Former Security Guard Defeats African Dictator To become President Of Gambia

A former Argos security guard who worked in the store on London's Holloway Road has been elected president of Gambia.

Now the country's opposition leader, Adama Barrow today said he was expecting a phone call from President Yahya Jammeh conceding defeat in Gambia's election.

Barrow said he was still waiting for an official result from the electoral commission but that his own count showed he had won the poll.

Dictator Yahya Jammeh vowed to rule his country for 'a billion years', but has now been toppled by his unlikely rival.

Jammeh, a friend of Libya's late Colonel Gaddafi, ruled the west African state of Gambia through a bizarre personality cult of witchcraft and brutality.

He claimed to have invented his own herbal HIV 'cure', and was once accused of force-feeding hallucinogenic potions to an entire village of people he thought had bewitched his aunt.

The man who styled himself 'Excellency Sheikh Professor Doctor President' has been defeated by Mr Barrow, who spent his early years tackling shoplifters at the Argos store.

Now a successful estate agent in his home country, the quietly-spoken Mr Barrow was one of the few Gambians brave enough to take Mr Jammeh on in the contest.

Mr Barrow's victory comes despite Mr Jammeh's ministers making fun of him over his days doing low-level security work in London.

At a pro-government rally ahead of the elections, Sheriff Bojang, the Gambian information minister, told the crowd sarcastically: 'We have heard that Mr Barrow worked as a security guard in ... what is it... this shop called Argos in Britain?'

Lamin Cham, Mr Barrow's spokesman, said that the opposition leader would go to State House in the capital, Banjul, to be officially declared victor at 5pm today.

'It's game over,' he told the MailOnline.

Like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Mr Jammeh describes any criticism of him by Western governments as 'neo-colonial' lecturing.

He is particularly scathing of Britain, and at a recent campaign rally attended by the Mailonline, declared that Britain had done 'nothing' for Gambia during '400 years of colonialism'.

His claims were dismissed as posturing by Mr Barrow, who said that he owed his career success to his tough years in Britain, where he lived and studied property management between 1998 and 2002.

During that time he paid his rent with security jobs in offices, music festivals and high street stores, once tackling a shoplifter at Argos who was jailed for six months.

He also lived on a crime-plagued housing estate in Kidbrooke in south-east London, which has since been demolished.

'My time in Britain taught me the importance of working hard and good time-keeping, and both those things helped me a lot when I went back home,' said Mr Barrow, 51.

'People think life is easy in Europe, but it can be a tough place to make your way in as a visitor.'

A nation of just 1.9m people, tiny Gambia is best known in the West as a winter sun destination, attracting 100,000 foreign tourists every year to its pristine Atlantic beaches.

Britons make up around half the visitors, with thousands also living there in retirement.

Since taking power in a military coup in 1994, 51-year-old Mr Jammeh has won four elections, most of which have been marred by accusations of cheating.

Critics say he ruled by decree, with anyone who disagrees with him liable to end up in the notorious Mile Two prison, which is not far from the main tourist beaches in the capital, Banjul.

In April, several opposition figures in Mr Barrow's United Democratic Party were thrown in jail, and another two fatally beaten in custody.

In a subsequent speech, Mr Jammeh snarled: 'Let me warn those evil vermin called opposition. If you want to destabilize this country, I will bury you nine-feet deep.'

In 2012, he scrapped a moratorium on the death penalty and executed nine inmates at the prison by firing squad, telling human rights groups to 'bite their own nose'.

While he claimed it was because Gambia was facing a crime wave, rumour had that it a fortune teller had said a 'human sacrifice' was necessary to ward off a coup attempt.  

Rather like North Korea's Kim Jong-un, Mr Jammeh was quick to upbraid any official who displeased him.

However, his aggression backfired by galvanising Gambia's normally quarrelsome opposition factions to unite around Mr Barrow.

As part of his anti-Western crusade, Mr Jammeh pulled Gambia out of the Commonwealth in 2013, saying it was a 'neo-colonial institution', and dropped English as an official language, even though it is still widely spoken in Gambia.

Last month, he also withdrew Gambia from the International Criminal Court, describing it as the 'International Caucasian Court'. He had demanded that the court prosecute European nations for failing to rescue African migrants crossing the Mediterranean - a large number of whom are Gambians seeking a better future.

'These are desperate moves that don't help Gambia at all,' said Mr Barrow. 'The only reason he left those organisations is because they expect him to practice good governance. If we are elected we will restore Gambia's relations with the outside world, and rejoin both the Commonwealth and the ICC.'

There are fears that Mr Jammeh may not go quietly. In the event of violence escalating, Britain could face calls to send troops in as peacemakers, according to Yanks Darboe, a London-based Gambian activist.

Mr Darboe said the operation would be comparable to that carried out by France to quell the Islamist uprising in neighbouring Mali in 2013.

'If there was trouble, a lot of Gambians would like to see Britain come to help, as they don't think the neighbouring African leaders would do much.

'It would also be in Britain's own interests as they have a lot of expats in Gambia. They can't just allow Jammeh to plunder the country into a trauma.'

Daily Mail

New Music: DJ Jimmy Jatt ft Davido – Orekelewa

DJ Jimmy Jatt features Davido for his last single titled ''Orekelewa''. The song was produced by Young Jonn.

Listen below!

R2bees drops 'Tonight' music video ft. Wizkid –Watch

R2bees has released the music video for ''Tonight'' which he featured Wizkid, produced by Legendurybeatz.

Watch it below:

How true is this news about MMM Nigeria?

How true is this news about MMM Nigeria?

Mbanefo MMM owner unmasked

Ernest Chigozie Mbanefo is the mastermind of the suspected Ponzi scheme known as MMM Nigeria.

According to an online report, Mbanefo is based in South Africa.

Nigerian Communications Week said Mbanefo  registered the site MMM-Nigeria.net domain  on June 7, 2016 about at about 5 pm Nigerian time.

NCW quoting  Pageone report written as far back as September said Mbanefo made a single year domain payment.  The domain will expire on June 7, 2017.

It was also revealed that  MMM Nigeria is not part of MMM Global – a Russian company that was responsible for one of the world’s largest Ponzi schemes in the 1990s.

MMM Global  was founded by Russian politician Sergei Mavrodi, his brother Vyacheslav Mavrodi and Olga Melnikova.

The name of the company was taken from the first letters of the three founders’ surnames (MMM)

But like MMM Global, the Nigerian scheme is also a pyramid marketing scheme where an investor gets a 30 per cent return on investment.

Around the world, MMM is feared.

In January 2016 the Chinese government banned MMM on the grounds that it is a pyramid scheme, (Ponzi scheme), and it is not registered in the country (and as a fraudulent scheme cannot be registered.

MMM recently crashed in Zimbabwe: Thousands of ‘Mavrodians’ in Zimbabwe were left in tears when the scheme crashed, losing tens of thousands of their lifetime savings.

PageOne gave Mbanefo’s address as 1 ROYAL STREET, LINDBERG PARK, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.

According to Page One, on the 15th of July, Ernest was awarded a certificate of completion of an online course titled ‘MMM Guiders School’. The certificate was supposedly signed by Sergei Mavrodi himself. He has since given himself the nickname the ‘Super Guider of MMM’.

To share news and information about MMM, Ernest also operates a subdomain ‘news.mmm-nigeria.net. The site praises him and projects him as the leader of the Ponzi Scheme in Nigeria.

