Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog |
- Chris Brown said he contemplated suicide after Rihanna assault
- Photos: Aisha Buhari arrives Cross River State to flag off the 2016 Maternal and Child Health Week
- So Wizkid and I met with the Commissioner of Police today...and here's what happened :-)
- Photo: Nigerian man arrested in India for duping on the pretext of coverting black dollar into original dollar with chemical
- Lovely photos of Senator Ita-Giwa and her daughter at Adaeze Yobo's birthday party
- Photos: Anti-Smuggling Campaign: Nigeria Customs officers attacked by smugglers while on patrol in Ogun State
- Lil Kesh, 9ice, Falz set for Ile-Ife fiesta as Bash emerges host
- Photos: RMD stylish in Agbada
- 'I felt like a monster, I was thinking suicide' : Chris Brown talks about life after Rihanna assault
- Photos from a failed robbery incident in Port Haracourt this morning
- Are you visiting Abuja Soon? Then try the new Eskimo Suites, lounge and restaurant in Maitama Abuja
- Please Advise! Alibaba shares interesting relationship story on his Instagram page
- Photo: Actress Chika Ike loses mum
- Women Arise Activists Led by Its President, Dr, Joe Okei-Odumakin Storm High Court in Ibadan to demand Justice for Man, Oyelowo Killed by His Wife
- Woman talks about her experience with a rapist and also shares photos of horrific injuries inflicted on her by the man
- Photo: Robbery suspects knocked down by trailer during police pursuit along Lagos/Ibadan expressway
- Rent smarter not harder – Rent Actuation
- Anthony Joshua shows off ripped physique and asks 'who's next'?
- Saraki's trial at CCT will henceforth be conducted daily- Judge rules
- Photos: Man who beheaded his partner, smashed her head and flushed it down the toilet is jailed for life
- Read Fashola's take on Buhari's foreign trips
- Save yourself a trip to the hospital
- Chiwetel Ejiofor's sister Dr Kandibe marks her birthday with stunning new photos
- "Learn to say Please & F--k you! Actor Samuel Jackson claps back at fan who called him out on Twitter for refusing to take selfie with him
- Photos: Saraki's supporters stage protest outside CCT
| Chris Brown said he contemplated suicide after Rihanna assault Posted: 18 Apr 2016 12:36 PM PDT  "I went from being on top of the world, number one songs, being kind of like America's sweetheart, to being public enemy number one. I felt like a f***ing monster....I was thinking about suicide and everything else....I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating. I just was getting high." |
| Photos: Aisha Buhari arrives Cross River State to flag off the 2016 Maternal and Child Health Week Posted: 18 Apr 2016 12:21 PM PDT  Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari arrived Cross State on Monday, April18 to flag off the 2016 edition of the Maternal New Born and Child Health Week. She was received at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport by the State Governor, Ben Ayade and his wife, Linda Ayade and other officials. Mrs Buhari who will also launch the Mediatrix Foundation, a pet project of wife of Cross River State First Lady, departed for Ikom for the official flag off.      Source: Cross River Watch |
| So Wizkid and I met with the Commissioner of Police today...and here's what happened :-) Posted: 18 Apr 2016 11:01 AM PDT  I spoke with Wizkid through his lawyer on Friday April 15th where he tendered an apology to me and said he wasn't a violent person, that he didn't mean what he said, that it was just an emotional outburst. And then he asked for forgiveness. Please continue... But despite forgiving him, he still had to show up at the Police HQ to officially apologize and write an undertaken which he did today. I see a lot of negativity has come out of this case with Wizkid - with many folks bashing me for reporting a threat on my person. But here's my consolation and why I am glad this happened. I promise you, especially the ladies, Wizkid will never threaten you with harm again. At least not in public. I believe I am the last bus stop. He will think twice before threatening another human being again on social media. A police file has been opened for him, and he has been cautioned. The day he threatens another human being again with harm, then... Having said that, I turned down taking a photo with him and the police commissioner this afternoon. One of his people took a pic of him and the commissioner with me in it and my people insisted they delete it. Not because I haven't forgiven him, I just don't need the extra drama. I wish Wizkid all the best and will continue to celebrate him. God bless us all. |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 09:16 AM PDT  With his arrest, a team of Police Station Connaught Place, New Delhi District Police comprising of SI Kuldeep Yadav, Ct. Bijender No. 2405/ND and Ct. Ajeet 601/ND led by Inspr. Pankaj Malik, SHO Connaught Place, in the close supervision of Sh. Dhirendra Pratap Singh, ACP/Connaught Place, New Delhi busted a racket which cheated the persons on the pretext of converting quoted black dollars into original dollars with the help of a chemical. The team recovered 26 black paper/black dollar padding, one locker, plastic bottle containing chemical/liquid, 2 laptops, 8 mobile phones, 7 dongals, 23 SIMs, 1 pen drive along with memory card and a number of incriminating documents/articles. Below is the statement by Delhi Police (PR Cell) dated March 27, 2016: One Ms. Priya R/o Delhi lodged a complaint of cheating against a South African national and alleged that she has been