HONOUR: SAVE A GIRL SECURE THE FUTURE

HONOUR: SAVE A GIRL SECURE THE FUTURE: In line with our ongoing campaign tagged #FreedomForTheGirls , we want to highlight progress made thus far. The campaign aims to supply sa...

SAVE A GIRL SECURE THE FUTURE

In line with our ongoing campaign tagged #FreedomForTheGirls , we want to highlight progress made thus far. The campaign aims to supply sanitary pads for 450 South African School Girls for one year. This is done in collaboration with PinkKZN South Africa, a for-profit social enterprise that provides eco-friendly menstrual products that are degradable, washable and reusable. As we are gradually moving towards our set goals, this is an appreciation to those that have contributed immensely to this campaign. We are very optimistic that by the end of the campaign we will surpass our goal and would have done our bit to empower the girls. To join the campaign visit the following links:

PROGRESS

• PINKKZN ON FACEBOOK
• OUR VIDEO CAMPAIGN 

For Contributions 
Banking details: 
Nedbank Account Number 1145323766, 
Account Name: PinkKZN
Account Type: Cheque Account; 
Branch Number: 198765 …..

FREEDOM FOR THE GIRLS CAMPAIGN

We are taking up a challenge to fund the provision of eco-friendly menstrual products that are degradable, washable and reusable to 450 school girls in South Africa.We are doing this in patnership with a South African for profit Social Enterprise PinkKZN.
This is done in sustaining Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which explained explicitly how young girls between the ages of 13 to 19 years are susceptible to various kind of challenges around the world.

For Donations to the campaign:

Banking details: 
Nedbank Account Number 1145323766, 
Account Name: PinkKZN
Account Type: Cheque Account; 
Branch Number: 198765 …..

For more info,follow the following links and share with your friends:


PINKZN on Facebook
Our Video Campaign 

Why The Senate DISMAGU Magu

EFCC Acting Chairman

Magu was rejected the second time on the premises of a failed integrity test that was carried out by the Department of State Service. I wasn't that surprised,infact I would have been more surprised if he had been cleared by the Bukola Saraki led National Assembly.The same Bukola Saraki that is being tried for allegations bordering on several corruption cases with the recent one being an allegation of a #5Billion paris funds. Here are some points for the takings.

1) The DSS which shouldn't in any case act without the consent of the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces filed a report on a nominee of the president and he is not even aware of the filth as narrated by the DSS about Magu. This only buttress the fact that there is operational inefficiency within the presidency and it stinks. Why can't the DSS made their report on Magu known to the president or was it the president that decided to handle the reports in a carefree manner? the answer is confined to the presidency. But one disgraceful fact is that the Presidency just achieved a low by displaying there dirty linen in the public domain and thereby shooting themselves in the foot.

2)The NASS premised his rejection on the DSS report,DSS as we know is an appendage of the Executive,did the NASS at any point ever setup an adhoc commitee at their level to investigate the report being used between his first screening and the second screening. It has been affirmed that he was rejected on both ocassions because of the same report.

3) Now to the conspiracy theory even if the presidency cleared Magu, and resend his name 100times,this NASS as constituted will still reject him because he apppears a man that is not ready to negotiate with corruption and its promoters. Magu is the man sitting on top of an investigation that includes some ex-governors. With most of them at the screening,passing Magu would have been like playing "Penalty to Throwing" in Small Doctor's words.

The believe is that Magu is being used as a pawn in a massive power contest going on and it is sad that the presidency 'negligently" actually fell for it. I want to say this categorically I am not a Magu apologist,neither am I a fan of this useless, good-for-nothing 8th Assembly.

They have displayed down the years that a rotten orange is more useful than them when it comes to handling issues of national interest,when the game is being served to fuel their personal interest,that is when the senate marksman-Dino Melaye will lead his brigand in shooting down anything that comes in between.

Dino's case is like that of a tortoise that made use of his hanky-panky attribute to achieve his aim,the tortoise later turns his back on his benefactors forgetting that what goes around surely comes back around. In the end it is that same achievement that consumed him and render the tortoise helpless. Let Dino continue on his riddance, I hope he enjoys what comes after.

However, in Mike Ozekhome's constitution,the president cannot resend Magu's name and Magu cannot even continue in acting capacity,he is a typical victim of Magu,so I wasn't even surprised because no thief will want to be caught pants down.
According to sources, the SP is having a candidate for the post of the EFCC,who is allegedly a Yoruba Man, so that he can cow him to do his bidding.
My advice to President Buhari is that the polity is getting dirty,all he needs to do is to wear Gloves and get it dirty also,and in the end his hand would be clean.
Mr President should just nominate a more ruthless person without the influence of the Kwarrupt people to whip them into line.

THE DAWN IS HERE

Oyo State Map

Look back and get experience;
Look forward and see hope;
Look around and find reality;
Look within and find confidence;

So shall we look back and know where we are coming from. In Marcus Garvey's word, a generation without a sound knowledge of where they are coming from is like a tree without a root. It is a known fact that our dear state Oyo State of "blessed memory"-the glorious days have since become an illusion, is the most politically complicated state in the country. This is not so,but because the disunity in our diversity that has enveloped our socio-political atmosphere have not only affected the political arrangements of the state, it has also amount to grave underdevelopment in major parts of the state.
The contributions made by our forebears in ensuring the political independence with the spectacle of national unity in shaping the greatness of our beloved country is not a child's play. Let us not dig deeper,the stories and their respective achievements no matter how huge or small is still very much alive for every sane mind to glimpse at.
In the Pre-independence days and notably the first republic, Oyo state as it was then the capital of the defunct western region was the bride and toast of all and sundry. The pace at which unprecedented monuments and developments were experienced in those days have never been replicated by subsequent regimes. In those days Oyo state is well revered as the seat of thoughts and ideas,where people of different strata relates in their quest for knowledge and to engage leaders of thoughts.
Questions to be asked is
How did we got it all wrong,and at what point did we got it wrong?
The answer is not far-fetched,one fact that is peculiar to the good old days is the kind of Leaders we had and the harmonization of thoughts and ideas they shared in actualizing the common goal of ensuring the welfare of the populace is well taken care of. Bring up their names in public discourse and everyone far and wide will give a well deserved respect to their memories. The stellar ideological and democratic values they displayed in the course of giving governance to the people resonates directly with the yearnings of the teeming populace.