“He is described as: MMM Nigeria Super Guider; Pastor Ernest Mbanefo, has been selflessly helping thousands of MMM Nigeria Participants whether or not they fall under his downline structure. The brain behind the MMM NIGERIA REVOLUTION operation has been working selflessly and tirelessly towards the education, information and proper guidance for the MMM Nigeria Community’

NAN

Putin 'ready' to work with Trump administration

Russia is "ready to work with the new U.S. administration," President Vladimir Putin told lawmakers Thursday, expressing hope of better bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

Some 1,000 key figures, including federal and regional officials and religious leaders, listened as Putin delivered his annual address to the Federal Assembly. Many in Russia and abroad were eager to hear his views on ties with America in the wake of Donald Trump's presidential election victory.

"We do not seek and never have sought enemies. We need friends," Putin said in a likely reaction to criticisms of Moscow's involvement in Syria and Ukraine. "But we will not allow our interests to be infringed upon or ignored." Putin did not directly attack the U.S. or Europe as he had in recent years.

With Trump's win, Putin seems to be angling for better ties with the West. "Demand for political and economic independence is currently on the rise" among European Union members, he said, and stressed that European and American sanctions were not the main cause of Russia's economic troubles. He also called for greater cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation and the fight against terrorism.

Putin expressed hopes for "substantial progress" in relations with Japan, which he will visit starting Dec. 15. "We welcome the commitment of the country's leaders to promote economic ties with Russia by launching joint projects," he said, without touching on their territorial dispute. Putin also called Japan "our eastern neighbor" rather than a friend.

The president praised China for pursuing a foreign policy independent from that of the U.S. The partnership between Moscow and Beijing "can be regarded as a model for shaping a world order free from the domination of a single country, no matter how strong it is, and taking into account the interests of all countries in harmony," he said, adding that it is important for the duo to pursue new major projects every year in various fields.

Putin could be fishing for large-scale economic deals from both Japan and China for developing the Russian Far East -- one of his key goals. He may also be trying to encourage Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to shake off U.S. influence in his Russia strategy.

Most of the speech was dedicated to domestic affairs. Despite a tough economy, "our people have united around patriotic values," Putin said. He projected that gross domestic product would fall only slightly this year.

Such factors as sluggish investment have kept the Russian economy down. Putin discussed measures to boost small and midsize businesses as well as investment, but not in detail. And the national doping prevention program will be ready at the start of next year, he said.

Reuters

My Priorities Remain Unchanged In Fighting Terrorism, Corruption And Salvaging The Economy - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said his administration remains committed to realizing the key priorities of securing the country, fighting corruption, and salvaging the economy in spite of current challenges.

Receiving the Letter of Credence of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. William Stuart Symington, at the State House, President Buhari said the security situation in the North East had improved significantly following support in training of the military and supply of hardware after the G-7 meeting in Germany in 2015.

‘‘When I was invited to the G-7 meeting after my inauguration on May 29, 2015, I thought I was going to be an observer at the meeting, but without prompting, I was asked to brief the leaders on the security situation in Nigeria, and I did. Since then, we have received support in training and military hardware, and I hope we have not disappointed,’’ he said.

The President said the target of reversing the ‘‘culture of corruption’’ in the country had received support from Nigerians, with many realizing the depth of damage done by some previous administrations from the ongoing investigations and prosecutions.

‘‘The corruption we met at personal and institutional levels was unbelievable. Corruption was turning into a culture. After we came in, people started realizing the truth,’’ he added.

President Buhari told the U. S ambassador that his administration was still determined to continue investigations and prosecution of corrupt persons in the country as ‘‘Nigeria will either kill corruption or corruption will kill Nigeria in the long run.’’

The President noted that the years of mishandling of the economy at a period of financial prosperity, affected the economy, making it more challenging to create employment for the youths and improve the livelihood of many Nigerians.

‘‘It has not been easy for another party to come in and get things done properly, especially with the new economic reality of $37 per barrel of oil, against the $100 for the period, and there was no savings, no infrastructure on ground,’’ he said.

President Buhari said the timely intervention of the United States, with a visit of the Secretary of State John Kerry to Nigeria, before the 2015 elections helped in ensuring peace and stability in the country.

In his remarks, the U.S ambassador said the interest in the well-being of Nigeria was of mutual benefit.

‘‘We do it not only for Nigeria, but for ourselves. We did it because it was right for us and right for our people,’’ he said.

Symington said he would work hard to further strengthen the relationship between his country and Nigeria, assuring that President-elect Donald Trump would also be interested in the wellbeing of Nigeria.

President Buhari also received Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Moha Ouali Tagma, assuring him of Nigeria’s willingness to improve bilateral relations between the countries.

Buhari Receives Ondo Governor-Elect Akeredolu At State House - Photos!

President Buhari on Thursday (December 1) received Ondo State Governor-Elect Rotimi Akeredolu at the State House, Abuja. Chief Akeredolu accompanied by Plateau State Governor Lalong and Solid Mineral Minister Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

1st Class LAUTECH Graduate Dies In Kanu NYSC Camp As Mother Recounts Final Moments - Photos!

Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo, a National Youth Service Corps 2016 batch B member who died recently at the orientation camp in Kano under mysterious circumstances, still hard to comprehend.

Report has it that Dolapo, 26, an indigene of Osun State was a first class Transport Management graduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

Dolapo fell sick and died in the camp before any help could come her way. She was buried on December 1 in her hometown Osogbo.

Oladepo's heartbroken mother Mrs Oyeyode Abimbola Inioluwa wrote on Facebook:

''You called me five hours to your death and told me to start coming as the NYSC doctors are not doing anything for you, they thought you were pretending you did not want to go for parade, so they did not attend to u. When you started calling people from home they eventually gave you an injection. Immediately after the injection you called me again that you noticed a lot of rashes on your body that I should speak with the doctor who refused to talk to me. You called five minutes later and told me your tongue is twisting, they sent all your friends out after seeing all the reaction on ur body after giving you the unknown injection. You said we should ask for flight and I called immediately, they told me Abuja flight is Mon, wed & Fri.

I told you to tell anybody in the clinic that I’m a nurse, they should allow me to speak to them. A male nurse took the phone from you and told me you were having anaphylactic reaction and they will watch you for just one hour and transfer you to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, but alas they did not transfer you until 5 hours later when they noticed you were restless and calling people at home. I boarded a bus going to kano with your sister Oladepo Kemisola Oladepo to come pick you from there. I begged them to take you to a teaching hospital around but they took you to General hospital Gwazo where they have nothing or little care to render.

They took your phone from you claiming you were not resting, from that 5pm I could not talk to you. I took a 16 hours journey to make sure I get to you, but I was called around 3am that you gave up, without any doctor in the hospital to assist you. The only nurse on duty told me she tried her best, her best of staying beside you when death was taking you away because there was nothing to use. From that 3am till I got to Kano, I was hoping it will only be a mix up somewhere it can’t be you. Got to kano and met you at Aminu Kano mortuary, alas it was you being put in that cold place. Amokkkkkeeeeeeeeee Mi you couldn’t withstand the agony, NYSC successfully cut your destiny due to negligence. REST ON OUR QUEEN, if you are opportuned to come back to the world please come as my daughter. ADIEU Oladepo Ifedolapo AMOKE MI''

Security Agents Plan To Assassinate Me - Governor Wike

It was meant to be a little ceremony to mark the beginning of the rehabilitation of a hospital. But for Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, it was an opportunity to drop a bombshell.

