. The bad news is that Buhari doesn’t care and he is not ready to be politically correct. This was expressed in the tone of his presidential speech on his return from London, United Kingdom after staying for about 103 days.

With the 2019 presidential election less than 18 months away, it seems Buhari doesn’t care about the reputation of his party or himself in the South-east with gory pictures of killed IPOB supporters and sickening videos of civilians being tortured by the army on the streets.

The reports have been laced with serious propaganda and it’s working positively for the IPOB members. The truth is that the international image of Buhari and Nigeria is also being sacrificed on the altar of ego here. As the United States of America whose political system used to reek of perfection at the surface level is dealing with the character of President Donald Trump acting against the norms, I think Nigerians should also conform and adapt to a Buhari who has a military ideology which has worked in crisis de-escalation to an extent.

The Igbos might not like him but I will not encourage the Igbos to hate him as he is the pilot flying the Nigerian plane and it will be suicidal to help him crash the big bird conveying us into the Red Sea. His time will probably expire in the year 2019 but the Nigerian entity which is bigger than all of us continues.

Osayimwen Osahon George is a political scientist and journalist. He writes from Lagos State.

Source: http://villagetowncrier..com.ng/2017/09/the-unholy-union-of-president-buhari.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Obinoscoppy Dominique Mynd44

Mother of one and Ekiti State University graduate, Gwen Tagbarha is set for her first political outing in her home state, Delta.

The former beauty queen is prepared for the uphill task of unseating an incumbent Chairman of the Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State at the polls in November, 2017 when the Local Government election is expected to hold.

Gwen Tagharha, an advocate of formal education for youths as a great step towards restructuring the human minds will be slugging it out at the primaries with political jugernauts at the grassroots level under the banner of the People's Democratic Party, PDP.

Mrs. Tagbarha is testing the murky waters of politics at a time when the #NotToYoungToRun campaign to encourage the participation of Nigerian youths in politics is gaining momentum.

The participation of women in Nigerian politics has been limited but the beautiful and very young woman might be drawing inspiration from the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Theresa May and other frontline women leaders across the world towards positivity.

She believes governance is for the young, intelligent and the service-minded people with the vision to heal the people from the sickness of maladministration which has birthed the general apathy towards politics.

The actress and screen idol is passionate about the welfare of widows, orphans and the less privileged. She achieved a life-long dream in 2014 when she was crowned the winner of the maiden Miss Nollywood Nigeria; and that’s in addition to her being the Face of Niger Delta.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/72594/former-miss-nollywood-gwen-tagbarha-ventures-into.html

In this age of false prophecies being released by clerics in the media thereby causing apathy among faithfuls, there seems to be a young man who stands out with valid prognosis.

A two year old video of prophetic utterances (posted on Youtube on the 30th of March, 2015) made by one Prophet Gbemiga Shedrack Adetuberu of the Faith and Miracle International Church located in Ibadan, Oyo State is currently making rounds on social media.

The prophecies of the 30-year old which centred on politics have left Nigerians shell-shocked due to the plausibility and relevance of his revelations to the current realities in the Nigerian political space.

Mr. Adetuberu whose parents are also religious leaders in the Christain faith revealed Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (RTD) was going to win the 2015 presidential election under the banner of the All Progressives Congress beating his incumbent People's Democratic Party counterpart former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

He revealed that Mr. Buhari's 2 years in office will be marred by sickness but he would recover to transform Nigeria and revitalize the local economy.
The handsome prophet who has gained popularity in the city of Brown Roofs as a result of miracles, signs an wonders linked to him stated that Akinwunmi Ambode (current governor of Lagos State) was going to win the gubernatorial election in the financial hub of Nigeria with Jimi Agbaje of the PDP trailing him.

Majority of the chilling revelations have come to pass with Buhari and Ambode cruising to victory, Nigeria sliding into economic recession and the President almost spending 6 months cummulatively in London, United Kingdom over an undisclosed ailment.

Read some excerpts from the 3:37 minute video obtained by Tori News correspondent, Osayimwen Osahon George:

"APC is going to win this election by a landslide.

After APC wins, for the first two years there will be scarcity of finances but its for the good of the country.

For 2 years, people will almost be cursing him (Buhari). People will almost be tired of him but after two years, people are going to know the value of what he has been doing.

.......Because I see the naira at the rate of N100 or less to the dollar.

Then, in that rule of APC, the President will be sick but it is not unto death. God is going to heal the man, that is the new president. He is going to bring greatness and openness to the country.

APC will rule for two terms. They will win the first term and they will win the second term but the second term will be very close.

After the second term, the APC will break up into 3-4 fragments due to the traitors among them.

Concerning Lagos State, Ambode is winning Lagos State"

Watch the video below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fiST-0ROzY

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/71271/meet-the-young-prophet-who-predicted-president-buh.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44 Ishilove Dominique

There is no gainsaying the fact that the 72% poverty level in Nigeria according to an August 2016 report by Fitch Ratings Incorporated has eaten into the psyche of Nigerians thereby adversely affecting our quality of thoughts and rationality.

People nowadays astonishingly suppress their conscience for short term benefits. Integrity appears to have been banished from this country with a threat that it will be lynched on a return at a future date. A typical Nigerian man will not mind housing the dreaded Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau if he can offer him a rent running into millions. This also accounts for why the electorates openly sell their votes to egocentric politicians in broad daylight only to regret it when the treasury is ' kidnapped and raped'.

The Anambra massacre which took place on Sunday, the 6th of August, 2017 at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, claiming at least 12 lives with injured 40 people according to recent reports reeks of the level of societal decadence in Nigeria. It exposes an anomalous situation where people are ready to collaborate either directly or indirectly with individuals of questionable characters for crumbs. To them, crime is legal as far as they are not the direct victims of the act.

A confirmation statement by the governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano that the bloody attack wasn't orchestrated by members of the Boko Haram sect or the separatist group - Independent People of Biafra, IPOB but the sons of the Ozubulu community who were at war over a presumed illicit business deal is a naked walk in the market place. I guess the audacious bloodbath and sacrilege needed no much investigation following the speedy tracing of the source of the fracas by the people. It means it was an open secret which toddlers are even privy to unconsciously. For those who believe the narrative of a drug feud is fallacious, I want to remind them that valid intelligence begins like mere rumours till they are followed up by security operatives and proved to be veracious.

Even the world-record move of Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £200m and fairy tale annual salary of £40.7m before tax started as a laughable gist on blogs till reality stunned all football fans.

According to reliable media reports, the attacker(s) stormed the Church premises during a worship session to hurt the family members and loved ones of the founder of a certain Ebubechukwu Uzo Foundation, Chief Aloy Nnamdi Ikegwuonu, Akuchinyere Nwata 1, Bishop 1 of Ozubulu popularly regarded as Bishop after a possible failed attempt to nail him on his visit to Nigeria.