What Has Changed? 
Nothing has changed albeit Osun state being carved out of the Old Oyo state, but that is no reason for the excellent leadership lacuna experienced in the Agodi government house.Leadership position can never be empty. This is not to distance away from the fact that we've had men that distinguished themselves in their own capacity,the contemporary preference for political survival which in the real sense should be premised around the people they led still remains the reason why excellent leadership has evade us here in the pacesetter state. Give the people what they deserve and you remain in their memory till the end of time.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo is being remembered today not only because of his political sagacity,his governance style and his exemplary relationship with the people he led are the necessary materials that are lacking in the genre of leaders of today. The leaders we have today are more concerned about the affluence they command,they give zilch damn in how the kids on the street will get to school,how the health care system will be fixed,how to improve the welfare delivery to better the lots of the helpless in the society. It saddens one's heart to realise that most of the monuments-feeling a bit nostalgic, left by the first generations of leaders we have are been left to decay by subsequent governments,and those that are still standing are in pathetic state.
The present set of leaders rather would place their selfish interest above the welfare of the people they lead and turn themselves into 21st century Emperor unlike the first republic leaders that jettisoned their personal interest at the behest of the well-being and social-upliftment of the teeming populace.
Relevance can not be bought but earned. Dr Tai Solarin once said "Leadership means suffering",give the people good governance,and they will sing your name to high places.
The main point is in those days,excellence prevail over sectionalism,Unity prevailed over nepotism,and common goal comes before bigotry. It doesn't matter where you come from or which party you represented,so far your antecedent breeds excellence and you have an affable character. Example of such occasion was when Chief Adisa Akinloye of blessed memory led the Ibadan People's Party delegate to support Chief Obafemi Awolowo led Action group in the election of 1951 against a Dennis Osadebey who was projected by the NCNC having an Ibadan Man as the opposition leader in those days.
This same reason was what made Chief Busari Adelakun of blessed memory to vouch for Chief Bola Ige in 1979 as Governor of the Old Oyo State. All this people were legends of there time and have their names in the history book not because of their person but because they promote unity among themselves and were on course for a common goal which is no matter where you are comming from,so far you are capable of doing the job,you have their support.
However,in recent times we've let go of the common goal in actualising our projected pacesetting prowess for lies,bigotry and farcical sectionalism that was created by some set of selfish and good-for-nothing politicians in our state.
My curiosity led me to ask people around me a salient question which I know many people out there will be interested in. For the records,while Lagos state was the federal capital, Oyo was the capital of the old western region. Then the question is why has Oyo remain stagnant while Lagos is cruising at  the speed of Light? The cogent reason is not far-fetched, "Lack of Visionary Leadership".
While Lagos enjoyed successive excellent leadership,Leaders that tapped into the resources of their state for the benefit of the people and the state,while they were boosting Lagos economically,while they were developing Lagos to a formidable state that compares with first-class cities around the world, My people,I repeat my People were busy fighting over where the Governor should come from, they were busy fighting themselves on how to share the spoils,they were busy digging holes for themselves, before we could even say Jack Robinson, Lagos is head and shoulder above Oyo state.
The Case of Misplaced Priority
Sectionalism can be said to have erupted in Oyo State as far back as 1983. The scenario that played out between Chief Busari Adelakun and Chief Bola Ige who were once Political lovers gave birth to the thought of "Ibadan Must Be Governor". Let it be known that the fallout was never for public interest but a matter of personality and interest clash between the two which led to the fracas and subsequent political intolerance in the state. Let the historians take up the rest for another day!
My reason for pinpointing this fact is that as a student of history,we owe ourselves and our generation the duty to always get the facts right at all times. The records are everywhere to be cross-checked by anybody,we shouldn't because of our selfish interest play to the gallery to masturbate our ego at anytime.
Back to my earlier point,my take is this, which is very essential,after the separation of Osun state from Oyo State,Oyo state is left with Five Geopolitical Zones,our priorities should not be where the Governor or whosoever comes from,rather the best person,with an excellent antecedent and a visionary mind should always be encouraged to lead us at all times.
Placing Sectionalism above excellence will only continue to draw us back and our situation will be like that philosophical thought that said "doing the same thing the same way,and expecting a different result is the highest point of insanity". In 1979,it is safe to say that Bola Ige came from the Osun State of today,but his regime still stand as one of the best ever experienced in the history book of Oyo State.
The oldies of this generation have nothing but sheer selfish interest in promoting the Logic of the Governor must come from a particular place at all times. When a society is undergoing this kind of political imbroglio like ours with misplaced priority,the safety valves of the society is reposed in the youth,youth that are ready to wrestle their future from the claws of the old tigers. The mind of a typical youth is like an open blank book where many things could be written. As a youth we are undoubtedly a stakeholder in the system. As Cassius observed in Julio Ceaser "We are the master of our fate,the captain of our soul" are we ready to be the decision maker in what happens in our dear state? are we ready to take up the task of "GRABBING" our fate from the clutch of the fable that was created to serve sectional interest and not our collective interest? The time to take an holistic approach to governance and the issues surrounding our development is nigh.
The perspicuity in negativity of placing bigotry above excellence have been the bane of development, in Madiba's words "sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great,we can be that Generation",we owe our generation to correct this notion or the greatness we so much crave will continue to be an illusion.

