Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 10:55pm
Professor Samuel Ejikeme Okoye, one of Africa’s top astrophysicists, died in London on Wednesday, November 18, according to a statement authorized by his family. The family did not release the cause of death.
Professor Okoye, who hailed from Amawbia in Anambra State, was born on July 26, 1939.
Professor Okoye earned a B.Sc (First Class) in Physics from the University of London and a PhD in Astrophysics at Cambridge University. He was the first black African to obtain a doctorate in Radio Astronomy.
An internationally renowned scientist, he will be remembered by many readers for his scientific columns for The Guardian which he wrote for more than four years. His columns, which focused on information technology as well as advances in scientific ideas, drew a wide readership because of his ability to convey difficult scientific ideas in accessible language.
Professor Okoye was a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science as well as the Royal Astronomical Society of the United Kingdom. For five years, he served on the governing council of the Pugwash International Conferences on Science and World Affairs. In addition, he was a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, International Network of Engineers, Scientists for Global Responsibility, and the International Astronomical Union.
For many years, Professor Okoye lectured in physics and astronomy at the University of lbadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he achieved the rank of full professor in 1976. At UNN, he also served at various times as Director of the Division of General Studies; Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy; Associate Dean and later Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, and Dean of the School of Post Graduate Studies. In 1978, Professor acted as Vice Chancellor of UNN.
Professor Okoye’s numerous scientific papers and publications span the ionosphere physics, solar physics, and the theory of extragalactic radio sources and cosmology. He also authored a monograph, Viable and Affordable Policy Objectives for a Nigerian Space Programme. He co-edited two books, Basic Science Development in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, and The World at the Crossroads: Towards a Sustainable, Equitable and Livable World.
Apart from Nigeria, Professor Okoye also lectured in the Netherlands, the US, and the UK. From 1990 to 1993, he served as a visiting professor/senior research fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, and Fellow Commoner at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge.
He was a member of Nigeria’s official delegation to the United Nations Conference on Peaceful Uses of Space in Vienna, 1981 as well as a member of a panel charged in 1984 with producing an integrated energy policy for Nigeria. From 1986-1988, he was the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Awka campus of the Anambra University of Science and technology (ASUTECH).
Professor Okoye was a consultant to the United Nations on the development of space science and technology in developing countries (1979-1986).
In late 1993, he was seconded from the UNN to the Federal Government. He served as the pioneer science attaché and head of the Science and Technology unit of the Nigerian High Commission, London.
Professor Okoye taught or inspired a generation of Nigerian scientists who hold high academic, industry and bureaucratic positions in Nigeria and around the world.
His family will be announcing funeral arrangements in due course.
For enquiries, contact:
Dr. Chike Chuka
chikechuka@hotmail.com
Tel: +44.797.478.4340
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 19, 2009 at 9:05pm
Barely, two days after saying the job cuts, which started from South Africa will not affect Nigeria, the MTN Group on Thursday, announced the sack of 65 workers, including divisional managers in its Nigerian operations.In a press statement announcing the sack, MTN Nigeria said the move will help it embark "on an aggressive plan to refocus its customer service operations towards the next generation customer care."The affected 65 permanent staff from the customer relations unit, include "60 customer care representatives, two managers; two supervisors; and one manger on suspension."Staff performance reviewsIn an email response to NEXT on the matter, Funmilayo Omogbenigun, the general manager of corporate Communication of MTN Nigeria, said, "The disengagements followed a series of internal reviews in the Customer Relations Division, specifically related to performance, values and standards."As per my previous response, the Customer Relations Division is repositioning itself for a dramatic and tangible improvement in customer service delivery, and this necessitates an enhancement of the quality of its current resources. As a responsive and responsible corporate organisation, we are committed to providing a service that exceeds the expectations of our customers."According to a statement released by the company, MTN Nigeria has invested over N4.5 billion on technology that would support customer service delivery.The company also said it plans to spend about N25 billion to establish new call centres that will create about 1,500 new jobs.Ms. Omogbenigun said the jobs would be offered to he best quality staff, while our source revealed that the mobile telecoms giant, this month recruited 1,000 new temporary staff with 13 supervisors all in the customer care unit.MTN GroupThe MTN Group is one of the largest telecommunication operators in Africa with its major growth coming from South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.The firm acknowledged that the current global recession is a major issue, as with other telecoms operators, as its subscribers' base has declined."With respect to MTN Nigeria, and the issue of an economic crunch, the company like every other business in Nigeria, has to a certain extent, experienced the generic fallout from a global recession," said Ms. Omogbenigun.Citing the global financial crunch as the major reason, MTN South Africa sacked about 403 permanent and over 2,100 temporary staff (70% of 3,000 temporary staff).Speaking on the latest job cuts in the industry, Emmanuel Ekuwem, the president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, said, "I am just hearing this from you; I need to know more details about the lay off because MTN Nigeria should be making profit here in Nigeria, because this would raise questions if MTN is no longer making profit. But if the layoff is based on staff productive issue, companies can lay off staff in order not to drain the company from making profit."