Rumours have it that Bishop had been locked in a fierce feud with one other Ozubulu man named Obrocho who is based in South Africa peddling hard substances. The bad blood according to preliminary reports had already claimed 15 lives in both Nigeria and South Africa as at 2015. Additionally, Bishop who is alleged to have a drug cartel of about 500 men working under him became a trouble magnet after his former hatchet man from Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State was killed for defecting to the opposite side. One drug pusher, Nonso from Nnobi (next to Idemili South in Anambra State) who was reportedly betrayed by the Ozubulu brothers and thrown into jail for the purpose of hijacking his territory in Johannesburg also aggravated the tension among the drug syndicates.

The 36-year old Bishop who claims to be an estate developer as well as an international business man has endured a negative reputation of unfounded wealth and drug-pushing but the people accommodated and showered him with support as long Greek Gifts were in wide circulation.
He is said to have tarred some roads in his community – Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area and had also contributed to the building of St. Aloysius Church of Divine Mercy, still in Ozubulu. Impressively, Bishop had instituted a salary scheme for the people of Ozubulu, including the aged.

In fact, on May 1, 2017, the governor of Anambra, Mr. Obiano was billed to inaugurate some of the roads Bishop tarred in his community. This assuaged the uneasiness of residents including clergymen who never thought it wise to exercise due diligence in the face of free food. This is the same way our society celebrates morally bankrupt leaders and internet fraudsters addressed as ‘Yahoo Bois’ as long as they are generous with their loot. In fact, musicians praise them in hit songs to the envy of the good and law-abiding citizens.

Bishop with his enigmatic wealth was also conferred with the Ozo chieftaincy title which is one of the most revered positions in Igbo land. This was done by high ranking traditional ruler - Igwe of Umuje (a.k.a Igwe Talu Nchara), in 2014.
The most mind-boggling part of the story is that the bloody feud was reportedly known to prominent people in Ozubulu who are expected to be puritans and fundamentalists redirecting the paths of the youth when they go astray.

Further reports have it that before this Sunday attack at the Catholic Church that the Igwe (His Royal Highness, Igwe Fidelis Nnamdi Oruche, Eze Ugodinaobi, Okeife II, The Obi of Ozubulu) had tried to settle the matter about eight months ago without success according to an investigation carried out by online news portal, PM Express.

Even the involvement of clergymen had not help resolve the animosity. And so this attack confirmed that the matter wasn't resolved amicably. It this is true, then the last iota of integrity and morality in Nigerians has been lynched by an angry mob for no just cause. People no longer patronize the devil on a subterranean note but they also romance him in broad daylight and damn the public.
This might not come as a rude shock considering the fact that a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori was celebrated by state governors, businessmen, lawmakers, traditional rulers and other eminent people on his exit from a United Kingdom prison in December, 2016. This was a man that ostensibly pleaded guilty at the Southwark Crown Court in London in 2012 to the theft of $250 million from the state's commonwealth and other 9 corruption charges.

In Nigeria today, the Church has been enmeshed in dirty politics as religious gatherings have become campaign grounds. Politicians in turn share their loot with their so called spiritual leaders who are impatient about reaping the rewards of their labour in heaven as postulated in holy books. Every politician today is attached to one religious group or the other to launder their stinking images. The peak of it was when the then ruling party - People's Democratic Party was accused of sharing N7 billion among influential clerics during the 2015 presidential election to bribe them into securing their political support and that of their members for former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Nowadays, nobody cares about the source of money anymore. Everybody just wants to partake of the spending party without any due consideration of the untold implications. This has encouraged and energized criminals in our societies which is boldly detrimental and condemnable.

A few months ago, some unscrupulous Nigerians mustered courage to push for the freedom of a self-confessed billionaire kidnap kingpin - Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans who ran a criminal empire across geopolitical zones in Nigeria elusively for years.
As a subtle way of abusing the sensibilities of Nigerians, an aide of Bishop named Mr. Jovita Offomata has adopted a damage control measure. He refuted the claims of the governor and the media that his principal's hands are not clean as well as his involvement in the Black Sunday incident.

In his words;

“He (Bishop) has built three churches in the community and through the foundation has assisted so many people; including scholarships to indigent students and empowered others in Ozubulu and beyond"

Of course, nobody is expecting Bishop to admit culpability in the gory incident. Drug lords are good at cleaning their money by creating decoy business enterprises to beat the law when prosecuted. The Churches built with blood money are nothing but mere buildings without the presence of God. Christians should be reminded of how God rejected the sacrifice of Cain who later killed his brother Abel and hid his body. The books of Jude 11 and 1st John 3 verse 12 in the Holy Bible painted Cain as an evil doer laying emphasis on God’s disdain for unclean things.
Hard drugs symbolize destruction and disaster; its proceeds are evil. The traffickers should never be tolerated but shamed and ostracized for the purpose of sanity in any environment that means well for its people.

Since the Anambra massacre has been described as a fight of rich brothers, one doubts if their wealth will not be extended to the police officers to influence their investigations. Already, the arrest of the 3 suspects of the attack is shrouded in suspicious secrecy. Community leaders who have also benefited from the sweet drug money will also use their positions to deter the police from searching in the right directions.
In a few days, the media will shift attention away from the matter and the case is discreetly buried. The perpetrators will go scot free. The dead passed away for nothing and the crime could repeat itself again. This is how it works in Nigeria when big people are involved. I am sure it was on this premise that President Muhammadu Buhari admitted humbly on international soil that his people are corrupt and the same hypocrites who abhor the truth stirred up a massive outrage against him in the media.

How do we expect our society to advance when we continue to injure ourselves with greed and adopt corruption as part of our culture and tradition?

Integrity has indeed been sacrificed on the altar of selfish interests. It has finally severed ties with Nigeria in consideration of recent developments.

Osayimwen Osahon George is a journalist and political scientist. He writes from Lagos State.

Source: http://villagetowncrier..com.ng/2017/08/anambra-massacre-day-integrity-finally.html

Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading carrier, is to begin flight operations to Akure, the capital of Ondo, Southwest Nigeria tomorrow.

According to the airline, the maiden flight into Akure Airport will take off by 1 pm from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja and touch down at Akure Airport at 1:40pm.

A statement issued by the Corporate Communications Manager of the airline, Mr Chris Iwarah, said the airline was collaborating with the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu administration to guarantee easy access to Ondo State by investors, tourists and other categories of air travellers.

The return flight, Iwarah said, would depart Akure Airport at 2:10pm and land at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos at 2:50pm.

The airline stated that the Akure flights would open up a whole new opportunity for Air Peace guests to visit and explore the wealth of tourist attractions in the state as well as expand the access of investors and other categories of air travellers to connect with the state.

Air Peace, which commenced commercial flight operations to a record five destinations in 2014, currently has presence in Lagos, Abuja, Benin, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Owerri, Sokoto and Accra-Ghana.