The Change We Need
Times have come where we let go of those oldies that constituted themselves as an unchallengeable autocrats and an unrepentant emperor, in the nearest future which is 2019, Oyo State must go for a man whose viable antecedents speaks more of him than his words,who cannot be bought,whose word is his bond,who put character above wealth,who possesses opinions and will,who do not hesitate to take chances,who will not lose his individuality in crowd midst,who will be honest in small things as in greater things,who will make no compromise with wrong doing,whose ambitions are not confined to their selfish desires,who will make the interest of the people of the people of the state his priority,who is not afraid or ashamed to stand for the truth when it is so unpopular.

Join me for the next in series "Where there is a will" in few days time. THANKS

Manchester City beat PSG to make Historic Champions League Semis

Kevin De Bruyne hit a brilliant winner as Manchester City claimed a place in the Champions League semifinals with a stunning victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

De Bruyne curled home a fine shot with 14 minutes of their last-eight tie at the Etihad Stadium remaining, securing a 1-0 victory and sending City through 3-2 on aggregate.

City put their fans through a nervy ride after Sergio Aguero missed a first-half penalty following an incident in which goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was perhaps lucky not to be sent off.

But backed by raucous fans in a club record European crowd of 53,039, Manuel Pellegrini’s men held on to seal a historic result.

The atmosphere was one of the liveliest City have produced in the competition and, contrary to suggestions it might set the wrong tone, the fans’ now traditional booing of the anthem actually energised the crowd.

It still took time for the game to warm up but after Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his duel with Joe Hart by forcing the England goalkeeper to tip over his 15th-minute free-kick there were few quiet moments.

PSG, fielding an unfamiliar back three, looked the most vulnerable in defence with Serge Aurier looking particularly shaky.

Aguero started to look lively and shot narrowly wide twice in quick succession, the first from a tight angle and the second with a dipping half-volley.

The Argentinian was presented with an even better chance on the half-hour as he raced onto a Fernandinho pass but was brought down by goalkeeper Trapp.

Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo pointed to the spot but PSG had a double reprieve first as Trapp escaped with a yellow card and then as Aguero put his spot-kick wide.

Aguero’s eventful first half continued as he went down clutching his knee after landing awkwardly but City anxiety was eased as he got up to continue after treatment.

Thiago Motta was not so fortunate as he limped off with a hamstring injury on the stroke of half-time, forcing PSG to revert to a back four.

Needing a goal, the visitors started the second half well with Ibrahimovic again testing Hart with a thunderous free-kick and Gregory van der Wiel shooting straight at the keeper. City tried to mount some attacks themselves but were continually thwarted in the final third and had another nervy moment when Hart had to palm over a Thiago Silva header.

As time began to tick away for PSG, behind on away goals, City fans began to grow in confidence to the extent that they taunted Ibrahimovic. The Swede was compared unflatteringly to Andy Carroll and, far from winding up the PSG talisman, he seemed unable to get into the game.

Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi repelled the visitors and City finally broke the deadlock after 76 minutes as the outstanding De Bruyne curled a superb low shot past Trapp.

Aguero might even have increased the advantage moments later but fired narrowly wide from distance.

PSG battled on despite knowing they would need at least two goals but their efforts proved in vain. Hart made a crucial save from Edinson Cavani and the French side were also denied by an offside flag when Ibrahimovic turned the ball in five minutes from time.

How we all depleted the foreign reserves BY Eniola Bello

It was a chance encounter. But then a disagreement on the Buhari administration handling of the economy, or rather its (mis)management of the forex regime, developed into an interesting conversation on the Nigeria situation. The sparring partners? One is a businessman whose firm has extensive interest in civil engineering, construction and medical supplies, and who has been described as the man who hijacked a former governor in a Southwest state from his godfather. And the other is a senior journalist with a social conscience. For the purpose of this article, let’s call the one Tee, and the other Kay.

Tee: My Comrade, do you support this administration’s refusal to devalue the Naira?

Kay: Of course, I fully support the foreign exchange regime in place. There’s no reason why the government should succumb to the blackmail of those who want the Naira devalued.

Tee: Oh! I shouldn’t forget you’re a socialist. I hope you’d allow me to show that you are mistaken. The best thing for the economy right now is the devaluation of the Naira. As you very well know, we run an import dependent economy. The only export product from which we receive foreign exchange is crude oil, the price of which has crashed to less than $40 per barrel. When crude oil price was over $100 per barrel during the immediate past administration, President Goodluck Jonathan increased the minimum wage. Today, however, most state governments are having difficulties paying salaries. Companies are laying-off workers. Factories are closing down. With job losses worsening the unemployment situation, crime would only increase. Critical investors, because of the inflexible exchange rate regime, have bailed out of the country. The result? The CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) is the primary source of foreign exchange. And because of the depletion of the foreign reserves, the CBN is unable to meet demand, and has therefore been forced to ration. The economy, which was growing 6-7% some three to four years ago, is shrinking as growth is no more than 2%. And the situation will only get worse.

The government needs to grow this economy. And in the circumstance in which we have found ourselves, Naira devaluation is the surest route to growing the economy. With devaluation, government will earn more on the Dollars from crude oil sales. The states would have the required revenue to pay salaries and meet their obligations to businesses. Workers would be empowered to spend. Companies would have the necessary resources to revive their operations, carry out expansion and employ new hands. Investors, knowing that with cheap Naira they are bound to make money, would naturally return to the country. And the logic of business greed is that, for every one dollar profit, an investor would most likely bring in $10 with the hope of making more profit. The CBN would therefore no more be the primary source of foreign exchange. The country’s reserves would rebound.

In any case, Nigeria should not concern itself with the Dollar. It is not our currency. We have no control over it in any shape or form. Even our singular export – crude oil – we have no control over the processes of its exploration, production and sales. We accept what our partners, the multinational oil companies, say they have produced and sold because we do not have the knowledge and expertise to carry out the exploration and production on our own. We have no way of even knowing when we are short-changed. So why peg the Naira against the Dollar or against any currency for that matter? Why not allow our currency find its level within market fundamentals, permitting only minimal regulation in the country’s best interest?