Security agencies  are planning to assassinate him, he told a shocked crowd that gathered at the General Hospital , Terabor and General Hospital, Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area.

Wike also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of publishing a list of adhoc staff filled with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). December 1o has been fixed for some election in the state.

Wike said: “For me, they are threatening that I will be the first governor they will assassinate. They are threatening that they will show me that they are security agencies.  But, I will always protect the interest of Rivers  State , no matter  the threat.

“Nobody should intimidate you with security agents.  Beginning today, resist any arrest.  You must move around in groups to promote resistance of the robbers of mandate.”

Police Public Relations Officer,  DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said the police were not aware of any plot to kill the governor.

He said it was unfortunate  that  INEC and security  agencies  were disregarding  the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that they should be impartial and deliver  free and fair elections.

The governor  said: “INEC  has released a fake list of adhoc staff for the rerun elections before the conclusion  of their  mandatory  training .  Majority  of  those on the list are known  APC ward chairmen and ward secretaries who are mainly unemployed , but listed by INEC as staff of the University of Port Harcourt .

“They think that my love for peace is a sign of weakness, but I want to declare that  enough is enough. We are supposed to be under an era of change , but the love for fraud by INEC and police   is unprecedented.”

The governor added: “Anyone whose son or daughter  is on that fraudulent  INEC list should tell him/her to stay away on election day.

“All these desperate actions are geared towards the plot to rig in favour  of  a particular candidate , but that candidate will  not win. The people  of Rivers South-East Senatorial District must be allowed  to vote persons of their  choice.”

On the rehabilitation of the Hospital , Terabor  and General Hospital , Bodo, Wike  said it will be completed and equipped  in a record time.

He added that  the Kpopie-Bodo road is nearing completion and the dualization of Sakpenwa-Bori road is progressing  according  to  schedule .

Wike urged Ogoni people  to vote for the PDP,  pointing out  that  for  eight years , APC  failed to execute  well meaning projects in Ogoni land.

Responding yesterday, APC State Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone said his party could not comprehend what the governor is talking about.

Finebone said: “Definitely, APC candidates are busy campaigning for the rerun election while governor Wike is busy with his circus show. We wish him luck.

“Rivers people are tired of Wike’s allegations. Soon we will not join issue with him because he is no longer making sense.”

The Nation

Court orders MTN Nigeria to pay 63 sacked Workers

The Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court has ordered MTN Nigeria Communications to pay full four years post-disengagement salaries to 63 workers, which were laid off by the company in 2009.

The court presided over by Justice P.O. Lifu also awarded additional N10,000 against MTN in favour of each of the 63 workers to cover the cost of filing the suit numbered NICN/LA/596/2013.

Justice Lifu said MTN must pay the judgment credit sum within 30 days from October 26, 2016 when the judgment was delivered, failing which the judgment credit would attract an annual interest of 10 per cent.

The claimants in the suit are Harrison Ossai, Gabriel Ameh and Stephen Mahaja, who sued on behalf of themselves and 60 other workers who were laid off by MTN with the condition that they must never work with any other telecommunication company for four years after their disengagement.

The claimants had, in their suit, claimed to have been subjected to financial hardship on account of the restraint of trade imposed on them by MTN.

Ossai, in his testimony before the court, said the trade restraint imposed by MTN bungled his chances of being employed by Globacom and Airtel, which were other telecommunication companies, adding that after being sacked by MTN, he stayed jobless for six years.

Like other claimants, he urged the court to order MTN to pay him N10m and another N20m for filing the suit.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu said he was satisfied that the claimants had proven their claims before the court as to the oppressive and unreasonableness of the restraint of trade covenant for four years for making and leaving the claimants hard and dry for four years.

The judge held, “Terminating the employment of the claimants and at the same time restricting them from seeking any employment from the sector generally and preventing them to be acting as agents or adviser or to engage in any other concern directly or indirectly for four years is clearly unreasonable in the light of global economic challenges occasioned by recession, which has resulted in mass unemployment.”

The judge that each of the workers was entitled to be paid his last gross salary for four years after being sacked and ordered MTN to pay with an additional N10,000 each as cost.

Exclusive: How Putin, Khamenei and Saudi prince got OPEC deal done

Russian President Vladimir Putin played a crucial role in helping OPEC rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia set aside differences to forge the cartel's first deal with non-OPEC Russia in 15 years.

Interventions ahead of Wednesday's OPEC meeting came at key moments from Putin, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, OPEC and non-OPEC sources said.

Putin’s role as intermediary between Riyadh and Tehran was pivotal, testament to the rising influence of Russia in the Middle East since its military intervention in the Syrian civil war just over a year ago.

It started when Putin met Saudi Prince Mohammed in September on the sidelines of a G20 gathering in China.

The two agreed to cooperate to help world oil markets clear a glut that had more than halved oil prices since 2014, pummeling Russian and Saudi government revenues. Oil prices are up 10 pct this week topping $53 a barrel.

The financial pain made a deal possible despite the huge political differences between Russia and Saudi over the civil war in Syria.

"Putin wants the deal. Full stop. Russian companies will have to cut production," said a Russian energy source briefed on the discussions.

In September, OPEC agreed in principle at a meeting in Algiers to reduce output for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis.

But the individual country commitments required to finalize a deal at Wednesday's Vienna meeting still required much diplomacy.

Recent OPEC meetings have failed because of arguments between de facto leader Saudi Arabia and third-largest producer Iran. Tehran has long argued OPEC should not prevent it restoring output lost during years of Western sanctions.

Proxy wars in Syria and Yemen have exacerbated decades of tensions between the Saudi Sunni kingdom and the Iranian Shi'ite Islamic republic.

BRINKMANSHIP

Heading into the meeting, the signs were not good. Oil markets went into reverse. Saudi Prince Mohammed had repeatedly demanded Iran participate in supply cuts. Saudi and Iranian OPEC negotiators had argued in circles in the run-up to the meeting.

And, then, just a few days beforehand, Riyadh appeared back away from a deal, threatening to boost production if Iran failed to contribute cuts.

But Putin established that the Saudis would shoulder the lion's share of cuts, as long as Riyadh wasn't seen to be making too large a concession to Iran. A deal was possible if Iran didn't celebrate victory over the Saudis.

A phone call between Putin and Iranian President Rouhani smoothed the way. After the call, Rouhani and oil minister Bijan Zanganeh went to their supreme leader for approval, a source close to the Ayatollah said.

"During the meeting, the leader Khamenei underlined the importance of sticking to Iran's red line, which was not yielding to political pressures and not to accept any cut in Vienna," the source said.

 "Zanganeh thoroughly explained his strategy ... and got the leader's approval. Also it was agreed that political lobbying was important, especially with Mr. Putin, and again the Leader approved it," said the source.

On Wednesday, the Saudis agreed to cut production heavily, taking "a big hit" in the words of energy minister Khalid al-Falih - while Iran was allowed to slightly boost output.

Iran's Zanganeh kept a low profile during the meeting, OPEC delegates said. Zanganeh had already agreed the deal the night before, with Algeria helping mediate, and he was careful not to make a fuss about it.