Source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/air-peace-hits-akure-tomorrow/209319.html

Since Buhari, a former military man hasn't been visible and accessible to the generality of Nigerians for 80 days, it will not be hyperbolic to say he is 'Missing In Action, MIA' using the army language.

Today, 26th of July, 2017 makes it 80 days that Nigerians haven't officially seen or heard from their icon of ‘change’, President Muhammadu Buhari who continues to ostentatiously receive medical attention for an undisclosed illness in London, United Kingdom.

In the last over two months of Buhari's long distance political 'relationship' with Nigeria, the people have only seen a picture of their leader once after he was seen dining with privileged members of his All Progressives Congress in London on the 24th of July, 2017.

A combination of 7 state governors from the ruling APC and the main opposition party in Nigeria - Peoples Democratic Party yesterday jetted off to Europe to see the President in what is touted as an august visit that excluded his major critics namely Governor Ayodele Peter Fayose of Ekiti State and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State for obvious reasons. But will the poor masses ever get a chance to see their leader?

The commoners can only hope to hear from the President in their wildest dreams due to the lack of the necessary political connections. The last time Buhari's voice was also heard by Nigerians was on the 25th of June, 2017 when his ‘unofficial media camp’ released an Eid-el-Fitr audio message for the celebrating Muslims in the country.

But again, the message wasn't for all Nigerians. It was for a section of the country as the official language constitutionally recognised - English was ditched by the President as he spoke Hausa thereby alienating other tribes from the goodwill message at a period of growing threats of secession.

Mr. Buhari daringly has also failed to communicate with Nigerians through the presidential media structure as it appears that a combination of all the media team members namely the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina; Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; Personal Assistant on Social Media, Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant on Digital/New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi; and Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie have all gone on unprecedented vacation prior to his costly absence.

All these experienced professional journalists with enviable records of excellence are not deemed fit of a shareable knowledge of Buhari's health status. There is also the possibility of them being informed about his status but lacking the authorization to speak about it. Buhari's health report has been well ‘hoarded’ from Nigerians like petrol during recurrent periods of scarcity.

A study of Buhari shows that he has an interesting personality and an capricious nature which makes him capable of springing controversial surprises like the sanctioning of the late night arrest of justices by the operatives of the Directorate of State Security, DSS in Gestapo Style.

The latest is that he has overlooked Nigerians in a letter of appreciation to the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde who last week declared a nationwide prayer session for the recovery of Buhari. This has raised laughable claims that the First Man of Nigeria might be keeping malice with his own people.

The constitution of Nigeria appears to be aiding the prolonged medical vacation of Buhari as it failed to specify a time limit for his absence from the country so far he has transferred power to his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo which he did in a transmitted letter to the National Assembly before his indefinite exit.

The question on the lips of Nigerians is if a combo of the Red and Green Chambers will invoke the Doctrine of Necessity if Buhari's medical exile reaches the 90 days landmark. Meanwhile, a statement made by the spokesman of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North, APC) yesterday on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily political platform clearly indicates that the upper lawmaking body is not ready to wade into the controversies surrounding Buhari's health as well as the secrecy involved.
Mr. Sabi garnished his pro-Buhari views with the doctrines of morality as he feels it’s a disservice and disfavour to the President if the leaders of the country fail to give him the necessary support at his trying time even if it’s against the general will and destiny of the people which is supposed to be of paramount interest.

The irony of the current political climate in Nigeria is that the 74 year old 'political doctor' assigned to treat gravely ill 'patient', Nigeria has also developed a threatening ailment and battling for an antidote apparently beyond the rich of the best physicians. Now who is the real messiah of Nigeria? Can it be the leading advocate of 'Restructuring' and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar? That answer appears to be less than 21 months away when Nigerians will be heading to the polls to exercise their civic responsibilities again.

The retired major general in the Nigerian Army has become a victim of the adverse upper class citizens’ culture of medical tourism which he promulgated a law to curb government officials from. He has not only sought the services of foreign medical personnel but he has unusually stayed too long abroad. There is no better way to de-market the medical system in Nigeria which recently treated the mother of a prominent CNN anchor, Isha Isatu Sesay from Sierra Leone and also completed a bilateral total knee transplant of a 50-year old woman's knee in Sokoto State-owned Orthopedic Hospital in Wamakko Local Government Area.

Over a year before now, Buhari in a bid to discourage the trend of medical tourism causing the wastage of state resources said;

“While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria,” Today, Buhari appears to have ‘presidentially’ eaten his own words.

Buhari and the presidential jet have continued in their holiday of luxury far away from the austerity period in Nigeria where a majority of his supporters live from hand to mouth and strictly on the economic concept of Opportunity Cost.

Buhari who garnered a majority vote of 15,424,921 was elected majorly by the Nigerian poor masses ahead of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the then ruling party - PDP to right the wrongs of the past leaders as promised in the party manifesto but it seems he has chosen to walk in the anomalous shoes of his predecessors who made Nigeria their personal enterprises.

When will Buhari ever return to Nigeria? The bitter truth is that only God appears privy to that classified information as a rumoured powerful cabal around him have him kept Buhari's return date away from the President himself. His wife, Aisha Buhari told journalists he is doing fine and will return soon. The word 'soon' was also evident in the public response given by the performing Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo when he visited Buhari at the Abuja in London. The word 'soon' appears too vague to sort out Buhari's awaited return date to Nigeria.
The Imo State governor and chairman of the APC Governor's Forum - Rochas Owelle Anayo Okorocha was quick to state that Buhari will return to Nigeria in two weeks time only for a media aide of the President, Mr. Femi Adesina to respond that there is no specified date on his 'triumphant entry' to Nigeria.

Osinbajo, a professor of Law has been performing well in the absence of Buhari although he is trying hard never to outshine his master according to public views. The vacuum left by Buhari's recrudescing sickness still shows. Two of the federal ministers (Stephen Ocheni from Kogi State and Suleiman Hassan from Gombe State) confirmed by the Senate on the 3rd of May, 2017 haven't been sworn in for any given reason although there are reports that Osibanjo could swear them in today (Wednesday) at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting. The Fulani crisis has continued unabated across Nigeria with the Southern Kaduna and Mambilla in Taraba State being the recent disturbing cases likened to carnage.

The Boko Haram terrorist group has intensified fatal attacks in Borno State through suicide bombers and they are reportedly taken some female police officers hostage after ambushing a convoy heading for a social gathering. Just today, some Nigerian scientists ‎searching for crude in Lake Chad were reportedly kidnapped by members of the sect with nine soldiers feared dead. The probe into the N13 billion Osborne funds that indicted the suspended National Intelligence Agency boss – Ambassador Ayo Oke and the grass-cutting scandal of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has been hampered by Buhari's absence. Most importantly, one of the hyenas and the jackals, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of the Independent People of Biafra appears to be having a field day in the absence of the 'Lion King'.

No doubt, Buhari's return is expected to give the needed vigour and developmental momentum to the current administration which is struggling to meet the astronomical expectations of the masses.