cheated of a sum of USD 10,000/- by him for converting quoted black dollars into original dollars with the help of a chemical. A case vide FIR NO. 115/16, Dated 20.03.2016, U/S 420 IPC & 14 Foreigners Act, was registered at PS Connaught Place, New Delhi on her complaint and the accused was arrested, whose identity was disclosed as:- Morgan @ Harry S/o Johnson @ Osayande R/o H. No. 6, Efosa, Street off Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Age 38 year. MODUS OPERANDI Accused first contact his prey and share their mobile numbers and E-mail IDs and then contact with them by giving them allurement of converting quoted black dollars into original dollars with the help of a chemical. He allured people to invest huge quoted black dollars with him into real estate business and sought original dollars from them for the purpose of converting the quoted dollars into original dollars. He would give a demo to his preys for the same. When his client/prey started trusting him, he would demand original dollars from them. Once, the cheated person gives him dollars, he never returned US dollars and rather would demand more on one pretext or the other. After a long persuasion, his preys agreed to come to see the demo as to how quoted black dollars are converted into original dollars. He convince them with the demo. In the matter, the complainant gave him USD 10,000 on the false assurance of the accused that the black dollars will be converted into original dollars with the help of a chemical and he showed her a chemical bottle. Thereafter, he pretended that the chemical has been freezed and the same will be defreeze at UK Embassy. After that, he called her and told her that the UK Embassy officials are demanding Rs. 5,10,000/- to unfreeze the chemical and requested her to transfer the amount in an account but she denied and instead planned to meet him in Connaught Place area of New Delhi where from he was apprehended. Profile of the accused 1.Morgan @ Harry Osayanda R/o , Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Age -38 years The accused passed polytechnic degree in electric engineering from his native country Nigeria in 1998. He had worked as an electrician in Nigeria before coming to India. His target in India was to cheat/deceive people by showing fake demos of converting quoted black dollars into genuine dollars with the help of a chemical. The accused along with his associates was residing in a rented house at 104/9, Upper Ground Floor, Gaushala Road, Kishangarh, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi for the last two months. They keep on changing their rented accommodation in Delhi or nearby areas so as to avoid their identities. He was residing there with a fake name in the name of Terry Lawson as a Mali National. He prepared his forged passport and visa with the help of a laptop and printer in his rented accommodation. During prolonged and sustained interrogation and systematic investigation, a team of the police station Connaught Place comprising of SI Kuldeep Yadav, Ct. Bijender No. 2405/ND and Ct. Ajeet No. 601/ND led by Inspr. Pankaj Malik, SHO Connaught Place under overall supervision of ACP/Connaught Place Sh. Dhirender Pratap Singh recovered 26 black paper/black dollar paddings, one locker/safe, plasic bottle containing chemical, 2 laptops, 8 mobile phones, 7 dongals, 23 SIMs, 1 pen drive along with memory card and a number of incriminating documents. RECOVERY AFFECTED:- 1.26 black paper/black dollar padding, 2.One Locker/Safe, 3.Plastic bottle containing liquid/chemical, Mobiles (8) •Nokia, Black Colour having Airtel SIM •Nokia, Black Colour, having Vodafone SIM . •Samsung, Blue Colour having Airtel SIM •Nokia, Black Colour, Airtel 4G SIM. •Nokia, Black Colour, having Airtel SIM •Nokia, Black Colour, having SIM. •Nokia, Black Colour, having Airtel SIM • Nokia, Black Colour, having Airtel SIM Dongles(7) Reliance, MTS and Micromax SIMs (23) Reliance, Vodafone, MTN of India and Estisate, Glo, Lyca etc. of African Country . Laptops(2) •One Laptop Asus, Black Colour, •One Laptop HP, Black Colour •A Coloured printout Instruction Manual regarding Fabric Quick Automatic Solution. •One Forged Passport with Indian Visa, •A fake Swaziland High Commission Card, Source: New Delhi Police |
| Lovely photos of Senator Ita-Giwa and her daughter at Adaeze Yobo's birthday party Posted: 18 Apr 2016 09:09 AM PDT |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 08:43 AM PDT   A statement by Nigeria Customs Service said the attack will not in anyway deter Service from performing its statutory functions most especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations. Below is a statement issued on April 16 by the command on its Anti- Smuggling Campaign. "Anti-smuggling activity is one of the responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service towards safeguarding the health and wellbeing of every Nigerians by protecting our various borders against illegal importation of items that will pose security challenge to the nation. In carry out this responsibility and collecting maximum revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government, Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service are often been attacked by Smugglers. The Service does not make laws but implement and enforce Government Fiscal policies as it concerns trade. Enforcement of these policies means compelling people to comply and this makes Customs work more difficult and challenging. The government is making all efforts to ensure that all revenue meant for the government