After the meeting, the usually combative Zanganeh avoided any comment that might be read as claiming victory over Riyadh.

"We were firm," he told state television. "The call between Rouhani and Putin played a major role ... After the call, Russia backed the cut."

 IRAQ LAST-MINUTE HITCH

But OPEC would not be OPEC without a last-minute quarrel threatening to derail the deal. Iraq became a problem.

As ministerial talks got underway, OPEC's second-largest producer insisted it could not afford to cut output, given the cost of its war against Islamic State.

But, facing pressure from the rest of OPEC to contribute a cut, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi picked up the phone in front of his peers to call his prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.

"Abadi said: 'Get the deal done'. And that was it," one OPEC source said.

Reuters

Buhari's dwindling popularity not surprising – Soyinka

Literary icon Wole Soyinka on Thursday said he was not surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari has lost popularity just 18 months into office, given the high expectations that weighed on his government.

The former military ruler won the 2015 election on an agenda of “change”, vowing to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, fight graft, fix broken infrastructure and heal the economy.

But since his election, the economy has officially gone into recession and global energy prices have plummeted.

A relentless rebel campaign to sabotage the production of oil, the country’s main export, has added to the woes.

“There’s nothing surprising to me about his losing popularity, it should be expected,” said Soyinka, who was a fierce critic of Buhari’s earlier term as head of state after taking power in a coup in 1983.

“People wanted change, that word was not just a slogan, it was a promise,” Soyinka told AFP in Johannesburg.

But when he took over power, “Nigeria was sinking”.

“Fulfilling political promises when you take over the reins of power and you have to clean up a lot of mess, it’s not easy,” said the Nobel prize-winning author.

The ex-military ruler has seen his approval ratings decline in recent months from 80 percent last year to 41 percent this September, according to analysis firm BMI Research.

Soyinka said while Buhari was the better choice of the two candidates in last year’s vote where he squared off against ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, it was high time the country weaned itself off leaders with military backgrounds.

“I was not particularly enamoured of the idea of a military person continuing — for heaven’s sake, it’s been too long,” he said.

“I feel very passionate that it’s about time that we eliminated the last vestiges of military control, of military representation. It’s as if there are no brains outside the military.”

Nigeria abandoned military rule in 1999 in favour of multi-party democracy following six military coups after independence from Britain in 1960.

 AFP

BREAKING: Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs is dead!

Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86 following a secret four-year battle with dementia that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

The much-loved actor, best known for his portrayal of put-upon Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic 1970s sitcom, passed away in a care home last week and was buried on Thursday.

His wife Melody, who cared for him tirelessly, said: ‘My heart has been broken every day for a long time.’

She also revealed that she collapsed while caring for him. After developing acute stress, she was taken into intensive care but ‘got over it real quick’ and bounced back so that she could carry on looking after him.

She said the couple were happy until the end, adding: ‘I never once heard him grumble.’

Mrs Sachs told how her husband had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012. It is the second most common form of the disease after Alzheimer’s.

Mrs Sachs, 85, said: ‘It wasn’t all doom and gloom, he still worked for two years.

‘We were happy, we were always laughing, we never had a dull moment. He had dementia for four years and we didn’t really notice it at first until the memory started going.

‘It didn’t get really bad until quite near the end. I nursed Andrew, I was there for every moment of it.’ The actor died on November 23 and yesterday family and close friends gathered for his funeral and burial in North London.

Eight years ago, Sachs was inadvertently thrust into the headlines when he fell victim to a cruel prank by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. The affair became known as Sachsgate.

Mrs Sachs said: ‘Dementia is the most awful illness. It sneaks in in the night, when you least expect it. It took a long time for Andy’s brain to go.

‘Even about a month before he died he was sitting in the garden and chatting away.’


Read more on Daily Mail

AICL Education Storms Lagos Schools, Unveils Career Workshop For Students

 Avail International Consults Ltd (AICL Education), an organization set up to help students and Nigerians in general fulfill their dreams of studying and or relocating abroad, has unveiled a special quarterly career workshop for Secondary Schools in Lagos State.

According to the Managing Director Of AICL Education, Mrs Bola Agunbiade, the workshop is designed to sensitize Secondary School Students in Lagos and Nigeria in general on available scholarship opportunities in higher institutions within and outside the country and also to educate them on their career prospects.

At the inaugural workshop, the AICL Team stormed Bethel International College, Ojodu on the 23rd of November, 2016 and had many of their senior students in attendance, as well as some of their teaching staff, Principal and Proprietor to grace the event.

The AICL team which was led by the CEO of the company, Mrs Agunbiade also had Mr Tennyson Sampson, the company's Project Director, Mr Femi Adeoya, CEO of SKYTREND NEWS, and Mr Jude Emeka, AICL's Senior Marketing Executive.

On the 24th of November, the team proceeded to Emcoy Favored College, Ogba, where it thrilled the students with talks of career and scholarship prospects especially for those intending to travel abroad. The career talk was led by Mr Adeoya who is also an executive Consultant to AICL while the Scholarship Workshop was facilitated by the company's CEO, and assisted by Mr Sampson.

The team also visited Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Maryland, Lagos on 25th November in continuation of the Workshop tour where it held with over 300 senior secondary students who expressed thrills and ask a lot of questions relating to their careers.

Commenting on the events, AICL's Project Director, Mr Tennyson Sampson said "The workshop has so far helped students understand their career prospects better and the scholarship opportunities available to them if they want to study abroad.”

Sampson said it was a thrilling experience and privilege having to address a great number of secondary school students from various public and private schools in Lagos, as according to him, "the students were very delighted at such a great prospect".

AICL Education is a Lagos based international consulting outfit with over 13 years’ experience in students' counselling on educational programs, and has an excellent track record of preparing and guiding students through their admission application and VISA processes.

AICL is specialized in counselling students interested in studying in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. The outfit has assisted over 500 Nigerian students in seeking and getting overseas admission and VISA.

PRESS RELEASE

Lagos police Uncovers illegal Oil Depot In Oregun

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday uncovered an illegal oil depot located underneath the Oregun-Opebi Link Bridge in Onigbongbo Local Government Area of the State, arresting eight suspects in the process.

The illegal oil depot was uncovered during a joint raid by men of the Lagos Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Owoseni, who briefed journalists shortly after inspecting the area, alongside officials of the State Lands Bureau, said the suspects had been engaging in adulteration of petroleum products, which they then proceed to sell to unsuspecting members of the public.

“With what we have seen on ground, the magnitude of the activities taking place here, it shows that this probably must have been happening for some period, it could be years that people don’t get noticed and this could explain why some people would buy new cars, new generators and they would tell you that they put diesel inside and the engine knocks, these are probably the criminal minds behind these things.

“They have so many drums; they even have plenty tankers here and they must have been doing this for long. They take the adulterated products out to go and sell to unsuspecting members of the public and we end up with people having their valuable items destroyed and in some cases leading to fire incidents,” Owoseni said.

The Commissioner of Police, who confirmed that eight suspects were arrested during the raid including the kingpin of the gang carrying out the illegal activities, said a thorough investigation would be carried out, while those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

He also warned those still involved in such practice to desist forthwith, saying that there would be no hiding place as all security apparatus in the State would be deployed to the nook and crannies across the metropolis to fish out criminally minded persons.