Kay: Interesting stuff! Brilliantly articulated! Listening to you reminded me of Dr. Victor Odozi, one time Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Nigeria when the Babangida administration introduced SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme) in the mid 80’s. You also reminded me of the economic wizards in the Obasanjo administration when they sold us privatisation and deregulation. You do remember that the Naira was once stronger than the Dollar. However, since the 80’s, there has been an incremental devaluation of the Naira. Odozi predicted in 1986 that with devaluation, the forex market would be just like other market having free sellers and buyers. At that the exchange rate was less than one dollar to N10. Today, at one dollar to N200, the story remains the same. At every point, the argument has always been the same – growth, job creation, etc. In the first 16 years of this democratic dispensation, three different presidents of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) administration had packaged the same thing in different formats, but the country has only witnessed likely jobless growth. We might as well try something different.

Tee: It wouldn’t be fair to say there has been no growth. There has been growth, 6-7% for more than a decade under the PDP.

Kay: Mere statistics. We didn’t see the impact of the much celebrated growth in the human condition.
Tee: The problem is us, you and me. We’ve allowed our country to become a dumping ground for every product under the sun. We import rice and chicken and clothes. When I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, rice used to be only on our Sunday menu. Uncle Ben’s rice that was imported at the time was only affordable by the very rich. Today we consume rice imported from many countries in Asia. That is our foreign reserve. Look at the clothes we, all, are wearing. They are imported. Our shoes and wrist watches are imported. Our cars are imported. We so love champagne that we are said to be one of the highest consumers of the product globally. We eat our foreign reserve as rice and chicken, drink it as choice wine, wear it as clothes and shoes, drive it as cars, and fly in it as private jets. We cannot continue to live recklessly and not pay the price one way or another.

Kay: We have been unable to feed and clothe ourselves because of the very policy you are espousing. It is the periodic devaluation of the Naira over time that has made it cheaper to import than to produce here. That was the reason all the thriving textile factories of the 70’s and 80’s in Kaduna and Kano had to close down. That was the reason the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria and Volkswagen Nigeria could not continue to assemble their brands in the country. That is the reason most Nigerian money men in Corporate Nigeria are no more than traders and rent seekers.

Tee: The issue you’ve raised has nothing to do with Naira devaluation. It is a problem of law and order. If there’s a restriction or prohibition on the importation of rice and chicken, how do these products find their way into the country? It is a question of law and order. How do banned textile materials and furniture equipment flood the Nigerian market? It is an issue of law and order. It is not enough to attribute to smuggling, the ready availability of banned products in the country. Rice and chicken and textile materials and furniture are not smuggled using a man’s wallet or a woman’s handbag. They are smuggled in with heavy duty trucks. Which serious country allows its territory to be turned into a dumping ground for all manner of goods in the name of smuggling? How many Customs officers have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted for aiding or conniving with smugglers? Why do men and officers of Customs bribe their way to be posted to border posts?

Law and order is perhaps the country’s biggest problem. When politicians and government officials have lined up in their garages between 10 to 20 SUVs, the cost of which is clearly above their legitimate income, it is an issue of law and order. When those elected to serve us, after four or eight years in office, buy properties in London and Washington DC and Cape Town and Dubai, in addition to their mansions in Lagos and Abuja and their country homes, it is an issue of law and order. Were all those properties measured against their tax assessment forms and necessary questions asked, they would think twice before embarking on such primitive acquisitions. Why should the resources of the country be deployed to subsidize the rich?

At the end of the animated debate, Tee could not persuade Kay to buy into the Naira devaluation formula. Both, however, agreed on one thing – there is an urgent need to give law and order a fresh approach. For me, I return to the original question, should the Naira be devalued or not, dear reader?

China offers Nigeria $6bn loan for infrastructure

China has offered Nigeria a loan worth $6bn to fund infrastructure projects, the Nigerian foreign minister said on Tuesday.

The announcement came as both countries signed a currency swap deal to boost trade. Nigeria has been in talks with China on an infrastructure loan for months.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and its top oil producer. But its public finances have suffered as the price of crude oil dropped around the world.

Although President Muhammadu Buhari wants to triple capital spending in 2016, he also needs to plug a projected deficit of $11.1bn.

“It is a credit that is on the table as soon as we identify the projects,” Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama told reporters after Buhari met Chinese President Xi Jinping. “It won’t need an agreement to be signed. It is just to identify the projects and we access it.”

There was no immediate comment from China.

Lin Songtian, director general of the Chinese foreign ministry’s African affairs department, had earlier said Nigeria would be able to benefit from a $55bn package for Africa, which mostly consists of concessional grants or export lines.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC), the world’s biggest lender, and Nigeria’s central bank also signed a deal on yuan transactions.

“It means that the renminbi (yuan) is free to flow among different banks in Nigeria, and the renminbi has been included in the foreign exchange reserves of Nigeria,” Lin said.

Nigeria had said it was looking at panda bonds – yuan-denominated bonds sold by overseas entities on the mainland – to fund the deficit, saying they that would be cheaper than Eurobonds.

Nigeria’s central bank has said it plans to diversify its foreign exchange reserves away from the dollar by switching some into yuan. It converted up to a tenth of its reserves into yuan five years ago.

Lin said a framework on currency swaps has been agreed with Nigeria, making it easier to settle trade deals in yuan. China has signed similar swap agreements with countries ranging from Kazakhstan to Argentina to promote wider use of its yuan.

Beijing also signed agreements to develop infrastructure in Nigeria, part of a drive to deepen its ties with Africa.

ICBC agreed a $2bn loan to Dangote, the company owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to fund two cement plants it plans, he told Reuters.

China’s Xi told Buhari there was huge potential for economic cooperation in areas like oil refining and mining, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency.