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 8:48pm
Warning some photos may not be pleasant to the eye .
Scramble for 404 meat as vehicle with 500 dogs crashes
When an articulated vehicle from the north loaded with about 500 dogs crashed at the main entrance to Calabar, residents of Ikot Effanga Mkpa gleefully helped themselves to free dog meat but the traders are still ruing the losses incurred.
Dog meat is a delicacy in Calabar. It is eaten by both sexes and is easily used to woo a woman. But it is expensive as dogs are brought into the state from the northern parts of the country.
The lorry was almost at its destination, when it was involved in an accident along the Murtala Mohammed Highway near the main gate of "Welcome To Calabar" and somersaulted, upturning the dogs on the road and killing 200, while others sustained life-threatening injuries.
Apart from the dogs, other passengers in the vehicle also sustained injuries in the accident believed to have been caused by loss of concentration by the driver who obviously was tired following the long journey.
When the accident happened, the residents of the area and passerby were attracted to the scene only to have their attention diverted by the dead dogs by dragging them away as if in competition. Some ran home and came back for more.
One of the passengers of the ill-fated lorry who simply identified himself as Bassey wondered why the accident should occur at the main gate to Calabar after travelling over 1000 kilometers from the north.
Mr. Bassey nevertheless thanked God that none of the passengers died in the accident like their cargoes and described the rush for body parts of the dead dogs by some of the onlookers as unsympathetic and unbecoming of the people of Calabar.
‘Don't eat dogs'
But a medical doctor with the General Hospital Calabar, Edet O. Edet, said it was not hygienic for people to eat meat mangled as a result of accident and which flies had perched on for some hours.
Though not a veterinary doctor, Mr. Edet explained that meat not from a slaughter house was not fit for human consumption as animals killed there are certified healthy for consumption before being killed.
"In the first place, dogs ought not to be eaten," Mr. Edet said.
"Have you seen a slaughter house for dogs? Besides, these dogs were caught from the northern parts of the country and taken to where they are considered a delicacy. And without any examination by a veterinary staff, they are slaughtered for human consumption", Mr. Edet said.
Mr. Edet added that dogs killed under such circumstances emit toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health and attributed the rush for dogs involved in a motor accident to poverty and called for a sensitization campaign on the effect of such meat.
But opinion sampled from some residents of Calabar differed from that of the medical doctor. They said there was nothing harmful in dog meat as dogs are slaughtered unlike some animals that are strangled in the bush after being caught by the traps set for them.
In the city, dog is carefully prepared and spiced with some vegetable that gives the meat a tempting aroma. In Calabar, it is common to see joints with sign boards reading: "Plantain plus 404 ready". This combination is washed down with palm wine.
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Port Harcourt — Following attacks on them and the alleged raping of their girls by reformed militants camped at Social Training Centre, Aluu, Rivers State, the two host communities, Choba and Aluu as well as students are threatening reprisal attacks on the camp of the reformed militants if the Federal Government fails to relocate them.This is as the four unions in the University of Port Harcourt, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Technicians (NAT) have withdrawn their services in protest against the attack on them, Monday, by the militants who broke camp, smashed their vehicles and snatched their laptops.Although the university Public Relations Officer, Dr. William Wordi, said the university was not officially notified of the withdrawal of services by the unions, he said they have petitioned President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Inspector General of Police, Governor of Rivers State, the National Universities Commi-ssion (NUC) and a plethora of other authorities pleading that the reformed militants be moved out of the area.The strike is coming on the heels of the arrest and detention of about nine of the reformed militants caught after the riot with stolen effects on their way to town who the police said were being prepared for prosecution.The communities were said to have asked the federal and state government to move the reformed militants who they alleged had been going after their girls and even raping married women in the presence of their husbands.THISDAY learnt that Aluu community had asked the Rivers State Amnesty Coordinator, Mr. Bestman Nnwoka, to move the reformed militants out of their community about two months before they rioted.However, following the plot to storm the camp and sack it in retaliation for the anti-social vices of the boys, none of the community leaders agreed to speak on record again while some switched off their phones so that they can no longer be reached.They confirmed off record that the Choba and Aluu communities have met and are strategising on how to retaliate on the social assault of their domain by the reformed militants, adding that crime wave within their domain has spiraled since the coming of the camp.Dr. William Wordi who spoke with us said that taking into consideration the university community with about 30,000 student's population most of them girls; it was dangerous to have the militants, though they have renounced militancy, so close.Police Public Relations Officer, Rita Abbey, said they have deployed their men also in strategic positions to keep the peace while those caught after the riot would face prosecution.By Ahamefula Ogbu19 November 2009AllAfrica.com
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 19, 2009 at 10:52am
14 Wraps of heroin sniffed out from lady’s hair
By CHRIS ANUCHA
It is said that a woman’s beauty is her hair. But that can no longer be said of Angela Okiri, who was arrested recently at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport(MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, over hard drug.