“We would use this to send a message across to other people that are engaged in illegal business like this, no stone would be left unturned to get to the root cause, to get to all the people that are involved; the perpetrators, the conspirators and we would ensure that the investigation is carefully handled and done to logical conclusion so that at the end of the day we would get people to face the music and deal with them according to the law.

“Would ensure diligent prosecution as well and with that, we would be sending a message to other perpetrators that are engaged in acts like that to tell them that in Lagos no act of lawlessness and illegality would be entertained and that everyone that has run foul of the law through this kind of thing, would face the music,” the Commissioner of Police said.

Owoseni said the area would be cordoned off by the Police immediately pending the period of conclusion of the investigation process.

“Since this has been uncovered, a stop is going to be put to what is happening right here, because of the illegal activities of the bunkerers, you have mechanics here who are here illegally, you have food vendors here and once the illegal business taking place here is taken away, they also have to relocate somewhere else and run their business legitimately,” he said.

Buhari’s Army Of Occupation In Igboland: The Making Of Another Jihad And Ethnic Cleansing

Buhari’s Army Of Occupation In Igboland: The Making Of Another Jihad And Ethnic Cleansing -November 30, 2016

The affiliate rights and supportive democracy groups and the leadership of Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs) are deeply alarmed and worried concerning the deployment of more battalions of members of the so called “Nigerian Army” and their war-like heavy equipment to all the strategic roads in the South East or Igbo part of Nigeria. Igbo travellers and road users have reported the laying of siege by Jihadist elements in the Army on strategic roads in the Southeast particularly at boundary posts in Imo/Abia and Port Harcourt axis; Enugu (Nsukka) and Benue (Oturpa) axis; Anambra (Onitsha Niger Bridgehead) and Delta (Asaba) axis and Ebonyi (Abakiliki) and Enugu axis.

By adding a quotation mark (“ “) to Nigerian Army, we make bold to say that the Nigerian Army of present composition is nothing but “an armed assembly substantially peopled, dominated and commanded by the descendants of late Shehu Othman Dan Fodio”; a 19th Century Jihadist and founder of Islamism in northern part of Nigeria.

Before the massive deployment under reference, the Southeast has been under siege and police state with thousands of army, navy and police roadblocks scattered at right, left and centre of the Southeast Roads particularly on Trunks A and B Roads. In all these, the stocks-in-trade of the soldiers, police and navy personnel so stationed are: targeting and killing of defenceless citizens; indiscriminate arrests; extortion and other corrupt practices; using different forms.

For instance, there are documented evidence from rights groups like Amnesty International and Intersociety; showing the patterns and trends of security roadblock extortion in the Southeast Zone as well as late evening house raids, killing and torturing of innocent and defenceless citizens; which all arose on account of sustenance of an army of occupation by Jihad-prone administration of Retired Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

While Army and Navy recklessly indulge in the recruitment of civilians as roadblock extortion agents (i.e. at Niger Bridgehead and Uga Junction in Onitsha); personnel of the Nigeria Police Force openly and brazenly collect N50 or N100 notes from each commercial transporter. In some areas where military roadblocks are mounted, the Jihadist soldiers openly collect tolls at gunpoint.

The Nigerian Security Forces deployed on Southeast Roads have between July/August 2015 and May 2016, massacred between 150 and 250 defenceless citizens or more and injured over 300 others (Amnesty International and Intersociety: 2016). According to Intersociety (December 2015), a total of N1.03billion was illicitly collected and pocketed by the personnel and authorities of the Nigeria Police Force from 750 roadblocks mounted on Southeast Roads between 21st October and 21st December 2015; on average of N500 million per month.

Intersociety and Human Rights Watch had also in their respective previous investigations empirically established a nexus between Police Roadblock Killings and Police Roadblock extortions particularly on Southeast Roads and their strategic entrances (Intersociety 2011; and HRW 2010). To Intersociety, Police Roadblock Corruption or Extortion and Killings on Southeast Roads arose out of the Southeast Blue-Collar Culture (i.e. concentration of commercial activities and cash transactions in the Zone). This was the case in the Zone until end of January 2012 when most of the 3500 police roadblocks in the area were dismantled, following public outcries and advocacy voices and investigations lead-conducted by Intersociety.

That was then! Today, and since the inception of the Buhari Administration in late May 2015; particularly since August 2015 when Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB organized nonviolent and peaceful street protests in Southeast and South-south areas of Nigeria, coupled with Buhari Administration’s brazen disposition towards radical Islamism; a dangerous dimension, by way of ethno-religious cleansing or Jihadism has been added, coded and embedded into the operational modes of the Nigerian Army, Navy and the Police in the Southeast Zone.

Further attestation to this is the brazen domination of the command structure of the so called “Nigerian Army” in the Southeast Zone under its 82nd Division in Enugu; by carefully selected officers of Jihadist background; from the GOC of the 82nd Division to his spokesman; from the Commandant of the Onitsha Military Cantonment to the Commander of the 144 Battalion in Ukwa, near Aba in Abia State, etc.

These are in addition to the age-long hegemonic and Jihadist inspired structural and physical violence against the Igbo race and their ancestral enclave; leading to massacre in recent years of tens of thousands of them and destruction and bastardization of their properties, infrastructures and cultural values. Under the Buhari Administration, for instance, the infrastructural decay in Igbo land or Southeast has risen to unprecedented proportions.

The state of federal roads in the Zone is in tatters; railway system in the area is moribund; the Enugu International Airport is skeletal and a ghost yard; to mention but a few. Yet fiscal revenue accruals including those from taxes, import duties, oil and gas exploration and other sources; which originate from the Zone, are used to run governance and service the people of the Jihadist background in upper north.

Saddening and alarming, the greatest threat to Southeast Zone and sanctity of its Christian Religion is the ongoing Jihadist and ethnic cleansing operations launched against the People of the Zone by the Buhari Administration, using descendents of the arch Jihadist; late Shehu Othman Dan Fodio; uniformed and armed; under the guise of the “Nigerian Army”.

These Jihadists, who are responsible for the massacre of not less than 250 defenceless citizens and injuring of over 300 others between July/August 2015 and May 2016 in the Zone; have further chosen to be repeat-perpetrators, by launching a season two ethno-religious cleansing operation tagged: “Exercise Python Dance”. We see the “operation” as nothing but genocide, ethno-religious cleansing, depopulation, psycho-physical warfare and racial enslavement and persecution.

Consequently, we make bold to say that all the reasons given by the so called “Nigerian Army” for its intensification of the genocidal operations under reference are expressly unfounded, watery, untenable and grossly unsubstantiated.

As a result, we hold as follows: (1) That the so called “Nigerian Army” raised false insecurity alarms; (2) That street protests are not armed rebellion or traditional street crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery or murder; (3) That IPOB and MASSOB are not armed opposition groups waging war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any part thereof; (4) That Southeast Zone is not a war zone or a zone at war with the Federal Government or Federal Republic of Nigeria; (5) That there are no security threats of unprecedented proportion or Northeast magnitude in the Southeast Zone warranting the present military siege or police state in the Zone.

(6) That “Nigerian Army” is crude and an illiterate army with no knowledge of the meaning and definition of Rules of Engagement; (7) That “Nigerian Army” has continued to criminalize and stigmatize the nonviolent activities of IPOB to the point of saddening and alarming proportions; (8) That while the Southeast, which is a Zone in peace and non war Zone is being hunted, persecuted and pushed to the wall; the troubled Zones like Northeast and violent groups like the Fulani Janjaweed are being cuddled, petted and protected.