In a speech to business leaders, Buhari said both countries wanted to work together in agriculture, fishing and the manufacturing of cars, construction materials and textiles

'End of the American Empire'

The epithet crude Americans use to disparage a woman is “Bimbo”, as Donald Trump memorably referred to Fox anchor Megyn Kelley. Stephan Richter now reminds us that it’s an Italian abbreviation for bambino, a male child. A girl would be bambina. And yes, we have a bimbo running for president. It is just a little early to say whether Trump has finally crumbled, but it is good odds that he will not have enough delegates going to the Cleveland July convention to have the nomination locked up. Thus, it will be the first brokered convention in 60 years. Delegates only need to support the candidate to whom they are pledged on the first ballot. On the second, the bosses weigh in. They are unanimous in believing that not only is Trump ruining the Republican Party, but that he would lose in a big way to Hillary Clinton. They do not like Senator Ted Cruz either — but he is electable and certainly no buffoon. He has had a strategy from the first — different from a bimbo bawling words like a 2-year-old crying out for whatever he thinks first, changing sometimes, daily. Cruz has been lining up delegates chosen in state party caucuses, chosen by various means, not always including votes. There is a far larger issue looming behind us Americans. Trump is only too evidently a symptom of a failing United States. 
The only Muslim majority country still “liking” us is tiny Albania, but then, we had a hand in its birth as a nation in its present form. How could Muslim countries admire us any longer when a candidate openly espouses hate for Muslims — of whom there are, by the way, three million law-abiding citizens in the US. Ambassador Chas Freeman, a distinguished Sinologist and an old friend, recently voiced the totality of these reactions in an address, now published. Chas recently made waves when my friend, Admiral Blair (who keynoted your prime minister’s conference on “Moderation”), as director of national intelligence at the White House, appointed him to be head of the National Intelligence Council. AIPAC — the Israeli lobby — created such a stink that Chas removed himself from the nomination. He had the temerity to say openly that the US should base its foreign policy on our interests — not Israel’s. “The End of the American Empire” starts with an analysis of why everything is going wrong for us. To start with, we lecture the world about how to be good little Americans, then wonder why there is so much resentment. After we won the Cold War, we gobbled up much of the ex-Soviet satrapies into our alliances. Then, we cannot understand why Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts — and uses clever diplomacy to push us back everywhere he has enough leverage. And then, how is China supposed to react: we have it surrounded by our fleet and allies, where we base vast forces. China builds some airstrips in what’s long been called the South China Sea, and we re-ignite our alliance with the Philippines and start pushing Chinese ships around. On this one, Chas may have gone a bit far, but surely everyone agrees that Beijing has strategic interests in the region. “Small wonder that both US allies and adversaries now consider the US the most erratic and unpredictable element in the present world disorder… and you can’t expect to accomplish much by launching wars and then asking your military commanders to figure out what your objectives should be.” Chas bemoans our failure to see that the terrorism we now see as our biggest challenge is self-created.
 Our wars may have killed two million Muslims. No reaction? Barack Obama got world attention when he argued, in late 2002, that a baseless attack on Iraq would make that country a breeding ground for terrorists, but he continues now to think a few more drones will solve our problems. Americans like to see ourselves as peace loving democrats. We forget our warlike history. We all, but, wiped out native Americans, invaded a variety of countries in Latin America, killed a few hundred thousand Filipinos (“to bring them Christianity”, the then-president said, apparently ignorant of the fact that 85 per cent were already Christians), and the list goes on. But, we were, for many, a “light on the hill”, and Irish, Polish, German and Italians came to seek a better life. They succeeded. Right now, with the legislative branch in paralysis, even unable to deal with a nomination to the Supreme Court, with governance reduced to Obama’s skillful use of executive prerogative, we just are not in a position to offer advice anywhere. We might start by backing off, learning from this worst phase of our history, and refocus on our core values. As in the Hippocratic Oath, to paraphrase — first, do no harm. And, we might add, heal ourselves. 

W. Scott Thompson is professor emeritus of international politics, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the United States

Ronaldo Fires Madrid Past Wolfsburg With A Brilliant Hat-Trick

Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a record sixth successive Champions League semi-final with a hat-trick as the Spanish giants overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit, beating Wolfsburg 3-0 on Tuesday.

Ronaldo struck twice in just over a minute to bring Madrid level in the tie inside 17 minutes.

Yet, the 10-time winners were forced to wait until 13 minutes from time to find the winner when Ronaldo's dipping free-kick escaped the clutches of Diego Benaglio to find the bottom corner.

"It had to be a magic night and it was. It was the perfect game in the end," said Ronaldo who became the first player to score three hat-tricks in the competition in one season.

"Goals are in my DNA and I want to keep scoring them for the team."

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane hailed his side's collective effort, but reserved special praise for Ronaldo.

"He is showing what he is, which is the best player in the world," said the Frenchman.

"Cristiano needs the whole team, I want to speak about the team because they achieved this together.

"But he is special because not everyone is capable of scoring three goals."

Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking was left to rue his side's inability to defend from set-pieces and lack of a killer away goal.

"We should have defended better. To go to the next stage, we needed a goal," he said.

"Two of the three goals were from dead balls and so that tells you that we didn't defend right."

Roared back

Madrid hadn't overturned a first-leg deficit in the Champions League in eight attempts stretching back 14 years to when Zidane played for Los Blancos in a quarter-final win over Bayern Munich.

However, they roared back into the tie and were level as Ronaldo struck twice in 86 seconds.

Dani Carvajal replaced the much-criticised Danilo in Madrid's only change from the first leg at right-back and the Spanish international's deflected cross fell perfectly for Ronaldo to tap home the opener at the back post.

The two nearly combined for the second straight from the restart as another dangerous Carvajal effort was just cut out before Ronaldo could head home.

However, there was no stopping the three-time World Player of the Year from the resulting corner as his downward header found the bottom corner of the net.

Wolfsburg's disastrous start was compounded when star midfielder Julian Draxler limped off injured to be replaced by Max Kruse just after the half-hour mark.

Yet, the Germans still managed to grow into the game as the opening 45 minutes wore on.

