distraction. There are also phones, break rooms, water coolers and, again, people.

If there’s other stuff going on it draws my attention away from my work and that’s not a good thing. As the mom of a son with ADHD,  I can’t help but wonder if he inherited that gene from me.

Multitasking isn’t a good idea for someone like me.

Close the Windows

You probably have at least half dozen windows open on your desktop as you work. Perhaps you have a particular program or application open to do your most important business task, you might also have a social network or two going, and even email and Skype so you can stay in touch.

Here’s what happens to me with multiple windows.

WordPress is open as I create the day’s blog post. However, I have another window open – whichever browser isn’t crashing on me that day – so I can do research for my post or find applicable links. Those links send me off on tangents and I read some cool stuff having nothing to do with my blog post. Skype pings. I stop and have a conversation. Every now and then I type. But wait, is that my Tweet deck calling? I check for news and tweet to my friends for about ten minutes before pulling away, ending my Skype chat and getting back to my blog post. Outlook is telling me there’s mail, do I check? You bet I do, and I respond because if I open mail and I don’t respond immediately it will get lost in a sea of unanswered email.

This is why I can’t have multiple windows open. In fact, I know very few people who can effectively multitask.Truthfully, work gets done quicker and more effectively without these distractions. It gotten to the point where I turn off the Internet connection and use offline editors for blogging so I’m not tempted to be taken away from my work.

Put the Gadgets Away

You know how I feel about this, gadgets are turning us into rude, rude people. We would never, in real life, abruptly turn away from a conversation to take part in another conversation, yet that’s what we do every time we look at our gadgets while talking with someone else. Ditto at checking gadgets during meals, seminars and public speaking engagements and any time someone else is doing something that requires our attention. I see it during church, during family time have dinner or a movie out, at barbecues and picnics, on the beach. We’re supposed to be enjoying family, friends or life outside of work, yet our attention is diverted to our cell phones and iPads.

It’s funny how quickly we become addicted as well. I gave in to a smart phone a year and a half ago and already it’s something I can’t live without. Can most of my email wait until the weekend is over to receive a response? Absolutely! But I still check it several times while on the supermarket line, visiting the inlaws or watching my son’s taekwondo lessons. Do I need to update everyone on Facebook and Twitter to every step of my day? No. No, I don’t. But I do anyway. Chances are if I cut it down a bit you wouldn’t miss me.

Focus, Deb, Focus

We’re told multitasking is a good thing, that we need to wear many hats to succeed in this fast paced business world, but I’ll argument otherwise. To succeed we need to focus and do a job correctly and to the best of our ability. We can’t do that with half a dozen windows open or stopping to tweet from our gadgets every ten minutes.

I’ll argue that multitasking isn’t a good thing. It makes us rude, easily distracted people.

What says you?

Huhuonline.com can disclose that Senator JJ Akpan Udohehe, ACN gubernatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom state, who was detained, Thursday, by the Nigerian police, over his role in the mayhem that occurred in the state, has been arraigned before a federal high court in Abuja.

Senator Udohehe, a former minister of state for FCT, was arraigned for treason and may be sentenced to death if found guilty.

As huhuonline.com previously reported, Senator Udohehe on Tuesday sent a text message from his mobile phone, calling for a reprisal attack.

The text message obtained exclusively by huhuonline.com reads:

“IBIBIO supporters of Sen. Udoedehe were SLAUGHTERED in IKOT EKPENE, while Godswill Akpabio & Annangs still move freely in IBIBIO LAND! WE MUST REVENGE speedily”.

Now Senator Udohehe faces a four count charge, which reads:

Count 1
That you John James Akpan Udoedehe ‘M’ and others now at large, as citizens of Nigeria on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state in the Abuja Judicial Division, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: treason by levying war against the state with intent to cause such levying of war as would intimidate or overawe the Governor of the state and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C’ 38 of the Laws of the Federation  of Nigeria 2004.

Count 2
That you John James Akpan Udoedehe, ‘M’ and others now at large, as citizens of Nigeria on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state in the Abuja Judicial Division, did levy war against the state in order intimidate or overawe the Governor of the state by discharging several gun shots at him and his entourage while o his official assignment, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C’ 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Count 3
That you John James Akpan Udoedehe ‘M’ and others now at large, as citizens of Nigeria on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Uyo I Akwa Ibom state in the Abuja Judicial Division did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: treason by levying war against the state with intent to cause such levying of war as would intimidate or overawe the Governor of the state and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C’ 38 of the Laws of the Federation  of Nigeria 2004.