(9) That the “Nigerian Army” and its Commander-in-Chief are killing, wounding, torturing and persecuting citizens and the Southeast Zone that have chosen nonviolence and law abiding living; whereas violent entities and Zones including Boko Haram and Fulani Janjaweed are being rewarded and given presidential treat and protection. (10) That there are no credible official crime statistics from the Nigeria Police Force in the Southeast Zone, detailing the patterns and trends of violent crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery in the Zone; showing increase or decrease; warranting the involvement of the “Nigerian Army” in the flooding of the Zone with troops and weapons.

(11) That soldiers are not professionally trained to catch kidnappers and armed robbery or arsonists or burglars or rapists; or engage in fighting street crimes and they do not have mental and ICT expertise to do same. (12) That hiding under the guise of “fighting kidnappers and armed robbers” as a cover to actualize their Jihadist intents have been exposed and shamed. (10) That “Nigerian Army” resorted to such useless and mockery excuses as a cover to execute their Jihadist and ethnic cleansing operations.

(13) That the use of Fulani Herdsmen by the “Nigerian Army” as one of the excuses for invasion of the Southeast is deliberate and a further cover to be hidden under to perpetrate its planned unprovoked war or mass killing and torture mission; (14) That the Fulani Janjaweed or Herdsmen have massacred over 140 defenceless Christians in Southern Kaduna alone, in the past six months; yet the “Nigerian Army” turns blind eyes; likewise similar massacres in Agatu (Benue State), Nimbo (Enugu State), Akokwa (Imo State), Asaba and its environs (Delta State), etc; with the “Nigerian Army” looking the other way; but wasting unnecessary energy and weaponry chasing, massacring, wounding, torturing and persecuting defenceless Igbo-Christians for the purpose of pleasing its Commander-in-Chief.

Real Reasons For The So Called “Operation (Exercise) Python Dance”: The real reasons for the genocidal operations under reference are for ethno-religious cleansing and socio-economic corruption and strangulation of the Southeast Zone and its Environs.

That is to say that the Jihadist component of the Nigerian Army led by Lt Gen Turkur Buratai decided to launch and intensify the heinous operations so as (1) to cripple and strangulate the social and economic activities in the Southeast Zone by scaring the investors away; chasing away traders coming to patronize Southeast economy; and crippling leisure, recreation and other cultural activities. (2) Turning the Southeast Roads into extortionist money making arenas by way of structured or organized and open ended extortion.

(3) Depriving the pastoral or Diasporan people of the Southeast or Igbo race their sacred rights to visit their ancestral communities and see their loved ones particularly during the Xmas and New Year period. (4) Depriving the Christian People of the Southeast and South-south Zones of exercise of their sacred religious rights to commemorate the birth of their Saviour Jesus Christ during the Xmas period. (5) Causing untimely death through suffocation, scorching heat or cold and chronic traffic gridlock of newly born babies, unborn babies, terminally sick persons, old age persons and heavily pregnant women.

(6) Causing the perishing and death of domestic livestock and cooking items; occasioned by chronic traffic gridlock and standstill created by the Jihadist soldiers on Southeast Roads particularly at the Onitsha Niger Bridgehead; the major entrance into the Southeast Roads and Zone. (7) Forcing thousands of Xmas Holiday makers of the Southeast and the South-south extractions to sleep on the road for days under scorching heat or cold and mosquito and other insect bites; owing to Jihadist army created chronic traffic gridlock. (8) Subjecting the Xmas Holiday makers of the Zone to both physical and psychological torture and other degrading treatment or punishment and exposing them to random armed robbery and other criminal attacks.

Total Blockage Of Onitsha Niger Bridgehead: The most disheartening, wicked and condemnable of it all is the last week total blockage of the Niger Bridgehead by the Jihadist soldiers. Despite the industrial hazard or dilapidating or sinking condition of the Bridge; requiring steady less load capacity; the Jihadist soldiers have moronically and sheepishly cordoned off and blocked the two main lanes of the Bridge in front of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Statue. The two lanes were blocked with empty drums painted in military colours with a narrow space for only one vehicle passage. The Ojukwu Statue is also routinely abused by the Jihadist soldiers squatted under a tent by its corner. The Statue is steadily spat at and defaced. Urination around its brick is also a routine.

The Onitsha Niger Bridgehead is notorious for chronic traffic gridlock and this is very hellish during Xmas period and other major activities in the area. In December 2015, 17th of December, to be specific, the Jihadist soldiers stationed near it opened fire and killed over 10 jubilant IPOB members, who were singing and dancing after news broke out that a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu; leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Citizen Nnamdi Kanu is still the SBCHROs’ Prisoner of Conscience.

After the massacre, the Jihadist soldiers took away most of the corpses and later dumped and abandoned three of them at Onitsha General Hospital. The Jihadist soldiers later went on rampage; blocking the Bridge and causing hellish conditions for Xmas returnees of 2015. Over 300 live fowls and dozens of goats suffocated and died. Four persons including a heavily pregnant woman, a newly born baby and an aged woman were reported dead; all as a result of chronic traffic gridlock created by Jihadist soldiers.

Today, they are at it again; by abandoning two tents built for them to watch over vehicular and other traffic movements, to out-right blockage of the two lanes for obvious ethno-religious cleansing reasons. They also want the sickening Niger Bridgehead to collapse so as to ground the Zone socially, economically, culturally, technologically, industrially and politically; having conspired wickedly to stop and abandon the Second Niger Bridge Project. These explain while we held that Buhari Army’s occupation of Igbo-Land is the making of another Jihad and Ethnic Cleansing

Calls:

Call on Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, who faces a second term election in late 2017, to wake up from his gubernatorial slumber and demilitarize his State. He should particularly get the blockage of the Niger Bridgehead de-blocked and cleared for easy flow of traffic for Xmas returnees. The Jihadist soldiers should be removed from the blockage scene and forced back to their tents nearby, to watch over vehicular movements and decongest the traffic.

Governor Willie Obiano should also get the personnel of the FRSC to disappear from the same scene to allow Xmas returnees a free hand to make use of the Bridge and its adjourning roads; other than habitual traffic law breakers.

Call on all the people of good conscience particularly the Christian leaders, governors, legislators and other public office holders from the Southeast Zone to reject and rise in condemnation of the ongoing intensification of “operation ethno-religious cleansing of the Igbo Race” and insist on demilitarization of the Zone.

Call on the Buhari Administration and its Jihadist army commanders to stop pushing the Igbo Race to the wall and back out of the ongoing unprovoked pogrom against the Igbo Race in all its ramifications. It must be made to understand that the Presidency of Nigeria is not a weapon to enslave and crush the Igbo Race as nothing or nobody; except God, lasts forever.

Call on all churches, CSOs and members of the academic body and professional bodies of the Southeast extraction to rise in legitimate defence of their Christian religion and other legitimate religious worship in non-violent, steady and constructive manners.

Call on Governor Willie Obiano to particularly visit the Niger Bridgehead to see things for himself; and reverse himself immediately if he has a hand in the genocidal blockage.

Call on other Southeast Governors to rise to the occasion by paying a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari for the purpose of demilitarizing the Southeast Zone and allowing the people of the Zone a breathing space including right and freedom to worship their predominant Christian religion.