are collected and remitted. Encourage local industries and revive industries that have been closed down due to smuggling activities. The launch of operation "hawk descend" an anti-smuggling campaign against the smugglers of frozen poultry products sometime last year witnessed a massive seizure of frozen poultry products across the country. This has brought about attitudinal change by the consumers who now prefer local poultry products to the imported product. The import prohibition list states clearly what should NOT be imported into the country. Click: https://www.customs.gov.ng/ProhibitionList/import.php Despite this unhealthy confrontation from the saboteurs of our economy "dare devil smugglers", the Nigeria Customs Service of today will not spare anybody found in this illegal act. We will crush smugglers out of their illegal business as we have what it takes to bring them down."More photos...   |
| Lil Kesh, 9ice, Falz set for Ile-Ife fiesta as Bash emerges host Posted: 18 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT  Ayo George; the project director gave more hint of what is lined up and what we should look out for during the Fiesta while speaking with select media platforms in Lagos recently. "At the start of this whole plan, we told Kabiesi, the Alayeluwa, Ooni of Ife that we were bringing Lagos Standard to Ile-Ife. Everything that can happen in Lagos can happen in Ile-Ife. From the kind of celebrities and performing artistes to the ambiance, to the project delivery, brand association and a whole lot. For the first time in Ile-Ife, there would be fire-works immediately after the Ooni's address. A whole lot is under wraps for now, and would be unveiled at the event to promote Ile-Ife and also the Yoruba culture and heritage. We expect between 6,000 and 8,000 people attending for FREE, and this means a lot to the economy of the whole community" George Said.It has been confirmed that Lil Kesh, 9ice and Falz would be performing at the Fiesta and they are the first set of artistes to be unveiled. More artistes would be unveiled in the coming days, and Ile-Ife can expect their favorite artistes to be unveiled. Bash the comedian has also been confirmed to be the host of the epoch making event. Apparently, the coming event is going to be fun filled and full of pleasant surprises. May 28 would definitely at the end, be a day to be remembered for a long time as this event would open up Ile-Ife to the world of investors and tourists. Ile-Ife Fiesta is one of many projects lined up to facilitate the industrialization of Ife Kingdom. |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 08:33 AM PDT |
| 'I felt like a monster, I was thinking suicide' : Chris Brown talks about life after Rihanna assault Posted: 18 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT  Speaking in the trailer for the new documentary, he said: "I went from being on top of the world, number one songs, being kind of like America's sweetheart, to being public enemy number one. "I felt like a f***ing monster. I was thinking about suicide and everything else. I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating. I just was getting high."Other stars like Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris also spoke about how anger got the best of him. His mother, Joyce Hawkins, also talks about the incident. She said: "That was the worst day of my life and probably his life...I felt like I was going to lose my child."Watch the trailer below |
| Photos from a failed robbery incident in Port Haracourt this morning Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:35 AM PDT       Photo credit: Amadi Promzy Chimenem |
| Are you visiting Abuja Soon? Then try the new Eskimo Suites, lounge and restaurant in Maitama Abuja Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:28 AM PDT  Some of the hotel's facilities includes; 24/7complimentary WiFi, swimming pool, restaurant, bar, hotel accommodation and lounge. The hotel is situated at: No 12A, Katsina-ala Crescent, off Yedsaram Crescent, Maitama, Abuja. Tel: 09-2921495 Twitter: @eskimosuites Instagram: EskimoSuites Facebook: Eskimo Suites Email: info@eskimosuites.com Website: www.eskimosuites.com While the Eskimo Lounge and Restaurant are situated at: 1127 Aminu Kano Crescent, Queenfem Plaza, Opp Mr abigfs, Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja. Twitter: @EskimoLounge Instagram: @EskimoLounge Facebook: Eskimo Lounge Credits Photographer/Creative Director: Zamani Istifanus | @xamanistudios Publicity Manager: James Olanipekun | @jamesolani More photos...                  |
| Please Advise! Alibaba shares interesting relationship story on his Instagram page Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:27 AM PDT  "I don't know how to advise my guy... He says I should help him ask without adding any names. "What if she reads the postings online? I asked him. "Then she will know if I am right or wrong to have packed her out of my flat and ended the relationship". Please note, if you have no advice to give don't comment. Insults will be deleted. Please read the chats before commenting. Don't be asking me what the guy did. She said it all there. To make this clearer, her friends told her that her Bobo was responsible for impregnating a lady. So she went gaga. Then found out it was not her Bobo. At which time, she had been thrown out and she then realized that the girls who claimed to be protecting her from getting hurt (which may be true) did not investigate properly. So things became bad. And got worse when she broke the driver side glass of his Gwagon with a flower pot. Now it had become clear he wasn't the person responsible. Those friends have apologized that they "thought he was the one"... That is the root of all this apology. My Guy's argument is if she had a gun and shot him that night, what will these apologies be for???? |