Count 4
That you John James Akpan Udoedehe ‘M’ and others now at large, as citizens of Nigeria on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Uyo I Akwa Ibom state in the Abuja Judicial Division did levy war against the state in order intimidate or overawe the Governor of the state by discharging several gun shots at him and his entourage while o his official assignment, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C’ 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Senator Udohehe lawyer, Bar. Andem E. Ndem oral application for bail was denied, as the Presiding Justice Adamu Bello, demanded that he re-approach the court with a formal bail application.

by Olusola Temowo on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 1:31am

In my books, Buhari is a pretentious anti-corruption fighter. The trajectory of a man's journey in public life matters. For the follwoing reasons I can not vote for Buhari

1. He is an oligarch who does not believe in equality before the law. The way he jailed Lateef Jakande, Jim Nwobodo, Ambrose Ali, Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ayo Ojewumi on cases that had no foundation and allowed Awwal Ibrahim, the then Niger State governor, who was arrested in Heathrow Airport in London with 14 million pounds sterling and several millions of Niara and dollars to be under house arrest is my evidence. He also allowed Shehu Kangiwa, Sokoto State Governor who conducted and supervised the famous Bakolori Massacre of poor peasant farmers whose land were appropriated without compesation to remain under house arrest.

1(a) Ayo Ojewumi became blind as a result of his imprisonment over false charges and died shortly after.

1 (b) Prof. Ambrose Alli also became blind as a result of this false imprisonment. When he died, he had only one undeveloped plot of land to his name.

1© Pa Adekule Ajasin was never the same after his eventual release and remained sickly for the rest of his life. Whe he died, he never had any property anywhere in the world except the one he had built from his sweat as long term teacher and school principal in Owo township.

2. He put in place a retroactive law that killed three men, innocent men in my book, by public execution. He left untouched an alleged well known drug baron in Ibrahim Babangida who later overthrew his government.

3. He jailed Ndukar Irabor and Tunde Thompson of the Guardian on stories that were factually true under Decree 4. He had told the Nigerian journalists then that it did not matter whether the story reported was true or not,

4. He supervised the smuggling of 53 suitcases filled with cash througth the MMA against the protests of General Tunde Idiagbon and ironically, Abubakar Atiku, the then Director General of the Customs who later became the Vice President and a compromised politician himself. This smuggling of the suit cases were supervised by his ADC, Col. Mustapha Jokolo.

5. He jailed Fela Anikulapo -Kuti on trumped up charges under emergency law which prompted the sentencing judge to confess that he was ordered to do so and apologised to the late musician. It was Buhari's administration that said it has "decided to deal with this Fela problem once and for all."

6. He convinced all the northern political leaders against allowing the National Identity Card program because according to him, this would unravel the myth of Northern population majority

7. He is an Islamic fundamentalist, the Bin Laden of Nigeria, who told his northern followers never to vote for anyone who was not a muslim.

8. He is a coup plotter.

9. He has never been able to account to Nigerians what he did with the 20 billion Naira of the Petroleum Trust Fund of which he was the chairman under Sani Abacha.

9(a) He has not been able to point to any project that he prosecuted outside the Northern Nigeria with the so-caled trust fund.

10. He was in full support of all the atrocities of Sani Abacha against the Nigerian people. There is no single record of his criticism of Sani Abacha during those dark days when Nigeria was on precipice. It shows that he is a patriot of convenience and as such unfit to lead the country.

11. Buhari, as part of his tribalistic practices placed President Shagari under house arrest inside a palatia mansion in Ikoyi while he locked up Shagari's Vice, Alex Ekwueme in Kirikiri Prison. Shagari is Hausa/Fulani like him while Alex Ekwueme is an Igboman.

12. Ikemba Emeka Ojukwu, another Igboman who returned from 13years exile just a little over a year then was as well locked up in Kiri Kiri Prison by meanhearted Buhari.Up till today we are not told what was Emeka's offence.

13. Busari Adelakun died of ulcer because Buhari refused him to be taken out of prison for immediate medical attention.The then Governor of Ogun State,Bisi Onabanjo suffered similar fate which we were told led to his untimely death.

14. Buhari ransacked the house of our late sage, Obafemi Awolowo and confisticated his International passport. Which civilized democratic society would elect the likes of Buhari as President,the same individual who overthrew an elected President? Never!