Source: http://villagetowncrier..com.ng/2017/07/80-days-in-london-president-buhari.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Obinoscoppy Mynd44 Tonyebarcanista

Maiden online TV company - Hello Oduduwa founded in June, 2017 by ace Nigerian photographer, Ginikah Okafor Emmanuel to cover the rich history and monumental structures of the Yorubas has covered a historical and pre-colonial structure in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State regarded as the Bower's Tower.

The structure which is one of its kind was commissioned in 1936 in honour of the first British resident in Ibadan and the traveling commissioner of the Yorubaland, south- western region of Nigeria, between 1893 and 1879 - Captain Robert Lister Bower.

Mr Bower is fondly regarded as the 'Ajele' of Ibadan due to his contribution to the development of the ancient city.

The Bower’s Tower, located at the peak of Oke- Are, the highest hill in Ibadan, is one of the historical monuments that Ibadan could be proud of. It is 60 feet high and 11 feet with two entrances and a long spiral stairs. From the top of the monument, the altitude of Ibadan would be seen as a vast sheet of brown roofs.

The building was nicknamed ‘Layipo’ because of its long spiral staircase which some claim to make them dizzy after climbing. It served as one of the most visited tourist center in the city of Ibadan.

The memorial tower symbolizes a plethora of meanings.

On one hand, it is perceived that the peoples reflection of the footprints of Bower in the annals of their history necessitated the erection of that historic monument as a memorial of his relatively peaceful era, socio-economic development as well as his general administrative acumen in the course of his service among them which remain indelible. As a rider to this, the monument serves as a reminder to the Ibadan people in particular and the Yoruba in general, of the man who firmly established the loyalty of their forebears to the British imperial crown. (S. Ademola Ajayi, 2008.)

Mounting the tower gives one the cherished advantage of enjoying an aerial view of Ibadan and seeing the expansive area of land - a total area of 3,080 square kilometres.

According to the anchor of the short documentary named Wole Adejumo, climbing the long stairs helps one to sight the Lekan Salami Stadium, University College hospital, Broken House (Femi Johnson) at Dugbe as well as other buildings of interest.

Follow the indigenous online TV on 'Hellooduduwa' on Instagram and Facebook as it celebrates the beauty of the Yoruba culture in its next journalistic adventure.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbCrPNG57Yg

Source: Tori News

CC Lalasticlala Ishilove mydn44 Obinoscoppy Seun Dominique

Dear Chizaram,

As the forthcoming Anambra gubernatorial election which is a litmus test of influence and power between the secessionists and the Federal Government approaches; I deem it appropriate to express my fears through this medium.

The popularity and surge in the campaign of hate and division by the leader of the Independent People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has remained cancerous to the 'theoretical' unity of Nigeria. As a political scientist and public commentator observing the state of political affairs in the Southeast state, I am of the opinion that the electoral exercise scheduled for the 18th of November, 2017 election will be successful despite the intimidating confidence and proclamation of Mr. Kanu. But what if I get my analysis wrong my love?

The implication is that the Federal Government will be strong-armed into organizing a referendum for the exit of the Igbo Nation from Nigeria which might go the inapt way. What will become of our seeming formidable love amid the political squabble accrued to seceding? This question has taken sleep off my eyes and caused me to look out of the windows at night searching for answers that are beyond me under the faint lights of the stars.

Aside our romance my future wife, I am more concerned about the economic advantage of population size and landmass Nigeria is about to throw away to the dogs due to the menace of inscrutable, impassive and vacuous pseudo leaders making populist statements to hoodwink the plebeians and the weak-willed citizens for self-absorbed gains. The entrepreneurial skills of the South-easterners coupled With the agrarian nature of the locals in the northern part of the country, the depth of formal education in the Southwest and the crude oil in the South-south part of the country if unified could provide the formidable force for the economic recovery of the country if our strengths are efficiently harnessed and exploited without corruption as we have today.

I am scared of my imaginations of the crises of Sudan and South Sudan which degenerated into two different civil wars within 1955-1972 and 1983-2005 and also the South Sudanese civil war of 2013 till date. What about the Syrian civil war which has been ongoing since 2011 with the world losing count of the death toll? According to Al Jazeera, more than 465,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured and over 12 million Syrians - half the country's prewar population - have been displaced from their homes.

I am disturbed about a repetition of gory incidents of violence during the Nigerian civil war of 6th July, 1967- 15th of January, 1970 where brothers and sisters assumed different identities and killed each other. According to history, over the two and half years of the war, there were about 100,000 overall military casualties, while between 500,000 and 2 million civilians died from starvation. This excludes the infrastructural facilities destroyed and economic activities disrupted during the period of turbulence. Till date, the wounds have refused to heal and they have become plagues spreading from one generation to the other.

What about the Rwandan genocide involving the Hutu and the Tutsi causing the death of about a 500,000 to one million people within a period of 100 days from April 7 to mid-July 1994? An estimated 2,000,000 Rwandans were displaced and became refugees. The scars have refused to fade away even under the beauty of expensive clothes and heavy make-ups by the women literally speaking.

May that day not come when Nigeria will be divided across ethnic lines and the Igbos will be called to evacuate the South-west and other parts of the country for the Southeast for census as part of the secession process.
Chizaram, I am scared of the uncertainties and spatial separation this might cause between us. I can't imagine you applying for a visa to see me wherever I find myself in the remains of Nigeria. I can't picture my family obtaining visas for the traditional rites of our envisioned wedding in Umudike, Abia State.

I am so much pertubed about the threat to the businesses investments of the Igbos in Lagos State where they dominate the local economy with enviable success. Business moguls like Ifeanyi Ubah, Orji Uzor Kalu, Sir Emeka Offor Cosmos Maduka, Chief Arthur Eze, Vincent Amaechi Obianodo, Leo Stan Ekeh, Pascal Dozie, Tony Ezenna, Pat Utomi and other underground wealthy men running business empires in the financial nerve-centre of Nigeria will be highly apprehensive over this menace being blindly supported by a majority of youths acting on impulse with no sense of history and foresight.

My Nirvana, I remember you telling me how you will like to own your own consulting firm in Lagos and also give back to the society where you grew up. With the imminent secession, the achievement of that vision might be cumbersome as Nigeria and the Igbo Nation will likely part with a war colder than what Russia and America have shared since 1947 after the Wold War II.

The governor of Plateau State, Solomon Lalong just recently announced that the Igbos hold 70% of the Certificates of Occupancy in his state which is a subtle threat to the indigenous people but nobody is making a fuss about it. The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje also affirmed the indispensability of the Igbos in economic growth when he said Kano would not have risen to become a commercial hub to reckon with without the presence of majorly the Igbos and other ethnic groups. This describes how much we have been so mixed with each other despite our over 400 ethnic nationalities. What about the flourishing businesses of the Igbos in other northern parts of the country as well as the Southwest? Some Igbo businessmen have even failed to leave the war-torn north-eastern part of the country due to the cash flows from their enterprises.