| Photo: Actress Chika Ike loses mum Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:14 AM PDT  "RIP Mum. Saying I am going to miss you is an understatement, I can't still believe you are gone , I sit here wondering if I'm in a dream and waiting for someone to pinch me . You thought me how to be strong, giving, loyal, compassionate and driven. You told me that there is nothing impossible to do. You made me the woman I am today. I am most grateful to you. I will miss you greatly . I know you are watching over me and you will always live on. Love you mum".May her soul rest in peace Amen |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:12 AM PDT  It is indeed very saddening that the argument only ended up with termination of a life - a life! No subject of argument is worth taking the life of another for. No, murder is no acceptable response in a disagreement! Women Arise, as a human rights organization, we feel this case throws up a disturbing depiction of the female gender and therefore want to call for justice. In Nigeria, as well as other countries of the world, murder is a grievous crime and is punishable by law. The law must take its course in this case. We applaud the matter is now in court we have therefore begun to monitor it. Although there are insinuations that the alleged perpetrator would be treated with preferences and justice could be hindered due to her profession as a lawyer, as a matter of professional solidarity. We, however, trust that this insinuation cannot be true and want to dismiss it as what it is –insinuation. The best solidarity is the one for justice. If utmost solidarity was betrayed by a wife in a matrimonial union, such that she arbitrarily terminated the life of her husband according to the allegation, such could literally not value and therefore should not be accorded solidarity of profession. We call on all reasonable and well meaning lawyers to only take sides with objectivity and justice. As humans, every of our actions today are making a draft of history for tomorrow. I believe every lawyer would rather be on the good side of history by supporting justice. Sentiments would certainly deny justice and empower impunity, but this is a rather symbolic case and is strongly sensitive to allow such emotions come to the surface. It is readily too open and its outcome will make a strong statement on all of us; the judiciary; the bar and the rest of us in the society. This is a crucial time to call a spade by its proper name and avoid whipping up any sentiments. Any outcome to the contrary of justice would be very dangerous to humanity and highly indicting of our society. We can't afford to put justice to death; our society will totally falter if this happens. We are against discriminations as what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander! Because crime is not gender peculiar, justice cannot be discriminatory or partial. We do not only stand for women when injustice is perpetrated against the gender, we stand for justice for all humans. Justice is justice for all, male and female alike. We take this moment to condole the family and relatives of the deceased husband, Late Oyelowo Oyediran. We mourn with you as his death is so unnatural due to the evident contextual violence wrapping it. Domestic violence is on a shocking increase, and this case #Justice4Lowo is testament case to this effect. We implore couples to always take things easy with each other, especially during heated arguments. Moment arguments begin to evoke strong emotions; they also begin to assume dangerous dimensions. Violence kills, but can be avoided. It is not about who speaks the loudest or acts the most, but about who maturely keeps quiet for the other and lets their maturity handle the situation. This recipe is not only for the male to be the one acting mature, but both. Mature acting saves the violence, and ultimately saves the lives. We speak strongly against Domestic Violence and urge everyone to desist from it. We demand proper investigation in this case and ask that justice be done to make an example of deterrence. We know that this type of violence resulting in murder happens severally but are not reported or taken up for justice. This is however an example case that we must make a lesson out of. So, we say #Justice4Lowo! Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin President Women Arise for Change Initiative Website: www.womenarise.org.ng, More photos...     |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 06:57 AM PDT  In a facebook post Kat Berry, from Victoria in Australia, talked about when and how she met the man , how he attacked and raped her, the injuries she sustained from the attack, how she reported the case to the police but was let down and finally advised ladies to be careful. Read her post after the cut.  |
| Photo: Robbery suspects knocked down by trailer during police pursuit along Lagos/Ibadan expressway Posted: 18 Apr 2016 07:43 AM PDT  The suspects were arrested Ibafo Divisional patrol team and recovered items snatched from the victim. |