15. Plus Buhari having Sam Mbakwe in jail, went for one of Mbakwe's wives. He established himself again for what he was/is letting Mbakwe receive in jailhouse news of the death of another of Mbakwe's two wives. One (I can't remember his name now; Odenigbo?) also died in jail.

16. Buhari's henchman and sponsor, CPC governorship candidate for Kano State, is Mohammed Abacha, the same person that had/ran a personal killing squad, co ordinated the killing of Kudirat Abiola & attempted to kill Ibru; and also stashed money in underground tanks, all less than 13 years ago....Nigerians have very short selective memory. Shame!

17. Buhari discriminated against persons from other ethnic groups/faiths; and that as PTF Chairman, he employed an overwhelming number of Fulani/Hausa/Moslem people at the detriment of other groups and concentrated PTF projects in the North. If in doubt read El Rufai's testimony where he wrote about Katsina boys who used the money they made at PTF to bankroll Yar'Adua's election in 1999.

18. Buhari is unforgiven. When he "took over" by coup in 1983, even remembered an article written a very very long time ago by Bisi Onabanjo ('The Mallams are coming') and a later one in which Onabanjo wrote that people should watch out for that "gangly officer from the north" after Buhari gave a no holds barred speech at some Army function where he was reported to be very openly pro Fulani and pro Islam to the exclusive of all else and also talked about termination of democratic rule. For that, Onabanjo got one of the harshest jail terms and treatments.

19. Buhari intolerance is worse than Obasanjo's. When he was adopted as the ANPP's candidate on the night of the party's Primaries without prior warning to the other candidates and a few of them protested, Buhari got up and made a speech that those people must be disciplined. I subsequently saw him on BBC's "hard talk" and he frightened me and the interviewer with his archaic and fundamentalist intolerant views. His understanding and articulation is very much in doubt.

20. The evil genius, IBB and his crew similarly ran rings around Buhari. On the 10th anniversary of Abacha's demise, Buhari said that Abacha stole nothing from Nigeria! Despite millions of Dollars recovered from banks around the world and the Abacha family signing a formal agreement to return over $1 billion dollars, Buhari still said that Abacha's stealing remains an unproved allegation!!!! Why? Because Abacha set Buhari up like an emperor and let him use oil money from the Niger Delta to develop the North without supervision or questions.

21. Buhari snubbed the same Nigerians he now wants their votes by refusing to appear before Justice Oputa Truth and Reconciliation Panel. Despite the fact that Buhari knew how inportant reconciliation is to the stability of democracy. Buhari has never apologised at anytime.

22. Buhari executed Lawal Ojuolape (30), Bernard Ogedengbe (29) and Bartholomew Owoh (26). To put it quite plainly, one of those three – Ogedengbe - was executed for a crime that did not carry a capital forfeit at the time it was committed. and At the time Ogedengbe committed the crime it did not carry that punishment. If we must live as civilised citizens we must go by the rules. Article 11.2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads: "No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission WHICH DID NOT CONSTITUTE A PENAL OFFENCE, under national or international law at the time when it was committed. NOR SHALL A HEAVIER PUNISHMENT BE IMPOSED THAN THE ONE THAT WAS APPLICABLE AT THE TIME THE PENAL OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED. Killing people with retroactive laws is not the civilised thing to do - and for as long as we will have people who refuse to see the truth only because their heroes are inching to rule when they have not purged themselves we will continue to wallow in misery.

If Nigerians reward dangerous, insensitive, dishonest, mean, cruel, partial, egoistic, religious, fundamendalist, conscienceless human being like MOHAMMADU BUHARI with the presidency of Nigeria with his kind of track record, then why do we still wonder why Nigeria has not and will not make it?

I can not in good conscience support Buhari's candidacy on the above grounds. I wish we have intelligent people who know what democracy means. I wish we have civilized minds. However, I am 100 percent sure that Buhari will never again rule Nigeria.

For the good of Nigeria, vote any other candidate, but SAY NO TO BUHARI!!!

Senator JJ Akpan Udoedehe ACN gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom state has been arrested over his role in the mayhem that occurred in the state early in the week. Police sources told huhuonline.com that his arrest was in connection to a text message

The text message obtained exclusively by huhuonline.com reads:

“IBIBIO supporters of Sen. Udoedehe were SLAUGHTERED in IKOT EKPENE, while Godswill Akpabio & Annangs still move freely in IBIBIO LAND! WE MUST REVENGE speedily”.