Call on the mass media (audio, audio-visual, print and web media) to visit the Onitsha Niger Bridgehead to see things with their own eyes and assess the enormity of nuisance and hindrances deliberately created by Jihadist soldiers for innocent people of the Southeast and the South-south Zones particularly the 2016 Xmas returnees or holiday makers.

Call on them, too, to visit other similar military road blockages across the Southeast for the purpose of raising alarms to get them removed and demilitarized.

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Emeka Umeagbalasi and Intersociety for their special contributions and assistance. Similar thanks to Human Rights Watch, USA and Amnesty International, UK.

Signed:
Comrade Aloysius Attah (+2348035090548)
For: Civil Liberties Organization, Southeast Zone
Comrade Peter Onyegiri (+2347036892777)
For: Center for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy
Comrade Samuel Njoku (+2348039444628)
Human Rights Organization of Nigeria
Engineer Rufus Duru (+2348037513519)
Global Rights & Development International
Comrade Chike Umeh ( +2348064869601)
For: Society Advocacy Watch Project
Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq. (+2348034186332)
For: Anambra Human Rights Forum
Comrade Alex Olisa(+2348034090410)
For: Southeast Good Governance Forum
Emeka Umeagbalasi (+2348174090052)
For: International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law
Jerry Chukwuokoro, PhD (+2348035372962)
For: International Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative
Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke (+447748612933)
For: Igbo Ekunie Initiative (Pan Igbo Rights Advocacy Group)

Lawyers want Buhari to sack CBN governor Emefiele

The Arewa Young Lawyers Forum (AYLF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to within 14 days disengage the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele over his “lackadaisical style of management”.

In a statement made available to journalists by its President, Barrister Abubakar Sadiq Ilelah, the Forum said things have continued to fall apart in the country since the appointment of Emefiele as the head of the apex bank.

Ilelah said “Mr Emefiele is rated low in the performance index compared to his predecessors. He has drastically failed in promoting monetary policies to stem the continuous free fall of the Naira, halt the rising debt profile of Nigeria and poor management of the country’s foreign exchange.”

He said it is against this background, “we are hereby giving President Buhari 14 days ultimatum to take action that will save the Nigerian economy by disengaging and removing Mr Emefiele as the governor of CBN.” He said failure by the government to comply will lead to further actions by the Forum.

Daily Trust

BREAKING: Francois Hollande not stand for re-election

French President Francois Hollande will not seek re-election, he has announced today.

The surprise move  throws the selection of a Socialist candidate wide open.

Hollande had been expected to seek a second term in the presidential office.

Hollande, who is France's most unpopular president in polling history, had until mid-December to say whether he will take part in left-wing primaries that will decide his camp's candidate in the April and May presidential election.

All recent polls foresee Hollande or any other Socialist candidate failing to pass the first round of the presidential election next year, predicting a run-off battle between centre-right candidate Francois Fillon and the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen.

The Left goes deeply divided into the presidential election.

Several other Socialists, including ex-economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, have said they will take part in the party's primaries in January.

Another of Hollande's ex-ministers, Emmanuel Macron, and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon have said they will run in the presidential election, without taking part in the primaries.

There has been tension between Hollande and his prime minister Manuel Valls over the issue of the election. In an interview at the weekend, Valls raised the prospect of running in the primaries against Hollande.

Hollande beat then conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in an election in May 2012 after a classic leftwing campaign in which he targeted big business and pledged to raise taxes for high earners.

But his popularity soon began to decline with a perceived lack of leadership and flip-flops on key issues, particularly tax reform and security issues, as well as an unpopular labour reform which dismayed many on the Left.

Vajiralongkorn becomes Thailand's new king

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn became the king of Thailand late Thursday, opening a new chapter for the powerful monarchy in a country still mourning the death of his father.

The 64-year-old inherits one of the world's richest monarchies as well as a politically febrile nation, and was proclaimed 50 days after King Bhumibol Adulyadej's death.

After weeks of complex palace protocols the prince was invited by the head of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to ascend the throne in an event broadcast on all Thai television channels.

"I agree to accept the wishes of the late king... for the benefit of the entire Thai people," said Vajiralongkorn, wearing an official white tunic decorated with medals and a pink sash.

The sombre, ritual-heavy ceremony at his Bangkok palace was attended by the chief of the NLA, junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha, and the powerful 96-year-old head of the privy council, Prem Tinsulanonda.

Red-jacketed courtiers looked on as a palace staff member shuffling on his knees presented the new king with a microphone through which he delivered his few words of acceptance.

King Vajiralongkorn then prostrated himself, hands pressed together in respect, to a small shrine topped by a picture of his father and mother -- Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara.

He becomes Rama X of Thailand's Chakri dynasty, but will not formally be crowned until after his father's cremation, which is expected next year.

Bhumibol's reign, which ended on October 13, spanned a tumultuous period of Thai history pockmarked by a communist insurgency, coups and street protests.

It also saw breakneck development which has resulted in a huge wealth disparity between a Bangkok-centric elite and the rural poor.

To many Thais, Bhumibol was the only consistent force in a politically combustible country, his image burnished by ritual and shielded by a harsh royal defamation law.

- Into the limelight -

Monks chanted blessings at Buddhist temples to mark the new monarch's ascension -- an era-defining moment for most Thais who for seven decades knew only Bhumibol as their king.

Vajiralongkorn does not yet enjoy the same level of popularity.

He spends much of his time outside of the public eye, particularly in southern Germany where he owns property.

He has had three high-profile divorces, while a recent police corruption scandal linked to the family of his previous wife allowed the public a rare glimpse of palace affairs.

Thursday's ascension ends a period of uncertainty since Bhumibol's death prompted by the prince's request to delay his official proclamation so he could mourn with the Thai people.

Thailand's constitutional monarchy has limited formal powers. But it draws the loyalty of much of the kingdom's business elite as well as a military that dominates politics through its regular coups.

Analysts say Vajiralongkorn, untested until now, will have to manage competing military cliques.

In a brief televised address after the ceremony, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who as army chief led the 2014 coup, praised the new king "as the head of the Thai state and heart of the Thai people."

The Thai monarchy is protected from criticism by one of the world's harshest lese majeste laws, carrying up to 15 years in jail for every charge of defaming the king, queen, heir or regent.

That law makes open discussion about the royal family's role all but impossible inside the kingdom and means all media based inside the country routinely self-censor.

Convictions for so-called "112" offences -- named after its criminal code -- have skyrocketed since generals seized power in 2014.

Experts say most have targeted the junta's political opponents, many of whom support the toppled civilian government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

The emergence of Yingluck's brother Thaksin in 2001, a vote-winning billionaire seen by many of the rural poor as their champion, prompted the recent round of political conflict.

The army and royalist establishment have toppled two governments led by the siblings accusing them of nepotism and corruption.

AFP

Address By Governor Udom Emmanuel At Swearing-In Of Commissioners And Special Advisers December 1 At Baquet Hall, Government House, UYO

AN ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL AT THE SWEARING-IN OF COMMISSIONERS AND SPECIAL ADVISERS DECEMBER 1, 2016, BANQUET HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, UYO

PROTOCOL

Today, as it was on July 6, 2015, when I first swore in the immediate past State Executive Council, we are gathered here again to perform this all-important assignment- the swearing in of the new EXCO and the marching order for you to go out there and work to translate our dreams of bringing democratic dividends to our people in line with my Five- Point Agenda.