| Rent smarter not harder – Rent Actuation Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:46 AM PDT  Many have experienced the seamless process of Rent Actuation and have actualized their property dreams in different areas of Lagos and Abuja. You can be a part of this great innovation. Rent Now and Pay Later, by just being a salary earner you automatically qualify to access rent loans payable in 9months for a one year rent or 18months for two years rent and best of all, No collateral needed. Shouldn't you be calling us? Rent Now, Pay Later….. Contact PropertyBank for more details and enquiries Call 07002224444, 07045749996, 08127000082, 08029691850, 08067135943. Twitter: @thepropertybank Facebook: facebook.com/propertybankng Linkedin: PropertyBank Ng www.propertybankng.com Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXXsq1Eo7JI |
| Anthony Joshua shows off ripped physique and asks 'who's next'? Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:44 AM PDT  ''No time to wait. Only time to prepare. Who's next? #AJBoxing'' |
| Saraki's trial at CCT will henceforth be conducted daily- Judge rules Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:33 AM PDT  "Let me state it here for both the prosecution and the defence that the trial of the defendant shall proceed on a day-to-day basis till the conclusion of this matter and it will begin from 10am to 6pm"he saidHe said the court would on each day of the trial go on break at 1pm and 4pm. |
| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:29 AM PDT  Dempsey Nibbs, 69, killed Judith Nibbs, his partner of 30 years, after he became angry when she admitted to having affairs. The crane driver, from the Charles Estate in Hoxton attacked Ms Nibbs with an iron bar in April 2014, the Old Bailey heard. He told jurors he only meant to "slap her around a bit" but she died in a struggle while he was trying to cram a metal bar in her mouth. He said he could tell she was dead from the way her eyes had "rolled over in her head", but the court heard evidence from a doctor that she was still alive at this pint. Nibbs, who has prostate cancer, claimed he had acted in self defence and that he thought Ms Nibbs was a "snake" - but jurors heard he had shown no sign of mental illness. During the trial, Crispin Aylet QC said: "In the end you chopped her head off and smashed it up and flushed it down the lavatory because she betrayed you" "Bearing in mind you spent a large amount of your life with this woman, the mother of your two childre, with whom you spent many happy years, how do you feel?" he asked.Mr Nibbs replied: "I feel terrible. Still, she let me down. She betrayed me. When she died that was me finished. Me, myself I'm dead because I did not see a way out for me. I cut off her head because I' m finished, I 'm dead.. She was going to leave me anyway, so what can I say."The Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC told him: "I'm sure you don't regret your wife's death save for its effect on your own comfort and well-being."Defence lawyer Ian Henderson QC told the court that Nibbs acknowledged that his ill health meant he would die in jail. Nibbs attacked the mother of his two children after she had taunted him that she had had affairs. After knocking her unconscious with the iron bar, he then cut off her head before attacking it with a mallet. He then wrote a note to his son and called 999 to say two bodies would be found at the property. When police arrived, Nibbs was attempting to stab himself. Officers broke the door down before grappling with Nibbs who was armed with a shotgun and knife. Jurors heard that their relationship soured when he suspected Ms Nibbs of having affairs. Their son said that since his mother no longer had to care for his younger sister, Nibbs felt she had changed and was not the "housewife" she used to be. During a row Ms Nibbs admitted seeing other men, taunting her partner by saying: "I have had sex eight times."The next day she inadvertently predicted her own killing as she left work with the words: "If I'm not in Friday, I might be dead."But Judge Hilliard rejected Nibbs's claim he only initially "tapped" his wife on the head with a metal bar to get her attention. Cutting her head off was an act of "grotesque savagery" in revenge for her perceived "treachery", Judge Hilliard added.  Source: Metropolitan Police/BBC |
| Read Fashola's take on Buhari's foreign trips Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:02 AM PDT  In making this public intervention, I seek to highlight the benefit of global relationships and cooperation in a world that is changing daily as a result of globalization and transborder economics, social and even criminal activities where no one is safe, except all are safe, and to leave the dispassionate observer his opinion after deep reflection on the value, or lack of it, of the President's foreign trips.This way I hope every Nigerian who cares about our country will have some information about what their President is doing about the things that concern them. First I will start with context. Barely 2 decades ago (between 1994 and 1998) we would not have quarreled with the description that we were a pariah nation. We were ostracized from global events because of bad governance. We had lost the respect accorded Nations like ours were they well-led and well-run. I recall that not a few Nigerians complained that the green passport was becoming, if it had not already become, a burden. That was at the height of the dictatorial government that broke the rules of international relations. It was from there that we started to heal. Investors entered our country. Many brands that we sought after abroad started coming to set up shop in our country. The tourist footfalls in our country