Udohehe arrest was confirmed by his lawyer, Barrister Andem E. Ndem, who issued a statement, chronicling Mr.Udohehe ordeal.  Hear him:

"On Wednesday, 23rd March 2011,the Inspector-General of Police put a call through to Senator Akpan Udodehe inviting him for a chat in respect of the mayhem that occurred in Akwa Ibom State the previous day".

"As an innocent law abiding citizen, he suspended his campaign and proceeded to Abuja on Thursday the 24th to keep a date with the IGP. He went to see the IGP in company of his Personal Attorney, Barrister Andem E. Ndem. This meeting turned out to be very revealing and threw-up the following facts, namely";

 IN UYO

"The IGP admitted that he has not received any formal briefing from Akwa Ibom State Command of the Police Force regarding what happened. He admitted further that for now, all he knows were derived from newspaper reports read by Nigerians". "He expressed shock at the explanation of the Senator that what actually happened was that he was ambushed in Ikot Ekpene by agents of Governor Akpabio who had earlier warned that he should not come there on campaign and the military-style ambush was so vicious that he survived by sheer grace of God. His bomb-proof campaign vehicle and the assistance of the Police Area Commander who escorted him was under shelling to the borrder between Ikot Ekpene and Uyo before departing". 

"Barrister Ndem utilised that opportunity to effect personal service on the IGP of the court order of further injunction and mandatory provision of armed police security for the Senator. His office duly acknowledged receipt of this Court Order".

"The IGP also admitted that Governor Akpabio recently came to him to complain that the last Commissioner of Police. Mr Sani Magaji, was not "'PERFORMING"' and he should be changed. Consequently, he, the IGP, obliged him this request without deference to his performance evaluation report which actually revealed that the Police Commissioner was a strong-willed and principled officer who refused to compromise with Gov. Akpabio on the security situation in the State". 

"Barrister Ndem informed the IGP that his decision to change the Police Commissioner was wrong as same is unsupportable by the facts on ground because the crime rate in the State has actually reduced under his leadership. He procceeded to inform him that the real reason why Gov. Akpabio was not comfortable with the CP was

 due to his principled and uncompromising stance on issues of Insecurity and corruption.Barrister Ndem went on to inform the IGP that the immediate cause of Gov. Akpabio''s discomfort was the arrest of two members of PEACE HOUSE namely BASKET and Ken Etim with AK47 AND THE REFUSAL BY THE CP TO RELEASE THEM BASED ON THE ORDERS OF GOV AKPABIO. The IGP had no explanation for this. Consequently, Barrister Ndem demanded that the IGP should reverse himself and return our CP failing which we shall take up the matter with Police Service Commission which oversees issues of this nature".

"Thereafter, the IGP handed us over to his Commissioner in charge of Administration, CP Jonathan Johnson to obtain Senator’s statement. We obliged. Thereafter, the waiting game started until the IGP and other senior officers started leaving their offices cryptically.At about 11pm, a phone call came that Senator should be detained overnight as they intend to charge

 him to court this morning".

"It is not clear at this time what they want to charge him for but it is reasonably suspected that they may seek a remand order from court to keep Senator beyond the mandatory 48 hours because they intend to keep him out of circulation for the purpose of the election as there is no shred of evidence linking senator to violence of any kind anywhere. Whatever they come up

 with, we shall respond appropriately". Bar. Ndem affirmed

HILTON: I went out with that guy last night.

STRAUSS: Which guy?

HILTON: (points to an actor in Saving Private Ryan): We were making out, but then we went somewhere where it was bright and I saw that he was black and made an excuse and left. I can’t stand black guys. I would never touch one. It’s gross. (pauses). Does that guy look black to you?

STRAUSS: How black does a guy have to be?

HILTON: One percent is enough for me.

The spate of accident related deaths is crazy and alarming.

This is fresh off the press.

Phones have been buzzing and messages flooding in.

And, sadly, we can now confirm that Chidinma Mbalaso, the beautiful Koko Mansion contestant, who was yesterday involved in a road mishap in Kaduna, is dead.

Details are scanty for now, but multiple sources, including Koko Mansion winner Bolanle Okhiria and another contestant Sharon Ojong have confirmed Chidinma’s unfortunate passing.

Okhiria was in tears when she spoke with us few minutes ago.

Also, Abuja-based Amara Nwakpa, who sources say was close to the deceased, has taken to microbloging site Twitter to announce her death and bless her soul. ‘RIP Chidinma Mbalaso – 22 Jan 1989 – 25 Mar 2011. You will be remembered fondly and with love. Adieu little sister’ Nwakpa posted through his handle (@bubusn).