Luis Gustavo's fierce long-range effort forced Keylor Navas into a decent save before Bruno Henrique squandered a huge chance to net the vital away goal as he hesitated in getting his shot off and Marcelo got back to block the ball behind.

Madrid started on the front foot again at the start of the second half as Ronaldo saw a free-kick deflected wide before Benaglio was forced into a save to prevent Josuha Guilavogui turning a cross into his own net.

The hosts were convinced they had gone ahead for the first time in the tie when Ramos's header came off the inside of the post and rolled along the goal line, but Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai adjudged the ball hadn't crossed the line.

Ronaldo finally struck the decisive blow when his free-kick from 25 yards skidded off the wet turf and beyond the despairing dive of Benaglio to seal his 37th hat-trick for Madrid and 16th Champions League goal of the season.

The 31-year-old is now just one away from equalling his single-season record of 17 goals in 2013/14.

The Swiss 'keeper then kept Wolfsburg in the tie with brilliant saves from Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez to set up a grandstand finish.

But Madrid's experience told in the dying stages as they comfortably saw the game out to match Barcelona's record run of six semi-finals between 2008 and 2013.

Why Zuma's ‘African way’ is at odds with the African Union's vision

Joleen Steyn Kotze, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
South Africans are mobilising against what they see as an inherently corrupt president. The international community has also joined in the clarion call for his resignation.
Corruption, state capture, and scandal lie at the core of demands for President Jacob Zuma to go. The dominant narrative is that he has acted in only his self-interest with little regard for the country.
Yet Zuma survived another impeachment motion in parliament with full support from the governing African National Congress, the party he leads.
In the midst of the mounting pressure, Zuma has urged that African problems be dealt with “in an African way”. He told supporters:

I’ll be very happy that we solve the African problems in the African way because if we solve them only legally they become too complicated. Law looks at one side only, they don’t look at any other thing … They [the courts] deal with cold facts and I was complaining [about] that, but they’re dealing with warm bodies. That’s the contradiction.

But, what exactly is the African way?
A cursory glance at the African Union’s Agenda 2063 shows the importance of institutions underpinned by principles of accountability and good governance. This entails transformed institutions and a new way of governance, accountable to the people.
Indeed, the African Union stresses that:

we recognise that a prosperous, integrated, an united Africa, based on good governance, democracy, social inclusion, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law are the necessary pre-conditions for a peaceful and conflict-free continent.

This recognition stems from having “learned from our past”. As a result there is a pledge to “take into account the lessons” as Africa embarks on Agenda 2063.

Africa’s seven aspirations

By signing up to Agenda 2063, African countries – including South Africa – commit to advancing socio-political and socio-economic transformation. The agenda captures seven aspirations of the African people:

• A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development;
• An integrated continent, politically united. It should be based on the ideals of the Pan-Africanism and the vision of the African Renaissance;
• An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law;
• A peaceful and secure Africa;
• An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics;
• An Africa where development is people-driven, unleashing the potential of the its women and youth; and
• Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner.

Civil society demanding accountability

As civic pressure mounts for him to resign, Zuma’s stance of dealing with African problems in an African way cements notions that constitutional principles of good governance and accountability don’t always apply to African presidents. Or, if they do apply, they only do so in certain instances.
Growing civic mobilisation against Zuma demonstrates the opposite. It shows that Africans will move to hold leaders accountable when they act improperly or undermine their constitutional obligations.
There have been numerous instances of this happening across the continent. We have seen large scale mobilisation of young Africans against presidents-for-life, corruption and stalled development.
The Black Monday Movement mourns the loss of billions through corruption in Uganda. Using rhythm and rhyme Senegal’s hip hop movement, in concert with political parties and other social movements, successfully blocked a presidential third term. They mobilised people when former president Abdoulaye Wade lost touch with Senegalese aspirations.

Undermining South Africa’s leadership

Agenda 2063 commits African leaders to pursue a people-centred and transformational leadership. It demands that leaders be held accountable for failure to abide by constitutional limitations on power or for corrupt activities. It recognises that leaders who act with impunity when breaking the law become a liability to the continent’s aspirations.
If the ANC ignores the calls for Zuma’s resignation it may undermine South Africa’s leadership on the continent. It creates the idea that, if South Africa’s president can undermine the constitution with impunity, accountability and good governance may be ignored for personal political goals.
It raises questions on what basis South Africa will be able to condemn similar behaviour of other African countries. More importantly, it limits South Africa’s moral capital to advance the vision of Agenda 2063.


Joleen Steyn Kotze, Associate Professor of Political Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

A reset for Nigeria-South Africa relations

With a population of about 53 million people and a GDP of close to 350 billion US Dollars, South Africa is considered as a buoyant economy. Additionally, as an emerging economy with requisite technological know-how, South Africa will by all means represent a suitable partner with Nigeria in our quest for growth and national development. With the precarious economic situation of Nigeria arising from fall in oil prices, the seeming renewal of economic cum diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa will greatly impact positively on the country.

It is therefore illustrative that the South African President Mr. Jacob Zuma’s state visit to Nigeria in company of over 150 businessmen and potential investors is instructive. Nigeria as a country is in a situation where in her bid to diversify her sources of revenue, is exploring other areas, especially manufacturing, mining and agriculture. Incidentally, these are the major areas of the emerging economic blueprint of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and they are in tandem with the capacity of South Africa as a potential partner to deliver to Nigeria.

There is no doubt that President Buhari’s economic blueprint for Nigeria which will include eliminating bottlenecks to businesses and offering incentives to foreign investors is beginning to yield desired result. Our reset with South Africa wherein her President led some of the country’s biggest businessmen on a state visit to Nigeria signposts a new dawn in our bilateral relations with South Africa.

Since 1999 the number of major South African companies operating in Nigeria has risen to about 120. What this translates to is that both countries’ relations have become more robust and has the potential to improve. It is estimated that at least eighty bilateral agreements have been signed by both countries to boost trade, investment and diplomatic relations.