increased slowly but surely, but again we began to slide. That was when Buhari declared at a meeting in Lagos during his campaign in 2015, that if elected, he would make us proud about our country again. Proud to be Nigerian again. That is the context in which I view his foreign trips and the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Foreign Relations which promised to: Make the Nigerian national interest the overriding factor in its foreign policy and international relations. Work to reform global governance in multilateral institutions and agencies. Work to strengthen the African Union to become a more effective organization on global affairs. Engage the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) on the basis of equality. Play a leadership role to develop a MINT (Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Turkey) as a counterforce to BRICS. I will limit my takeaways to 4 (Four) trips that I attended with the President namely: the G7 Summit in Germany, the Oil and Gas Summit in Iran, the Renewable Energy Conference in Abu Dhabi and the State visit and Business Forum in China; and 2 (Two) trips that I did not attend, but whose deliberations I followed, namely: Paris for the COP 21 and USA for the Nuclear Energy Summit. G7 in Germany This is a club of eight of the most industrialized, economic and technologically advanced nations. For the benefit of those who do not follow international politics it was originally the G8 comprising the USA, Britain, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Italy, and Russia, who were later suspended and had sanctions imposed on them to make it G7 as a result. It was formed in 1975 as a club of 6 (Six) before Canada and Russia were admitted. They look after each other, and the rest of the world to put it simply. They have gone to war together if you remember Iraq and Libya in recent memory and they are all largely collaborating to fight terror. (Most recently the FBI was rendering assistance to Belgium in the aftermath of the terror attacks in that Country). Why G7 one might then ask? Answer: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as host, invited PMB on his inauguration to be their guest along with some three or four other African countries. Their agenda was global security, global economy and global health in the aftermath of Ebola, which was still raging in some African countries. Apart from the personal aides of the President, Governor Shettima of Borno, General Dambazau and myself were the only ones who accompanied PMB. I recall that upon our arrival in Germany they expressed surprise that our delegation was small and asked if others were still coming. In the pre-departure briefing, in addition to highlighting how the security and economic agenda of the G7 coincided with 2 (Two) of his campaign promises, security, (corruption) economy, PMB stated the reasons 3 of us were invited. Governor Shettima was in the front line of terrorists and criminal activities in the north east; General Abdulrahman Dambazau, was a former Chief of Army Staff, and also a faculty associate of Harvard University Weatherhead Center for International Affairs; I had run the single biggest economy of a state within Nigeria for eight years and was in the frontline of Ebola. Without ministers, one week after taking office, he felt we were the ones best suited to assist, if he needed it, on the issues of security, economy and health on the G7 agenda. In the event, he did not need us. He held his ground admirably. He was the first person called upon to speak at a Summit in which Nigeria was not a member. I was proud to be a Nigerian. At global summits we usually got to speak when others had spoken and the hall has emptied. President Obama was the first G7 member to speak after PMB and he said that Nigeria has elected a President that brings a reputation of scrupulous integrity to the table. I was proud to be a Nigerian. The opening session was robust and welcoming, we saw some of the world's most powerful men and women take off their jackets, call each other by their first names in a club-like setting while addressing the world's most serious problems. Problems that affect you and I daily. I was proud that my President was in a room where decisions concerning my planet were being deliberated upon. Prime Minister Cameron, Chancellor Merkel and others also spoke in similar vein about our President's reputation and our nation's strategic position in Africa and the world. They pledged support for Nigeria on Terror and the Economy. Importantly, I learned that their scientists were worried about increasing resistance of strains of infections to antibiotics; and that they were committing enormous resources into finding out why and what to do. They highlighted the difficulty of time and resources that it will take to develop new antibiotics and the risk to global health. If we all appreciate how vulnerable we can be without effective antibiotics, especially our children, and if we remember how low life expectancy was and how poor global health was before the discovery of Penicillin after the World War, we will appreciate the seriousness of the platform to which Nigeria was invited. I was proud that our President was there. If the seven most powerful nations stand with you, who can stand against you? I need not say more except that I can attest that PMB has been following up on these matters, and the progress on security is visible, while results on the economic front will manifest soon enough. Iran Oil and Gas Summit For those who are not aware, one of the reasons why oil prices went up, and from which we benefited in the past, was that Iran, the world's 7th largest producer of oil, was facing global sanctions from which she was due to emerge in 2016. Because Iran was soon to be selling oil, the likelihood of a further crash of oil prices that had drastically fallen was a threat to Nigeria's economy if oil prices crashed further.