Mbalaso, who schooled at University of Abuja, was reportedly in a Coma for hours, as friends and family members ran helter-skelter trying to get her blood donation.

‘She lost so much blood. We were really working hard all night to get blood donations’ a friend tells us.

From midnight to this morning, several messages were spreading, urging anyone with contacts in Kaduna to please rise up and convince them to donate blood for the young lady.

‘Chidinma is at St Gerald’s hospital in Kaduna. Please call … (numbers withheld) if you can help. If you’re a B- or O-. She needs blood donation. Please save a life. Thanks!’

A reliable source tells us she was on her way back to Abuja, from Kaduna where she had gone to pick up her car. ‘This was her first car; she paid for with her money. She was driving back to Abuja when a motorcycle ran into her path. She was trying to avoid the motorcycle when she lost control…’

Miss Mbalaso’s death, coming a day after that of comedian CD John, and about a year to the anniversary of Dagrin’s, brings to the fore again, the horrible state of Nigerian roads, and the mess our medical system is in.

No word yet from HiTV or Mohits, but our reporters are working the phones to get more details and reactions.

STORY DEVELOPING…

Chidinma Mbalaso from the reality television show, Koko Mansion, is dead. According to multiple sources, the 22 year old was involved in a car crash on the Kaduna-Abuja road yesterday March, 24 2011 and died early this morning at St Gerald’s hospital in Kaduna.

Ayo Rotimi, who worked as music supervisor during the Koko Mansion show said “[I] am still shocked myself. I heard the news yesterday and also that she was in a coma and I have been seeing tweets on the issue. I’m really am unhappy about it. We are still dealing with CD John’s death and now this. What’s happening to our youth?”. Meanwhile Koko Mansion housemate, Rita Isoken appeared to be too upset to remark. “Please not today,” Isoken said over the phone.

Before her death, Mbalaso was said to have gone into a coma and was in need of a blood donor. She was one of the four finalists on the Mo’Hits sponsored TV show Koko Mansion in 2009.

1. Can the sexual activity I'm engaging in put me at high risk for any STDs?

Going in for your annual Pap exam doesn't mean you'll automatically get tested for all STDs. Share with your doctor the sexual acts you engage in so he or she can know what tests to give you.

"There are some sexually transmitted diseases that go beyond a pelvic exam," Hutcherson says. For example, if you're having anal sex, ask for a rectal exam because rectal cancer can be caused by HPV.

2. What is my risk for heart disease?

Few women realize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Unfortunately, black women have a higher risk, Clairborne says. Obesity, smoking and hypertension put women at risk, a reason why knowing the symptoms are important.

3. What is a healthy weight for me?

Weight charts and body mass index (BMI) can be a little sketchy. That's why, from a medical standpoint, it's important to ask your doctor this.

Obesity increases the risks of ailments like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease and can potentially cause infertility and complications with conception, Hutcherson says. Being underweight also can cause infertility.

4. Am I able to conceive?

The earlier you ask, the better. "Women come to me when they're almost 40 [saying], 'Now, I'm ready to have a baby,' " Hutcherson says. It's true, some women can have their first child in their 40s, but chances are slimmer. Even though "black women tend to be better at having these babies later than Caucasian women," sooner is better than later, she says.

5. Why can't I have an orgasm?

Considering that only 25 percent of women have orgasms through intercourse alone, this is a popular question. "Ask what can make sex more enjoyable for you," Clairborne suggests.

There may be many reasons why, including vaginal dryness, a decreased libido - an issue for a lot of women, particularly for postmenopausal women or after just having children - and your partner not stimulating your clitoris properly... or at all. One thing to remember: A woman's orgasm generally begins in her mind.

1. Can the sexual activity I'm engaging in put me at high risk for any STDs?

Going in for your annual Pap exam doesn't mean you'll automatically get tested for all STDs. Share with your doctor the sexual acts you engage in so he or she can know what tests to give you.

"There are some sexually transmitted diseases that go beyond a pelvic exam," Hutcherson says. For example, if you're having anal sex, ask for a rectal exam because rectal cancer can be caused by HPV.

2. What is my risk for heart disease?

Few women realize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Unfortunately, black women have a higher risk, Clairborne says. Obesity, smoking and hypertension put women at risk, a reason why knowing the symptoms are important.