When I was posted to Bauchi State for my National Youth Service Corp in 2010, I thought I was outside this world already because the people looked strange to me physically coupled with their language but to my surprise, some local merchants from the Southeast were joyously trading among them and conversing freely.

I wish these youth supporting the ostensibly myopic and ill-thought-out cause of the Independent People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB could see beyond their noses to realize that the strength of Nigeria just like the United States of America lies in her diversity and size.

Dear Chizaram, I hope you don't feel I am insensitive to the plight of your people. This national marriage that gave birth to Nigeria as brokered by British colonialist, Sir Frederick Lugard's amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914 is clearly imperfect. Nothing is perfect in this world. A course work in Philosophy during my University days taught me that perfection only exists in the Utopian world of forms - a figment of human imaginations.

The way the northerners in Nigeria clinch to power is mind-boggling. They make it seem like its their birth-right. Democracy which is a game of the majority favours them. The appointments into public offices made by President Muhammadu Buhari are truthfully lopsided, the Igbos have only produced a President ceremonially (Nnamdi Azikwe) for just 6 months in the 56 years of existence of the Nigerian entity. Northerners are presently heading 14 out of the the 17 security agencies in Nigeria while southerners hold 3, the rebuilding, reconstruction and reconciliation process of the Southeast after the war hasn't been sincerely and duly followed as promised by the government, the 2017 budgetary allocation for capital projects - N28.22 billion to the Southeast appears meagre compared to the north (North-Central got N207bn; North-West, N73.7bn; South-West, N48.97bn; North-East N46.69bn; South-South, N35.31bn), the migrating Fulani herdsmen have freely maimed, killed people and destroyed properties without any quintessential government interference, even Buhari once admitted on foreign soil that he will not treat the regions in Nigeria evenly as their voting pattern during the 2015 election will be considered in his approach to national development; the pitfalls go on and on.

Power is transient, Aso Rock Villa is not Buhari's father's house or his private property. His time will come and go but if the Igbos leave, they might never come back. This reminds me of the words of the former British Prime Minister David Cameron to the Scottish people when he was faced with a referendum in 2014.

Here is an interesting excerpt from his lengthy speech:

"If you don’t like me – I won’t be here forever. If you don’t like this Government – it won’t last forever. But if you leave the UK – that will be forever.

Yes, the different parts of the UK don’t always see eye-to-eye.

Yes, we need change – and we will deliver it but to get that change, to get a brighter future, we don’t need to tear our country apart."

On a lighter note, I can't imagine the streets of FESTAC Town in Lagos without those local dishes like Oha soup, Ofe Onugbu, Abacha and Ugba, Ofe Akwu, Ofe Nsala, Isi Ewu, Nkwobi and others. Even though the people of other tribes have learned it, you can't compare with the expertise of the Igbo folks.

Imagine the club houses and other social gatherings in Lagos without the light-skinned Igbo ladies constantly 'slaying' under the colourful lights with those natural endowments American stars like Nicki Minaj, Amber Rose, Black Chyna, Remy ma and others allegedly paid plastic surgeons handsomely to acquire. But our sisters got them for free in original form.

There is a widespread stereotype that our Igbo sisters love money but some of us can't take our eyes off them due to the alluring beauty they possess. Its two years now and I still remember the outstanding Egusi soup a female friend, Chidinma once prepared for me. I was intoxicated and had to suggest marriage as a way of tying her down still she reminded me my bank account is as frail as Buhari in London. I will never trade these sweet For gold or silver.

Chizaram dear, I hope my revelations haven't sparked any jealousy in you with my very personal revelations. Its my utmost wish that they serve the general will of keeping Nigeria together as one for our onward movement. I urge the government to tackle the issue of poverty, unemployment and debilitated economy which has caused undue anger in people prompting the messianic status given to Nnamdi Kanu who has struggled in United Kingdom as a black man.

I applaud the audacity of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu who has dared odium to publicly play down the essence of the Biafra cause. I have no plans of marrying a foreigner or losing my friends.

I believe in a united Nigeria and I will fight with my pen to keep my beautiful Chizaram close to me till the day I meet my demise.


Yours sincerely,
Osayimwen Osahon George
Lagos State, Nigeria.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/67883/before-secession-open-letter-to-my-biafran-woman.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Obinoscoppy Dominique Tonyebarcanista Pls lets keep Nigeria together. Spread this piece!

Today makes it 60 days that President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress jetted out of Nigeria for a follow-up medical treatment in London, United Kingdom.

On the 7th of May, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari - a former military dictator transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to officially transfer his political power to his deputy, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as he embarked on an indefinite medical leave to London.

Today makes it 60 days that President Buhari has left the shores of this country without an official explanation about his state of health to Nigerians. The nature of Buhari's ailment remains unknown as the alternative media has alleged that the 74 year old is battling with Crohn's disease as well as cancer and the toll of old age.

There are rumours that Buhari is bed-ridden with his voice impaired thereby making him unfit to govern Nigeria. Some political hawks reportedly arranged with Buhari so send an audio message to Nigerians on the 25th of June, 2017 during the Eid al-Fitr celebration by the Muslims in Nigeria.

Buhari's audio message was delivered in Hausa language belonging to the dominant ethnic group thereby dividing Nigeria faster than the secessionist advocacies of the Biafra separatists and the coalition of Arewa Youth groups.

As the former soldier remains 'Missing in Action' for about two months due to health issues, his popularity has continued to dminish. Its not sure if he will run for office in the 2019 presidential election. Its also uncertain if Nigerians will vote for an elderly and sickly leader despite his integrity claims.

Tori News political correspondent, Osayimwen Osahon George has consistently condemned the secrecy Buhari's health is shrouded in as Nigerians deserve to know his well-being.

It remains unclear when the Fulani native will be returning to Nigeria as the poor masses lament on the 'long distance relationship' between Nigerians and their leader especially during a period of political, security and economic turbulence.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/67148/buharis-medical-vacation-in-the-uk-clocks-60-days.html

CC Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Tonyebarcanista Obinoscoppy Dominique

cc Lalasticla Seun Ishilove Tonyebarcanista Obinoscoppy Dominique

It will be delusional to believe a leader battling for his life in spite of available world class medical facilities will have the capability of salvaging a sinking ship of over 180 million people - Osayimwen Osahon George, journalist at Tori News.

48 days after President Muhammadu Buhari announced he was leaving the shores of the country for London, United Kingdom for a follow-up medical treatment on the 7th of March, 2017, he has refused to communicate directly with Nigerians.

Everything about the President who is a 'public property' by virtue of the responsibilities bestowed on him as a leader has been shrouded in secrecy by a powerful cabal as rumoured.Regular pictures of a fragile Buhari attending to special guests at the prestigious Abuja House in London have refused to surface like we had it when he was initially on medical exile the last time for 49 days.