We have come here today to chalk up the vast potentials that abound in our beloved State, and work towards harnessing them for our common prosperity and common good. We have come here to reaffirm an ideal that I think all of us in this hallowed hall share: the ideal of unlocking the golden door of opportunity for all Akwa Ibom sons and daughters irrespective of their circumstance of birth. On behalf of the Government and good people of our State, I congratulate you on your nomination and appointment into the State Executive Council.

First, let me pay special tribute to the Permanent Secretaries of the different ministries and bureaus who so ably and admirably held the forte and ensured that the operations of government remained smooth and seamless. Let us all rise and give a standing ovation to these dedicated servants of our state for the great job they did.

For the appointees, let me place on record that your selection was based purely on merit. If you are a returnee, your records spoke for you, and for the new entrants, you have been drafted into what I may christen the “Team of Doers”. You have been called upon to contribute your quota in our quest to give quality service to our people and translate our campaign promises to affect lives, and ensure that government indeed is seen as a force for good.

I urge you therefore, not to derail from that path of trust and distinction that earned you this position and the onerous responsibility that comes with it.

On no account, will this administration sacrifice competence at the altar of mediocrity or surrender our avowed determination to work with the best hands available to the narrow impulse of parochialism. We have vowed to surround this Government with the best people wherever they may come from.

Let me be quick to remind you that as Commissioners and Special Advisers, your constituencies and local government areas have now changed to represent the entire State. Endeavour to eschew favouritism and ethnicity in performing your duties and surround yourselves with people who will bring or add value to our common essence.

Competence, loyalty, transparency and pedigree remain the abiding values that recommended you to this position of high responsibility; you must let these values remain your guiding principle. You have joined the team at a very crucial point of our journey to renew the Akwa Ibom spirit- a spirit that has risen and will never again be defined by defeatism, or a lack of faith in one’s belief that God created us all to be successful and we must therefore rise and claim the faith of our greatness. You are coming to join us rouse our people to “dakkada”, dream and dare.

The expectations are high, and you cannot afford to fail the people. We expect you to draw from your fierce intellect to boost our programmes and policies. We want results not excuses, for like Benjamin Franklin said, “He who is good at giving excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Do not fail to deliver accordingly.

When you look at the blackboard of our blueprint and our campaign platform you will find that this administration has outlined its priorities; tick them in your hearts and tie them to your policies and let those elements remain the loadstar that will guide and direct the course of your actions and deeds.

Our commitment to industrialization is irrevocable. We know that through industrialization, we shall rewrite the Akwa Ibom story in employment and wealth creation.

Industrialization is modern man’s god with small ‘g’. Remember the example of China. After the World War II, China was in shambles economically. But one man was prescient enough- the iconic British leader, Winston Churchill who said, “Beware, here lies a sleeping lion, when it wakes up, he will shake the world.”

Today, China is on the wings of history through industrialization. The country leads the wave of emerging economies poised to recast the Western-dominated geopolitical balance. It took a visionary leader-Deng Xia-ping to engineer and engender this new thinking, and he succeeded in doing this, because he surrounded himself with Chinese who believed in his vision and mission.

This is the vision we want to replicate in Akwa Ibom State and I will continue to work day and night to ensure that we pursue our vision with vigour and drive. You can now picture the enormous task that lies in front of you. Will you fail us? I believe your collective answer is a resounding "No".

I urge you to picture the opportunities ahead of you than the challenges. I expect you to justify your selection into this “Team of Doers” by doing good to all manner of people that you will daily come in contact with. You have been called upon to render service to the people- endeavour to treat them with decency and humility- refrain from seeing yourselves as tin gods, the hectoring bull, one whom everyone must kow-tow to, the one who represents the sole repository of knowledge, power and wisdom. In my inaugural address, I called myself a Servant-Leader, I expect you to clothe yourself in the garb of humility while rendering superior service to our people.

We may have begun this industrial race behind others but with your sheer passion and commitment, we can hit the finish line in time, and flood our State with prosperity and replace despondency with hope. Remember that it is the demand of the law of nature that he who begins a race late, must have to run faster in order to catch up or be prepared to perpetually remain behind

That is the work for which you have been called to do. That is the call you have answered with joy today. Keep our dream aglow. As you get this instrument of office from us, do not give us crutches in return.

We believe and expect that you will add a new image and new vitality to our fine work and proud beginning.

Finally, let me share with you a joke that is more of a lesson than humour. A child was asked by his teacher what could be his father’s secret in giving such a good account of himself in his public office, the boy said, “I am not surprised after all, my father is an accountant by profession.” The little boy was wrong. Accountability defies profession. You are called from different backgrounds and professions to give good account of yourselves. From your diverse callings, endeavour to be distinguished as accountants of necessity, to the extent of giving good account of yourselves in this call to public service and stewardship.

Once again, with great expectation, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments, and wish you well.

May God guide you through!
Thank you and God bless.

Buhari meets behind closed doors with Saraki over 2017 Budget

Ahead of the presentation of the 2017 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Senate President assured that the document, which was approved yesterday by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, would be presented to the parliament within the next 10 days.

He expressed optimism that given the level of works that had gone into the preparation, the budget would be passed into law by the National Assembly earlier than the time it took for previous ones to be passed.

According to him, “I came for consultation with the President on a number of national issues. We are all getting towards the end of the year, getting the budget. Just regular consultation.

“We are ready, once the document comes to us, we are ready. I think this time around, a lot of works have taken place behind the scene.

“There is a lot more collaboration and you will see the result of that in the timeframe it will take after the President will have presented it.”

Wole Soyinka destroys US Green card

Nobel Literature prize-winner Prof Wole Soyinka has kept to his words to trash the US Green Card, a residency permit treasured by many,  following the election of Donald Trump.

Trump’s victory on 9 November had left him mortified since.

The AFP reported that Soyinka revealed his action, which he had called ‘Wolexit’  on the sidelines of an education conference at the University of Johannesburg.

He told the French news agency that he has fulfilled his pledge to throw away his US residency green card and leave the country.

Shortly before the vote, Soyinka had vowed to give up his permanent US residency over a Trump victory to protest against the Republican billionaire’s campaign promises to get tough on immigration.

“I have already done it, I have disengaged (from the United States). I have done what I said I would do,” the 82-year-old Nigerian said.

“I had a horror of what is to come with Trump… I threw away the (green) card, and I have relocated, and I’m back to where I have always been” — meaning his homeland Nigeria.

The prolific playwright, novelist and poet won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 and has been a regular teacher at US universities including Harvard, Cornell and Yale.

At the same time he said he would not discourage others from applying for a green card.

“It’s useful in many ways. I wouldn’t for one single moment discourage any Nigerians or anybody from acquiring a green card… but I have had enough of it,” he said.

Soyinka, one of Africa’s most famous writers and rights activists, was jailed in 1967 for 22 months during Nigeria’s civil war.

He was reported to have recently completed a term as scholar-in-residence at New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs.

 It will not be the first time that Soyinka would act this way.

In 1993, Soyinka threw away the national honour,  Commander of the Federal Republic, bestowed on him by the Babangida administration, following the annulment of the June 12 election, won clearly by businessman Moshood Abiola.

NAN