3. What is a healthy weight for me?

Weight charts and body mass index (BMI) can be a little sketchy. That's why, from a medical standpoint, it's important to ask your doctor this.

Obesity increases the risks of ailments like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease and can potentially cause infertility and complications with conception, Hutcherson says. Being underweight also can cause infertility.

4. Am I able to conceive?

The earlier you ask, the better. "Women come to me when they're almost 40 [saying], 'Now, I'm ready to have a baby,' " Hutcherson says. It's true, some women can have their first child in their 40s, but chances are slimmer. Even though "black women tend to be better at having these babies later than Caucasian women," sooner is better than later, she says.

5. Why can't I have an orgasm?

Considering that only 25 percent of women have orgasms through intercourse alone, this is a popular question. "Ask what can make sex more enjoyable for you," Clairborne suggests.

There may be many reasons why, including vaginal dryness, a decreased libido - an issue for a lot of women, particularly for postmenopausal women or after just having children - and your partner not stimulating your clitoris properly... or at all. One thing to remember: A woman's orgasm generally begins in her mind.

1 -Change something in your routine. For tonight’s dinner, put out your best linens, create a centerpiece, or simply light a candle. A festive setting makes for a festive mood.

2 -Get outside. Whenever you feel bored, antsy, or gloomy, go for a walk. The fresh air, changing scenery, and exercise will boost your mood.

3- Bow out gracefully. The next time you argue with someone, be the first person to relent and acknowledge the other person’s point of view. You’ll both be smiling sooner.

4 -Pat a pet. Rub a good dog. Scratch a cat. Pets love us unconditionally and relieve our stress.

5 -Move your bedtime. Go to bed an hour early tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll wake up with a brighter outlook.

6- Build someone’s future. Volunteer with a local charity. To find a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization near you, read my article:

7- Buy something beautiful. Place a small but exquisite painting, handmade vase, or other piece of art prominently in your home. Admire it often.

8- Take lessons. When you were a kid, did you always want to try horseback riding or sailing? Do you wish you could take up a hobby, like knitting or piano playing? Now is the time to learn how. Hobbies are fun and relieve stress. Look for appropriate schools in the phone book.

Beloved,

The God of heaven shall release rains of abundant blessings upon your life and God by His grace and mercy is taking you higher, and moving your life forward. Yokes of financial limitation, debt, hardship, stagnancy and delays shall be broken. God shall restore that which you have lost in years past and you shall have great testimonies in Jesus mighty name.

LAGOS – Nigeria’s Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, standing trial for attempted bombing of an American airline on Christmas day in 2009 had considered launching the strike in the skies above Houston or Chicago but he could not afford the flight tickets to these cities. He therefore refocussed the mission on a cheaper destination: Detroit, United States, current and former counter-terrorism officials have said.

The report showed that Yemen’s branch of Al-Qaida does not strike at symbolic places but any place of opportunity.

There had been questions on why Abdulmutallab chose to bomb Detroit. Abdulmutallab considered Houston, where he attended an Islamic conference in 2008, current and former counter-terrorism officials told the AP. Another person with knowledge of the case said Abdulmutallab also considered Chicago but was discouraged by the cost. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the case.

While the target and timing were unimportant, the mission itself was a highly organised plot that involved one of the FBI’s most wanted terrorists and al-Qaida’s go-to bomb maker, current and former officials said. Before Abdulmutallab set off on his mission, he visited the home of al-Qaida manager Fahd al-Quso to discuss the plot and the workings of the bomb.

Al-Quso, 36, is one of the most senior al-Qaida leaders publicly linked to the Christmas plot. His association with al-Qaida stretches back more than a decade to his days in Afghanistan when, prosecutors said, bin Laden implored him to “eliminate the infidels from the Arabian Peninsula.”

From there he rose through the ranks. He was assigned the job in Aden to videotape the 1998 suicide bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 sailors and injured 39 others, but fell asleep. Despite the lapse, he is now a mid-level manager in the organisation. Al-Quso is from the same tribe as radical U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who had an operational role in the botched Christmas attack.

In December, Al-Quso was designated a global terrorist by the State Department, a possible indication that his role in al-Qaida’s Yemen franchise has grown more dangerous.

Al-Quso was indicted on 50 terrorism counts in New York for his role preparing for the Cole attack and served more than five years in prison in Yemen before he was released in 2007. On the FBI’s list, al-Quso ranks behind only bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri among the most sought-after al-Qaida terrorists.