The mainstream media has remained loudly quiet about the health status or actual location of the First Man of Nigeria who appears to have literally lost the strength to fight corruption which he was railroaded into office to battle. Foremost Nigerian newspaper, The Guardian summoned courage to sponsor a correspondent to the Abuja House on a fact-finding mission but security operatives almost engaged him militarily to abort his journalistic work.

The alternative media again has risen up to play on the sensibilities of Nigerians in the absence of a viable and trusted channel of information/communication to reveal Buhari's true health status concealed expertly for egoistic and thoughtless political reasons. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who is the spokesman of the Federal Government appears to be speaking to himself alone due to trust issues borne out of thousands of incoherent and unverifiable 'Tales by Moonlight' credited to his person in the cause of laundering the image of this present administration.

The Kwara State native had sacrificed his credibility and integrity during the heated 2015 general elections when he was accused of feeding Nigerians with intelligently crafted and spontaneous lies for cheap political ratings. The former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress appears to be gaining felicitous attention from Nigerians patronizing satirical and comedy social media pages just to laugh off the scathing hassles of economic recession which is putting citizens at the risk of depression. A recent statement by the Chief Consultant and Head of Behavioural Medicine, Karu General Hospital, Dr Daramola Tayo, posits that an estimated nine million Nigerians may be suffering from depression and by my understanding, we can't separate the abysmal economic realities of the country from the nationwide disconsolation and despondency.

There are reports that Nigeria is being ruled by a cabal in the name of Buhari who has been rumoured to be bed-ridden. Online news platform, Sahara Reporters claims the 74 year old leader of Fulani descent suffers speech impairment due to the side-effects of medical treatments and he has not spoken to anyone in a while.

Aisha Buhari, his wife as well as the embattled former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu have doused the mental tension faced by sympathizers of Buhari by bringing suspected fabricated goodwill messages of London from Buhari. On arrival, they have revealed the President is recuperating and will be returning to Nigeria soon. The golden question remains how soon? Can this be as soon as the coming of Jesus Christ as revealed by the Holy Bible?

Some legal practitioners are of the opinion that Mr. Buhari can afford to stay 'forever' in the Abuja House, London or anywhere in the world to attend to his debilitating illness as far as he has relinquished power to his deputy -Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who was handed the controversial 'co-ordinating' power as stated in a letter sent to the National Assembly by Buhari to communicate his indefinite leave and power transmission.
A constitutional lawyer and former Chairman of Public Interest Lawyers League - PILL, Dr Abdul Mahmud, affirmed that there is no specified number of days the President can spend on vacation. He cited section 145 of the Constitution to back up his argument:

“When the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representative a written declaration that he is proceeding on a vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President”.

Buhari who spent 16 years fantasizing and jostling for the seat of the President has being constantly appealed to in good and ill-health to resign as Nigeria takes abode in recession and insecurity from Boko Haram terrorists, killer Fulani herdsmen and high-profile kidnappers like Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans - the celebrity criminal.

In Buhari's absence, the National Bureau of Statistics revealed 5.5 million Nigerians lost their jobs under him in two years as against his campaign promise of creating 3 million jobs per year. A recent attack by suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers in Borno State claimed the lives of 17 people with 24 others injured. Gradually, the fear of terrorist attacks is returning to Borno State as the Buhari administration celebrates the "technical defeat" over Boko Haram.
Nigeria is also yet to recover from its worst economic recession although the Naira is recovering against the Dollar in the parallel market courtesy of the regular interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The anti-corruption team has been firing blank following the loss of high profile cases like that of Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife Olabowale, Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the six suspended judges have been recalled by the National Judicial Commission. The national budget of 2017 which is the blueprint of development in the state for the year was dramatically passed in the middle of the year. There are also the threats that Buhari might not meet Nigeria as a united nation following the unbridled showboating between the coalition of Arewa Youth Organizations, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB.

The recent ethnic clashes between the Fulani community and the Mambila tribe in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State has reportedly claimed 200 lives, 4,000 cattle, precious properties destroyed, thousands displaced with many injured people in just four days. And also, there have been incidents of rape and murder by irate Fulani herdsmen who have also invaded schools with their animals thereby disrupting educational activities as recorded in Edo State.

This anomaly has further divided Nigeria as victims in the geopolitical zones seek justice against their tormentors in futility. The popular notion is that Buhari is sympathetic to the violent cause of his Fulani brothers. All these are just highlights of despicable events engulfing Nigeria as Buhari is distracted with the combat for his life on foreign soil.

But what is actually wrong with President Buhari who has kept us in the dark about the ailment that has necessitated a blood transfusion as well as a temporary vacation from his highly coveted seat of power? Is this a playback of the incident of former President Shehu Musa Yar'Adua of Katsina, northern part of Nigeria who passed away in office in 2010? There are similarities between both cases if we desist from being sentimental, emotional, partisan and economical with the truth. The alternative media is suggesting with utmost credence that Buhari might be battling with Crohn's disease as well as cancer as he has allegedly become incapacitated including suffering from incidents of dementia. With Buhari 14 years above the official retirement age, one doesn't expect a rosy recovery.

As a man of integrity and honour that Buhari is believed to be, why can't he respect the trust given to him by over 15 million Nigerians during the 2015 presidential election by coming out clean with the actual status of his health?

Benin President Patrice Talon, 59 underwent two surgeries during a prolonged stay in Paris, France. His spokesman broke the African jinx by publicly admitting on Monday, 19th of June, 2017 that doctors found a lesion (related to cancer) in his prostate. Talon's case is very similar to that of Buhari as he was also mysteriously away from his country for almost a month thereby compounding the menace of medical tourism at the expense of his local economy.

In as much as most of us still love and believe Buhari could govern the affairs of this country from a sick bed in Europe (similar to the case of 93-year old Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe) courtesy of our unfounded and uncanny loyalty to him, we should remind ourselves that being heavily drunk doesn't translate to blindness. It’s time to tell some bitter truths in pursuance of the general will of the people.

Mr. Eric Stuart Joyce, the well-known British ex-military, ex-Member of Parliament and serving MI6 operative who has alleged Buhari is dead without being confronted with hard facts and figures has described the leader of a country as a "public property" that should be accurately and promptly accounted for on public demand.

In his words:

“And so, a top tip for Nigerians. Insist that, like most democracies, it is a strict requirement of being president that your people know exactly what your physical condition is at all times. This practice is not historically confined to democracies, of course. Kings of old were routinely watched in their bedchambers; Queens were watched as they gave birth to heirs. This was all to ensure that things were as they seemed. Requiring a president to show he is capable of running his country, and is definitely not dead, is a simple and practical extension of this."

Buhari's health status has become a taboo topic in Nigeria while the country faces its worst fear of disintegration. This is the chain reaction of having a faulty head in any setting. Nobody will be shocked if a drunken man leads his beautiful body adorned with ostentatious attires and jewelleries into the dirty gutters of Oshodi, Lagos because something vital is missing in his head.