(Our 2016 budget proposals had just been formulated on a $38 per barrel assumption) I was witness to PMB's persuasion to Iran to come to the market slowly instead of pushing out large volumes which will raise supply and crash prices, even though Iran also needed the cash. You can't do that type of diplomacy by letter or by phone, in my view, not when the major players were all there in person. I witnessed the meeting with the Venezuelan prime minister, who was leading the South American producers to sell more and get cash even if the prices were lower. PMB's logic was different. Hold your volumes, steady the price, and don't let us hurt one another. Recorders of history will recall that the Venezuelan government suffered a major political defeat in Parliament, while PMB's logic has at least steadied oil prices. It might interest you to know that all European nations sent their oil ministers, except Russia, where Vladimir Putin came in person, because having been suspended from the G8 and facing sanctions, this was the meeting where his country's interests were best served. For the record, Russia pledged a $5 Billion state support to Iran, and if the purpose of this is lost on anyone, I interpret it to mean, "Take cash, don't pump out your oil. It will hurt me." This is the reality of international politics. Finally on Iran, PMB told us, how when he flew to Iran in his days as Petroleum Minister, he noticed how much gas they were flaring and now he returned as President, all the flares were gone. We found out that all the gas had been harvested and piped to every home for heating, cooking etc. His mandate: "If they can do it, we must do it." I am proud to be led by a President who sees good things outside and seeks to bring them to his people. Abu Dhabi Renewable Energy This is reputed to be the richest of the Emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Apart from seeking cooperation to recover Nigeria's stolen wealth stored in the UAE [His anti-corruption commitment pursued in person], PMB addressed a renewable energy summit where we learned about initiatives to bring solar power price down to 5 (Five) US cents per kilowatt hour, (approximately N10) as against the price of 17 (seventeen) US cents (N34) per KW/h tariff in Nigeria fixed at privatization by the last Government. PMB's mandate was for us to explore collaboration for the manufacture of solar panels in Nigeria to bring down the price and deploy it to the sunlit areas of Nigeria, especially the North that is most prolific for irradiation. We are currently working on the Energy Mix for Nigeria which is the implementation process of the energy policy that will take us there. Hopefully we will soon be signing the first set of solar deployment agreements for Nigeria. In this way, more solar and hydro will be used in the North, more coal and hydro in the Middle Belt, and more gas in the South; so that we take power generation closest to the most prolific source of fuel to bring down the cost and make it more affordable. On the trip to China (which I will comment on) we met a few Chinese solar manufacturers (who recognized us from Abu Dhabi) who want to set up business of manufacturing solar panels in Nigeria. China Investment Forum and State Visit This is the visit that provoked this write up, because I had bottled what I knew. But it was time, I believe, to share some of it. China is the second largest economy in the world with a per capita income of $8,000 which they are planning to raise to $12,000 by 2020. By her own assessment, according to President Xi Jinping, they are still a developing nation seeking to achieve what he described as "initial prosperity" by 2020. If you look at the back of your phone, your TV, your watch, your I-Pad, your Mobile Charger, many other accessories that you use, you are likely to find these three words "Made in China" printed somewhere. For such a nation, (with trillions of dollars in reserves, that plans to spend $2 trillion on imports in the next five years and earn $100 billion annually) who still sees itself as a developing nation, such modesty in the face of success, assiduous hard work and productivity is a destination to seek cooperation in the pursuit of economic development. This is where PMB led an array of Nigerian investors including Erisco Foods, (who now makes our tomato paste at home and employs people locally including farmers who supply the tomatoes), Power operators (DisCos and GenCos), and the Dangote Group, to meet with and address their Chinese partners. During the meeting with the Chinese President, 6 (Six) collaboration agreements were signed including for agriculture and food production improvement techniques, rail and power infrastructure development, for funding the Dangote group to continue to expand and create jobs at home and keeping some of our reserves in the currency of the richest nation in the world. This last mentioned agreement was a legitimate coup by PMB because the intelligence was that some West African countries were going to sign before us. PMB seized the moment. Of course he had to apologize for our previous failures on our agreement made to part-fund 4 airport projects