After meeting with al-Quso, Abdulmutallab left Yemen in December 2009 and made his way to Ghana, where he paid $2,831 in cash for a round-trip ticket from Nigeria to Amsterdam to Detroit and back.

Rising stand up comedian, CD John, famous for his jokes on an imaginary Igbo female chorister  is dead.

It was reported that CD John died at St. Nicholas Hospital,Thursday morning,  from complications arising  from an accident last night, after his black Gulf 2 car ran into a stationary vehicle  on Lagos Island.

According to sources, he was returning from Questionmark act,  Harrysong’s album listening party held at Tribeca where he was the MC . He  was  driving back to his Jakande estate, Isolo  home, when the accident occurred ’.

CD John. Photo: Thenetng.

Born John Chijioke, the rib cracker was a refreshing face to burst into the comedy scene in 2010 and will be remembered for his unique style of crafting jokes from popular Christian songs.

It was reported that industry players like Gbenga Adeyinka, Teju Babyface, Basketmouth, have confirmed the accident and reports of his death.

Three presidential candidates have pulled out of a televised debate scheduled for March 29 2011 according to a press statement signed by spokespersons of the campaign organizations of Shekarau for Nigeria, Buhari Campaign Organization and Ribadu Presidential Campaign Team.

See press statement below:

Our Position On President Jonathan’s Refusal To Participate In The Presidential Debate Organised By Nn24

We the spokespersons of the Presidential Candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP); the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) wish to clear the air on the matter of the presidential debate organised by NN24 so that our teeming supporters and Nigerians in general will understand and appreciate our position.
We had held series of clear-the-air meetings under the auspices of the organisers at which logical and other arrangements for the debate were exhaustively discussed.

The representative of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, was in attendance and actively participated in all deliberations.

It was at Dr. Okupe’s instance that the two dates earlier proffered by the organisers; March 8th and 15th  as contained in the memorandum of understanding signed by the three candidates were rejected because according to him, those dates were not convenient for his candidate. Dr. Okupe, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, suggested the March 18th date in which the debate was successfully held.

All of us accepted this date not because it was convenient for our Principals, but as our sacrifice to afford Nigerian voters an opportunity to assess and judge the candidates’ programmes as well as personality under the spotlight.

For emphasis, we had to adjust ou

But the there is a limit to which we can subject ourselves to this sheer impunity of the ruling party which they have flunked on our faces as a people in the last 12 years. The PDP has a record of shunning every Presidential debate since 1999.

We are highly suspicious of the celebrated romance with the BON debate by the president Jonathan’s camp which shunned the NN24 debate without an apology. We can only hazard that since most of the agencies organizing the BON debate are government parastatals, the organizers may not be in a position to resist the request for advance questions being given to the debates in which the NN24 agreed with us because they were independent. This does not mean that the men and women running these agencies lack integrity but the awe some power of the presidency may be too much for them.

Our principals being men of dignity with high regard for the people of Nigeria will not be part of such orchestrated charade of a D'Banj's “kokolete” debate.

Like millions of other Nigerians, we consider this behaviour  of the president as egotistical, condescending and unbecoming of a man seeking a mandate to govern Nigeria. Leadership entails humility and respect for others.

A situation where the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation deliberately set out to humiliate other Presidential Candidates by reneging on an agreement it proposed is unacceptable to us and the millions of our supporters.

Consequently, we state without ambiguity that our principals will not honour any debate session with president Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections as he has arrogantly shunned the credible debate for which we made ourselves available.

Future presidents of Nigeria will have to be more careful in dealing with the feelings of others.

r respective campaign time tables at great logistics costs to us as our sacrifices for the growth of the culture of debate as an essential ingredient of the open society.

We indeed bent backwards for the office of the President even when we are fully aware that the occupant is no more than a co-contestant in the context at it were.

From JOE EFFIONG, Uyo

Thursday, March 24, 2011   Akwa Ibom has begun to count the loss of the ethno-political war that engulfed the state on Tuesday when the People Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters clashed in Ikot Ekpene with a spill over in Uyo.

The collateral losses as each side takes inventory include 20 deaths, 1300 brand new cars and tricycles burnt at the Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat; three vehicles including a Hummer Sports Utility Vehicle burnt at Senator Aloysius Etok’s Fortune High School Uyo. Also torched was the Goodluck/Akpabio campaign storey building. Four PDP supporters reportedly lost their genitals while 65 ACN supporters are in police net.