Once there is a problem with the head, the other attached units will struggle and falter. Fate has reduced the almighty Buhari - the messiah of Nigeria two years ago to a sickly man that can hardly save himself not to talk of the sinking ship of Nigeria conveying about 180 million people who are backwardly divided among primordial lines courtesy of the cancerous antics of politicians. Buhari's effectiveness as a leader has become a wild fantasy and a masturbatory feeling Nigerians have to wipe their eyes and recover from because an indisposed man cannot heal a sick country. Some Nigerians are already drafting their condolence messages for the anticipated news of Buhari's demise just like Yar'Adua. God forbid!

Since the main opposition party in Nigeria - People's Democratic Party, PDP has failed to serve as a viable watchdog to the ruling All Progressives Congress as democracy entails, the onus is on the Nigerian masses to rise up and take the country back from the hands of self-seeking elites through vibrant and peaceful advocacies.

It’s time for us Nigerians to wake up and ask questions regardless of our political affiliation or other attachments to the ruling class. Borrowing a leaf from the political movement of a former PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria) president, Charles 'Charly Boy' Oputa, 'our mumu don do!'

Osayimwen Osahon George writes from FESTAC Town, Lagos State.

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/65982/our-president-goes-missing-in-london.html

cc Lalasticlala Seun Ishilove Mynd44 Obinoscoppy Tonyebarcanista

After spending 11 hours at work on a Wednesday, and another solid 2 hours in Lagos traffic choked with poor ventilation in elderly vehicles and unavoidably sniffing foul odour from stagnant waters and blocked gutters; Morenike Olaniyan – a single lady in her late twenties returned to her rented apartment at FESTAC extension to close her eyes in sleep.

This was expected to afford her the chance to replenish her depleted energy level and enjoy a temporary escape from her financial worries aggravated by the high cost living and the ruthless economic hardship ravaging the entire country unendurably.

In some parts of Lagos State which is the commercial capital of Nigeria, having an air-conditioner is not a luxury like some people in Ibadan or other small cities in Nigeria might believe. It’s ineluctable because the normal electric fans can't do the proper work of ventilating the house erected in an area where town planners were purposely alienated from the equation for egoistic reasons.

The seeming minute quantity of oxygen is rationed among an unofficial population of 23 million people occupying a landmass of 3,577 km² scavenging the length and breadth of the area for scarce economic resources. FESTAC extension is just outside FESTAC Town itself as the name suggests.

FESTAC Town has been described as one of the few well-planned areas in the over-populated metropolitan city of Lagos but that might not be said about the extension area which is like the dichotomy of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The extension is an area of old storey buildings where most blocks have 16 flats, some 32 and others 8. Some of the small rooms housed families of four or more hyperbolically sleeping on top of each other.

For the record, FESTAC Town is a federal housing estate located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Its name is derived from the acronym FESTAC, which stands for Second World African Festival of Arts and Culture that was held there in 1977.

FESTAC town, originally referred to as "Festival Town" or "Festac Village", is a residential estate designed to house the participants of the Second World Festival of Black Arts and Culture of 1977 (Festac77). Consisting of 5,000 contemporary dwelling units and seven major avenues, the town was designed in an efficient grid in order to accommodate upwards of 45,000 visitors as well as any Nigerian employees and officers working at the Festival.

The Nigerian government invested substantial sums of money and resources into building FESTAC Town, which sported state of the art electrical generators, police and fire stations, access to public transportation, supermarkets, banks, health centres, public restrooms, and postal services. The village was therefore intended to evoke the modern age and the promise of state-sponsored economic development fuelled by oil revenues.

After the festival, the Federal Government of Nigeria allocated the housing and landed properties to eventual winners who participated in a ballot. Initial regulations forbade such winners from renting and disposing-of the properties to third parties but these appear to have changed now.
Back to Morenike, she sluggishly opened the door to her mini-flat in the FESTAC extension area of the state. Her flat was situated in a four-storey building of 32 flats of majorly two bedrooms each with occupants switching on their power generators of diverse sizes owing to the failure of the power companies to match their high and mostly estimated power bills with efficient and reliable service delivery. In fact, the entire house could be likened to a big factory of gigantic machines at night as soon as power goes off. This is so critical that one of the storey buildings experienced a partial collapse earlier this year and the vibration caused by generators was suspected by the committee of occupants.

As Morenike opened the door to her flat, some ‘uninvited guests’ with modern ‘musical instruments’ who preferred her brand of blood were well stationed at the door ready to join some of their colleagues in the rooms for a night of feast at the expense of her wellbeing. It was already 11pm, Morenike munched the bread and fried egg she had bought from a Hausa trader commonly called Mishai along the road. Her eyes were failing her and she struggled to open the small window in her room which was normally stifling and air-less almost all round the year due to obvious reasons. The area was densely populated and it was as if the builder of the house almost skipped the window from the plan. The area was like a mini-market due to several retail outlets that were illegally erected by residents to make ends meet. The resultant effect was that all the available facilities in the area including fresh air were severely strained.

In a matter of 30 minutes after she changed into her pyjamas, Morenike had begin to sleep when 'hundreds' of the unwanted and unpaid musicians playing a blend of European, American and African contemporary music in her ears started the what looked like a circus show. She restlessly rolled around in distress in response to the nuisance they constituted.

In no time, her body was enveloped in sweat from the intense heat in her room. The power company had supplied more of the usual darkness that night. In no time, her body began to itch her from all angles. The ‘performers’ were done with their music. It was time to feast and her blood made a palatable red wine for them. Morenike woke up to see her visitors flying around in strange mass ‘pregnancies’. It was clear they were drunk on her blood. She reached for an insecticide but it was detrimental health-wise to spray it and still sleep inside the same room. The level of tiredness affected the quality of her decisions as she gazed at the clock which read 12am. The single lady left for her veranda in total confusion and was stunned to observe approximately 15 electric generators working tirelessly.

The fumes flooded the vibrating floors; it was as if the rundown building with drab colours was going to collapse. Generators could be heard from afar of making waves in other buildings close-by. The noises of the power generators were irregular depending on their capacities, power load and years of service. Some sounded like the component units were going to disintegrate like the major tribes in Nigeria.

Morenike looked into the sky in abject bleakness and tribulation as she unconsciously tried counting the stars. She started looking at Nigeria as an extension of hell fire. She pictured heaven in her head and felt like having a relief there for an hour. She thought about the possibility of missing heaven and heading to the lake of fire as the Christian faith teaches.

She looked around and spotted two of her scantily-clad neighours hustling for fresh air with the aid of a hand fan as they battled with unseen mosquitoes drawing blood inconveniently from their legs. Her body needed rest but the environment wasn’t conducive. The dirtiness of the surroundings was a chain reaction of the lack of unity among occupants who have frequently turned down pleas to contribute to a common fund and get the environment fumigated.