Nigeria with a population of about 173 million people and gross domestic product of nearly 521 billion US Dollars offers the South African businesses a huge market for her products and services.

It is equally remarkable that the South African government is offering its support to Nigeria in the war against terrorism. Already, Nigerian defence officials have signed agreement with their South African counterparts for the deployment of that country’s Special Forces to assist in the war against terrorism.

This reset of bilateral cooperation appears to be a reciprocal action for Nigeria’s many decades of support to South Africa especially during the years of anti-apartheid struggle. Gladly, the South African president during his address to the joint session of the National Assembly had acknowledged the role of Nigeria in helping his country in their years of struggle for emancipation from the clutches of apartheid.

It is also pertinent to note that the new interest being developed in Nigeria by South Africa is easily traceable to political and economic reengineering being carried out by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The openness and sincerity the president has brought to bear in statecraft has greatly restored the confidence of the international community to Nigeria.

South Africa as a country is famous for its advancement in technology. In this regard, Nigeria stands to benefit from South Africa’s experience in mining, auto assembly, metal work, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizers, foodstuffs and commercial ship repairs. It is worthy of note that South Africa is the world largest producer of platinum and chromium.

In the desire of the Buhari administration to diversify Nigeria’s economy, there is no doubt that South Africa’s time-tested knowledge in mining will be of immense value and advantage to Nigeria. With the visit of South African President to Nigeria, and considering their huge investments in Nigeria, it is expected that on the basis of reciprocity, that measures will be put in place to balance trade between both countries as well as strengthen their diplomatic relations. President Buhari’s strategy of exploring new business and diplomatic channels for our overall national development should indeed be commended, and given all necessary support.

President Zuma’s visit also afforded both leaders the opportunity to iron out issues surrounding the incessant molestation of Nigerians resident in South Africa. These attacks on innocent Nigerians by their South African counterparts are seen in many quarters as xenophobic, and all efforts should be made to address the problems that may likely provoke such emotional hatred and outburst.

Nigeria’s partnership with South Africa ought to be anchored on mutual respect, love and understanding. Similarly, the visit afforded both leaders the opportunity to iron out differences on the issue of the fine against South Africa’s MTN by the NCC. Hopefully, the message will be delivered on the need for MTN and indeed other companies operating in Nigeria to obey the laws of their host country by abiding with the regulations in their respective sectors. It needs no telling that such acts of omission or commission tantamount to a breach in our national security as they undermine our economy and by extension the political stability of the nation.

Insecurity: The future of the Nigerian child By Rahab Tosal Ayuba

Over the last few years, people from all parts of Borno state have been converging in the state capital. Most of the local government areas have been sacked by the boko haram insurgents, making thousands of residence to troop into the state capital, an incident that marks the proliferation of IDP camps in the state capital.

A tour on this IDP camp, Dalori camp clearly indicates the unfortunate story of these IDPs; stupefied by the looks of dejection and hopelessness on the faces of the IDPs especially the children. One begins to ask questions if children are really the leaders of tomorrow or human lethal weapons.

In a country that is threaten with violence, insecurity, insurgency, insurrection and deprivation, children are the most vulnerable members of society as they now loitered the streets as orphans, as victims of man’s inhumanity to man; that killed their parents, abduct their siblings and destroyed their homes.

The right of children in Nigeria as in all countries of the world; to educate, healthcare, time to play are not being fulfilled and fear interventions exist to protect children. Walking through different Internally Displaced Persons IDP’s camps in Maiduguri, the capital city, the hot spot and birth place of Boko Haram in 2009, leaves one with nothing but tears. These children are allowed to wonder the streets scavenging for food, this make them prays to all sorts of abuses.

To be realistic, how many IDP’s camps do we have in Nigeria? How many orphans do we also have? Please, who owns this child; His parent or the society? When a child is an asset; he belongs to the society. But, when a child is a liability; he belongs to his parent. The devastating effects of insurgency this country is going through has not only increase the number of street children and orphans but has post a threat to the future security of our country, when these talents are not harness, but wasted they may turn out to be tomorrow’s insecurity.

National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, said, more than three million people have been displaced as a result of insecurity among who mostly are children and women. The site of a mother with her two children living under a polythene tent along the street gives one sleepless nights, a course to wonder ‘what next after the IDP camps!’

When violence of war or conflicts of any kind strikes, people die; both the young and old are wasted, many more are brutalised, maimed and injured. Houses, schools, offices and stores are not left out. While looters enjoy the ill-gotten wealth, women and children are always the worst victims.

Insurgency and abuse can have serious and permanent effects on the child thus not only slowing down any progress or development of the child, but also not allowing the full exploration of potentialities available giving prominence to mediocrity at the expense of excellence.

What can be more brutal or more evil than the adoption of more than 200 Chibok school girls in 2014 and the killing of harmless students by the Boko Haram! How can there be education if there are no people to receive education? This strikes at the very foundation of education. Students and pupils that are lucky to escape such brutality may be marred physical or psychological for life.

Image for a moment those young boys and girls kidnapped from schools by insurgents to be used as human shields, chips for ransom bargaining, sex slave, boy soldiers or sold on tightly as slaves. What can be more evil? The effect on children is just staggering and mind boggling.

All these atrocities have been committed on students, in Mamudo, Potiskum, Gujba and Damaturu in Yobe State, Chibok in Borno State. Sadly,the effect on education is terrible, retrogressive, destructive and damaging to the overall human progress and development of an already very backward and poor zone.

Painfully, the horrible effect of insecurity on children is the financial or economic incapacity of individuals, families, communities and government. With wars and conflicts raging mercilessly and incessantly, economic activities cannot function let alone thrive. Scarce economic resources cannot meet up with such daunting challenges. Providence of shelter, food, medicationand education are indispensable prerequisite for children’s wellbeing. But,parents can scarcely take care of their children’s basic survival needs talk more of education as it can be seen in various camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Many of the children have been orphaned completely. No father, no mother, no body to care for them. The few philanthropists and kind hearted sympathetic individuals or organisations that offer assistance are overwhelmed.