Governor Godswill Akpabio who gave the inventory on the side of PDP and state government said the 800 vehicles burnt at the state secretariat were the handiwork of the opposition that wanted to create insecurity in the state so that it could attract a state of emergency. The vehicles, including some tri-cycles were those purchased by the state government to be distributed to okada riders when the commercial motorcycles would have been banned in the state.

“I was in Mkpat Enin LGA and Abak campaigning. When I was coming back I was told not to take Abak road where the ACN candidate lives; that I should divert because I was going to be attacked. You must note that I had been attacked on that road several times by the people holding brooms. Each time my convoy is passing they put dagger inside the broom and rush to scratch vehicles. When they scratch vehicles they break the windscreen.

“What is happening in Akwa Ibom State, to me is an organised attack on the citizens of the state in order to create fear and insecurity in the citizens. This is part of the plan. “They are also trying to see whether they can provoke ethnic rivalry so that it will look as if the various ethnic groups are fighting and call for state of emergency like what is happening in Jos, Plateau State.

“It is the foolishness of the planners because anybody who wants to contest election to rule the people should not kill the people. Anybody that wants to contest election should know that the primary purpose of government is to protect the lives and property of the people and also ensure peace.”

The governor added: “This is no longer politics. You cannot just go and destroy over 800 brand new cars and burn down over 500 brand new Keke NAPEP and burn down all sort of edifices in the place. They went as far as cutting the private parts-genitals-of PDP members and they are in the general hospitals.

“Four men from the PDP lost their private parts yesterday while others are killed outrightly. We will bring them to book no matter who they are. This is no longer politics, it is outright criminality.

“We have given order of shoot-on-sight of anybody that wants to cause destruction and more criminality in this state,” Akpabio said and later departed for campaigns in Etinan and Nsit Ubium local government areas.

But on their side, ACN at a press briefing anchored by its state chairman, Chief Aniekan Akpan, said the attack on their campaign train by agents of PDP, which left 20 people dead, 50 wounded, vehicles destroyed, “was on the order of Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is from Ikot Ekpene federal constituency.”

The party, which postponed its rally for the day due to the crisis, said they had it on good authority that members of the governor’s war cabinet who organised and funded the attack were a serving commissioner in the state; a chapter chairman of PDP in Ikot Ekpene; a local government council chairman in the area; a House of Assembly member from the area; a special adviser to the governor and the chairman of a development authority (all names withheld) all from the area.

“It could be recalled that the PDP government had before now, denied our candidate and party, access to public venues in the state for rallies to frustrate us but our movement has grown in leaps and bounds because the almighty God is on our side and the vast majority of the masses are in our support.

“That the mayhem took place in the home base of the state governor speaks volumes about the current state of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State; it shows the desperation of the governor and the PDP in the state.

“It is very instructive and indeed very disgraceful that this ugly incidence happened at the doorsteps of the governor, in his hometown and a few minutes drive from his country home. It is unimaginable that such a degree of mayhem could be unleashed on fellow citizens of Akwa Ibom State in the backyard of their own governor, who was elected to protect their lives and property.”

According to the ACN chieftain, the incidence showcases the evil that PDP government has brought into the state. “Akwa Ibom used to be shing light in ethnic harmony but Gov. Akpabio has in his selfish aspiration to perpetuate his corrupt and very inept leadership wants to force people to return him to power. This is unacceptable to us and the people of the state.”

The party condemned the security agencies for playing partisan role in the crisis, alleging that despite applying severally, the police had refused to give them police coverage during the campaigns. Rather, they (police) had been operating as a parastatal of the state government, ACN alleged.

“As I am talking to you now, Governor Akpabio is boasting that he has paid N500 million to the police authorities in Abuja to ensure that the former commissioner of police, Mr Magaji, who refused to tag along with him was transferred and that he has gotten someone who will co-operate with him in his bid to rig the forthcoming elections in the state.”

ACN called on the Federal Government to rein in the joint military task force called Operation Oduma in the state because they “too have been corrupted by Governor Akpabio. Today (Wednesday) even though the whole state knows the truth about what happened yesterday, our supporters are being arrested and Gov. Akpabio has ordered that our leaders be arrested and detained until after the election.”

The new police commissioner, Mr Felix Uyanna while inspecting the extent of damage in Uyo said about 45 persons have been arrested in connection with the mayhem.

He told the press at Fortunes High School owned by Alloysius Etok, a senator representing Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, that those arrested would face the full weight of the law. Senator Etok who was around to take stock of his loss said items destroyed in the school premises was worth more than N100 million.