“I am used to mosquitoes, I hardly fall sick. Make them bite me, na them go tire” is the kind of response you will get from some tenants in the building obviously shying away from responsibilities and liabilities. Every penny counts in Lagos and every Lagosian tends to be too wise for himself as well as nursing distrust against his neigbhours.

Morenike’s plight is a typical night most Lagosians and Nigerians endure. The situation can only be ameliorated with more money. The decent houses in habitable areas are unnecessarily expensive. Some privileged people run their generators with their air-conditioners. This means the fuel which is sold at N145 per litre will suffer at the expense of one’s recessed pockets.

Morenike stood disillusioned spotting all the oddities in the building with her eyes hovering to and fro as she expressed regrets about being a Nigerian. Her friend in South Africa had earlier discussed with her about the constant power supply he enjoyed. Nigeria is struggling with an insufficient and unsteady power supply of over 4,000 megawatts for over 180 million people despite spending a whooping sum of N2.7 trillion in 16 years. South Africa which has a population of 54.96 million manages 34, 000 megawatts of electricity which is subject to a yearly increase to cope with demand. Most countries of the world have overcome the challenge of erratic power supply but Nigeria has refused to outgrow hers.

The All Progressives Congress-led administration of ‘Change’ ushered in a former governor of Lagos State – Babatunde Raji Fashola as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing thought it wise to increase the power tariff by 45% without a corresponding improved quality of power supply. In fairness, Fashola appears to have been progressively busy with invisible results regarded as ‘motion without movement’.

Morenike’s woes certainly didn’t end here, she decided to have a cold bath to ease the heat but the tap wasn’t running and all the buckets were empty. Since there was no light, pumping of water from the borehole was impossible and nobody wanted to use his hard-earned money to fuel his generator for the needful. Power supply is indeed inevitable in this 21st century. Morenike had always wanted to leave the apartment for a better one but she was financially-challenged. The projection didn’t agree with the average size of her monthly salary. She always tabled her job hunt before the altar in the church but she was only fortunate to keep hers in the two years austerity period of President Muhammadu Buhari administration during which 5.5 million Nigerians lost their job to economic uncertainties according to records made available by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Changing accommodation for her perceived better place will mean working and living for the landlords in Lagos as her entire salaries and savings will be exhausted by the yearly rent. Even if you have the funds for rent, it’s not an easy decision to change accommodation in Lagos due to the politics involved.

Realtors/estate agents locally called ‘House agents’ in Nigeria work in consonance with the landlords to ‘legally’ cheat people. The outrageous agent fee which costs about N100,000 upward in most cases depending on the size of the house is painfully paid apart from the gargantuan house rent. A caution fee of about N20,000 or more is also paid to the landlord and other nefarious fees before one could move into the apartment. At times, the new tenant might be forced to cough out more funds to correct some anomalies in the house to make it convenient for him.

Olusegun Afolabi, a fraud investigator in one of the leading multinational audit firms in Nigeria once paid over half a million naira as 2-year rent for a mini-flat of just one bedroom in the old Ebute-Metta area only to discover that several parts of the roof were leaking. He got to know in a very hard way after a heavy downpour that hit his house in the middle of the night. His landlord started avoiding him when he lodged complaints.

Samuel Akpabio was also taken aback when a power company official informed him after a disconnection that his apartment was owing about N450,000 accumulated power bills. The online newspaper editor was still recovering from his huge rent for the new place when he started sorting power officials every month to prevent a total blackout. His smooth-taking estate agent and house caretaker who brainwashed him that all was well with the house initiated the childish ‘Hide and Seek’ game when he raised an alarm. He had to carry an inherited cross on his fragile head throughout his lengthy stay.

At around 2am, Morenike angrily stormed her room to flush out the mosquitoes like Nigerian troops battling with Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east. She picked up a broom and engaged them in a frontal battle. She recklessly supported herself with the available insecticide. She wanted the insects to feel her ordeal too. In about an hour, the beautiful and colourful walls of her room were designed with dead mosquitoes and blood stains. It was an ugly sight! This added to her depression as she later sat on the floor and started crying out of frustration.

2 hours later, she dozed off on the floor as the remnants of the mosquitoes bit her amid panic of a possible reprisal attack. An hour later, her alarm rang and she had to prepare for work as she battled with a migraine due to inadequate sleep. She usually woke up at 5am to deal with the heavy traffic associated with the Island area of Lagos where she works.

The migraine became more intense as she dressed up looking so dejected and lost as she raced with her office bag. She became so hot-tempered overnight as she struggled to get a bus to convey her to her working place. Her eyes were red and one could have mistaken her for someone suffering from Acute Haemmorrhagic Conjunctivitis (Apollo) or even an Indian Hemp smoker. You can’t really cheat nature; Morenike in no time slept off until she passed her bus stop. She later dropped to retrace her steps only to discover her money, phone and other values were gone.

It was a nightmare she needed to wake up from. “Even if it means trekking to America or any other developed countries, I am leaving Nigeria next year to start all over. I don’t mind doing menial jobs”. Morenike told her colleagues at work as she narrated pathetic stories of her usual long nights in Lagos.

In as much as Lagos appears beautiful, it’s also starkly ugly on the inside. This accounts for the reason why most Lagosians are mentally strong. They use the odd conditions to motivate themselves to success.

Compiled by Osayimwen George Osahon exclusively for Tori News

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/64833/darkness-heat-and-mosquitoes-inside-lagos-neighbou.html

Controversial blogger and Investigative Journalist, Kemi Omololu Olunloyo is currently seeking for public support to cater for her increasing legal expenses as she battles for her release from incarceration.

Kemi Olunloyo has eaten the humble-pie to seek public assistance as she continues to languish behind the Port Harcourt prison bars over allegations of defamation.

Kemi Olunloyo has been confined to the prison custody for about two months after publishing a seeming slanderous piece about a popular Salvation Ministries pastor, David Ibiyeomie. Ms Olunloyo alleged that Mr. Ibiyeomie was siphoning church funds and having a secret romance with a controversial Nigerian actress and movie producer, Iyabo Ojo.

Followers of Ms. Olunloyo were shocked to the announcement that she needed funds to cater for her legal expenses incurred thus far. Rumours have it that she is also having difficulties in meeting her stringent bail conditions.

The plea shared on her instagram account today, 8th of May, 2017 reads:

"Please Donate to Kemi Olunloyo's Legal Expenses Fund. She Is Still in Port Harcourt Prison. WE THANK YOU."

HOW TO DONATE

First Bank of Nigeria

Name Olukemi Olunloyo #MadamHNNFoundation

Sort Code FBNINGLA

Account number: 3020832750
Or
Western Union/Moneygram Olukemi Olunloyo
Or
Paypal: Keminications @yahoo.ca

Source: http://www.tori.ng/news/61466/former-governors-daughter-kemi-olunloyo-publicly-s.html

CC Lalasticlala Mynd44 Seun Obinoscoppy Dominique Tonyebarcanista

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Mckayzee:


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