Security challenges whether insurgency, insurrections, sectarians or communal/tribal conflicts, religious conflicts or war, kidnapping, robbery and the likes hinders the children progress and development as they cannot have a fulfilled life. They cannot explore and exploit to the maximum all the potentials of greatness and success endowed in them by their creator for the development and advancement of mankind to greatness, progress and peace for all. The greatest and most important factor in the quest for such a most ideal and egalitarian society is education and is unfortunately the first casualty where there is insecurity.

One cannot but mention MalalaYossouf of Afghanistan who sought for education in the face of death. Nor can one forget the zeal and determination of the students and pupil struggling to acquire education in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe states and indeed the country at large.

The depressing rate of poverty in Nigeria needs to be addressed to secure a better future for the children of the next decade. Efforts to reduce poverty must be carefully designed and must go beyond setting up agencies whose effect are hardly felt, Give the child a home; a bed pillow to rest his head, a shoulder to cry on, an arm to embraces him, and a heart to care for him. Give the Nigeria child a hope.

Somalia: Ex Al-Shabaab Official Executed for Journalists' Killings

Somalia's government on Monday executed a former journalist accused of helping al-Shabab militants kill at least five other journalists in Mogadishu between 2007 and 2011.

Officials and witnesses say a firing squad executed Hassan Hanafi Haji at a police academy in Mogadishu. Haji was extradited from Kenya last year at the request of the Somali government.

Abdulahi Hussein Mohamed, deputy judge of the military court, talked to the media after the execution and said the former journalist had a fair trial and finally faced justice.

"He has been going under court process since earlier 2015. So, now with all the evidences and his confession the justice had been done," Mohamed said.

Haji acted as al-Shabab's liaison officer to the media and pressured journalists to report according to the group's media rules, which included avoiding stories related to military setbacks. He was known to threaten journalists and radio stations if they did not comply.

He later worked for Radio Andalus, al-Shabab’s official media outlet.

"He tasted the pain he inflicted [on] our colleagues. Justice should not only be done but it must be seen to be done," said a prominent local journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Admitted to involvement, then recanted

Haji was one of the few suspects prosecuted by the Somali government following years of criticism by rights groups who urged the authorities to do more.The former journalist was captured in Kenya in 2014. In an interview aired on Somalia’s state TV in February, he admitted to direct involvement in the murder of several journalists and knowledge of other journalists’ killings.

But last month Haji claimed he made the confessions after being tortured, according to a leaked audio recording of a phone call.

Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries for media workers.  According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, more than 25 journalists have been murdered in Somalia since 2007.

Haji’s execution comes two days after two other members of al-Shabab’s militant group were also executed by firing squad for the murder of a journalists killed in a car bomb last year.

Bombing in Mogadishu

On Monday, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack at the local government headquarters in Mogadishu. At least three people were killed and five others were wounded.

"We are behind the governor HQ attack," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters.

Witnesses said two children were among those killed.

"The explosion was caused by a car loaded with explosives," police officer Ibrahim Mohamed said.

The United Nations mission in Somalia said it "strongly condemns" the attack.

Nigeria: #PanamaPapers Reveal T.B. Joshua's Shell Company in Offshore Tax Haven

PREMIUM TIMES

Temitope Joshua is arguably the most influential preacher in Africa. The founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) attracts huge numbers of people from across Africa and beyond, many of them seeking faith healing from ailments and exorcism from demonic possession.

On September 12, 2014, a guesthouse within his church collapsed, killing 116 people, most of them South Africans, who travelled to the Lagos headquarters of the church for pilgrimage.

The cleric has also endeared his Christian ministry to many political leaders on the African continent who throng his church, with some of them openly testifying that he correctly predicted the outcomes of the elections that brought them to power.

One of the African leaders who believed in Mr. Joshua's prophesy was former Ghanaian president, John Atta-Mills. After his inauguration in 2009, the first visit made by Mr. Atta-Mills, a Professor of Law, was to the Synagogue, as Mr. Joshua's church is commonly called.

Mr. Atta-Mills died in office on July 24, 2012. It remained unclear whether Pastor Joshua saw his death coming.

The pastor's television station, Emmanuel TV, is believed to be one of the most viewed in the continent.

Apart from evangelism, Mr. Joshua is not known to be involved in any other business.

However, files obtained by PREMIUM TIMES from the massive leaked data of a Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, has now shown that Mr. Joshua and his wife, Evelyn, own Chillon Consultancy Limited, a company incorporated on June 20, 2006 at the British Virgin Island (BVI).

Both owners own one ordinary share each, although the company, with registration number 1033675, is authorized to issue a maximum "50,000 no par value Shares of a single class."

It remains unclear what businesses Mr. Joshua transacted with the shell company which has no physical presence in Tortola, the largest and most inhabited island at the British Virgin Island.

Chillon Consultancy Limited uses the office address of its registered agent, Mossack Fonseca (Akara Bldg., 24 De Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola) as its contact information in the British Virgin Island.

Mr. Joshua is the second Nigerian mega preacher shown to set up offshore companies in tax havens.

An April 2013 investigation by PREMIUM TIMES had exposed Chris Oyakhilome, founder and leader of Christ Embassy, as incorporating Gmobile Nigeria Limited, an offshore firm in 2007, at the British Virgin Island.

Although other individuals were listed as shareholders and directors, that investigation was able to determine that the pastor's teenage daughters - Sharon and Charlyn - were the real beneficial owners of the company.

Like many mega preachers in the country, Mr Joshua is reported to live in opulence. Last September, online news website, Sahara Reporters, claimed the televangelist bought a Gulfstream G550 aircraft in April 2015.

According to Sahara Reporters, the jet, registered as "Synagogue Of Nations," was purchased using the Bank Of Utah trustee as front.

A Gulfstream G550 is sold for as much a $45 million and could take up to $3 million dollars in yearly maintenance cost.