in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt and Abuja-Kaduna rail project. The Chinese had provided their agreed part of 85% but the remaining 15% Nigeria did not honour during the last administration. Some of the recent revelations about financial scandals estimated at $2.1 billion in the office of the National Security Adviser alone during the last administration suggest how impactful such funds would have been in delivering these critical infrastructure ; but we all know what happened. This is why PMB is traveling. To repair our reputation severely damaged by the last government, and to assure our partners that Nigeria has CHANGED. And from there to re-negotiate an existing funding agreement to complete critical Transport infrastructure. Because of his reputation, President Xi Jinping believed him, and to quote him, he said: "It is better late than never. " Through him China literally opened the door to Nigeria in areas of infrastructure (power, railways and roads), agriculture, education and manufacturing especially in our Free Trade Zones. To paraphrase the Chinese President, "ask us for whatever support or partnership and we will be happy to respond." "We wish to see you take your rightful place and we are happy that you are the first African president visiting China, after my visit to Africa last year to pledge a $60 billion support for the Development of the continent." If this was not initiative I doubt what is? As for the trips to Paris, COP 21 and the USA, Nuclear Security Summit, I will only say this: a) The threat of climate change, global warming, desertification in the north of Nigeria and coastal erosion in the Atlantic (Bar beach in Lagos) and in the south, affecting Rivers, Bayelsa and other coastal states, the clear scientific evidence lays the blame at the door of the world's most industrialized nation for their pollution. b) Since the Kyoto protocol they have paid lip service to remedying the situation, which unfortunately affects developing nations more adversely. c) COP 21 was the first serious commitment that these leaders made to ensure that global temperatures do not rise above 2°C and indeed are reduced to 1.5°C. I am proud that Nigeria was not missing at this historic moment. When the planet is saved, the next and future generations of Nigerians will recall that PMB was present, when all of the world leaders were present to save the planet. d) In the aftermath of COP 21, the commitment of these nations is to increase production and technology for renewable energy and to reduce the use of carbon fuels. One way they plan to achieve this is increased deployment of nuclear energy. e) These nations are at the cusp of sharing safe nuclear technology for peaceful uses with developing nations for power generation. This for me was reason enough and a good one at that for PMB to be in the USA because Nigeria has been pursuing a nuclear power program for about 17 years, not as an alternative to gas or Hydro, but as additions to them. The world leaders must trust you for you to partake. At that summit, in the group photograph, PMB stood on the second row along side Britain and Turkey. In the past, we used to be on the last row. This is CHANGE. As he meets with world leaders outside Africa, he has not forgotten the home front. He is regularly visiting and receiving his sister and brother presidents on the African continent. PMB has earned their trust for all of us and I am proud to carry my green passport. Yes, some results are not yet manifest, and may take a little while to do so, but a solid foundation for a sustainable, respectable and prosperous future is being laid, block by block. This is how to build a solid "home" from whence we can project respect abroad with confidence. How many of us will do business with total strangers without a reference or a good reputation in this age of due diligence? PMB is building affiliations everywhere that if well-managed in future, will develop into a global network of friendships, trust and respect for Nigeria and Nigerians. I once heard that the role of a leader, like that of the head of a family, is that of an aggregator, opening doors and opportunities, breaking down barriers and forging alliances. I agree. This is my Takeaway on these trips. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN |
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| Posted: 18 Apr 2016 05:06 AM PDT  The actor saw this tweet and clapped back, saying the fan didn't even say please before or after he 'politely' declined the photo request. "I refused the photo politely @FollowFITZ then you spazzed out!" Samuel responded. "Learn to say Please & F--k you! Thanks for the Whitney Snitch!" "I said thanks but no @FollowFITZ, you said Aww C'mon, I'm a big fan, me, sorry, you, I watch all your movies but not anymore! Now @FollowFitz, do you see Please anywhere in that exchange? You saw it your way, I see it mine. Stop whining, it's over."Two days after the Twitter encounter occurred, Fitz took to Facebook to explain more about the incident. "I just had a big letdown of my life. There was no altercation. There was no situation," he shared. "I just went on Twitter and I told Samuel L. Jackson, hey I couldn't believe how you treated one of your fans." He added, "If you're going to be told 'F you' on Twitter by anybody, it's awesome if it's done by Samuel L. Jackson."  |
| Photos: Saraki's supporters stage protest outside CCT Posted: 18 Apr 2016 04:18 AM PDT      Photo credit: Sahara Reporters |
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