Angelaadvertisement
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), she concealed fourteen wraps on her well braided hair.
The 31 years old suspect from Edo State, also swallowed fifty-six wraps of heroin and packed twenty-two wraps inside sanitary pad in her handbag.
Angela was among the four suspects nabbed recently by the narcotic agents.
One of the suspects was attempting to smuggle narcotics into the country from Brazil, while the other three suspects were arrested on their way out of the country to Europe. Other suspects were, Anekwe Ugochukwu, 28, who ingested eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.285kg, Anisiebo Arinze, 45, who ingested sixty-eight wraps of cocaine and Esimone Amanchukwu, 33, that ingested eighty-two wraps of cocaine weighing 988 grammes.
The suspects were detected with the assistance of scanning machine donated to the Agency by the United States of America.
Impressed by the arrest and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, called for more public support for the Agency. While reaffirming the commitment of the Nigerian government to the anti-narcotic crusade, he vowed that all drug trafficking syndicates would be brought to book. Giade stressed that the Agency would leave no stone unturned in the fight against illicit drugs, adding that intense undercover operations were going on to dismantle more illegal drug cartels.
Arinze, who had lived in Germany for the past nineteen years was nabbed while on his way to London. He ingested the drug for a fee of 5,000 pounds.
He said: “I live in Stuttgart, Germany, where I work as a labourer, but I lost my job in August last year. I came to Nigeria in November 2, 2009, to attend a burial ceremony. It was in the village that I met an old friend, who asked me to traffick drugs to London. I agreed because of the money involved, because I needed to complete the traditional marriage ceremony of my wife. I only did the introduction in January and there is pressure on me. I ingested sixty-eight pieces of the drug in my village, Umuoji in Anambra State.”
Ananchukwu was to board KLM flight to Amsterdam, on his way to Hamburg, Germany, when he tested positive to drug ingestion. The suspect said he decided to smuggle drugs to settle his creditors. “I am heavily indebted and my dad is sick. I swallowed eighty-two pieces of drugs and would have been given 3,500 Euros.” Anthony, who was smuggling the illicit drugs into Nigeria was apprehended in a South African Airline from Sao-Paulo Brazil, through South Africa. According to him, he went to Brazil five months ago and was stranded. “I was stranded in Brazil.
Though, I was working in a restaurant, the salary could not pay my rent. When I got the offer to send the drugs to Togo, I was happy, because I saw hell these five months in Brazil,” he stated.
Angela, had lived 11 years in Bergmo, Italy, where she worked as a labourer in factories.
She was arrested during screening of passengers on Alitalia flight. The suspect, whose final destination was Torino, stated that some friends introduced her into the drug business, after being jobless for several months due to the economic recession. “Having lost my job for some months, I am now into trading but things are difficult. I wanted some money to expand my business.
They gave me ninety-two wraps out of which, I could only swallow 56. So, I hid some in my handbag and some in my hair. I thought that they would not see them. They would have paid me 4,000 Euros,” she lamented.
According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, all the suspects would appear in Court soon.
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Posted by Jane Okinedo on November 18, 2009 at 11:59pm
This man married his OWN daughter so she would be allowed to stay in Britain - and the Home Office knows about itA Nigerian Home Office worker 'married' his own daughter to get her a British visa, the Daily Mail can reveal.The extraordinary scam was apparently executed by Jelili Adesanya while ministers turned a blind eye.Mr Adesanya, 54, has lived here for more than 30 years and holds a British passport, but wanted his daughter, her husband and their four sons to join him from Nigeria.He faked a wedding ceremony complete with a photograph of the happy 'couple' which helped fool immigration officials that his daughter, Karimotu Adenike, was really his wife.Miss Adenike, who is in her mid-30s, was duly granted permission to live in the UK.The pair are waiting for her to be granted a permanent right to remain before they undergo a quiet divorce and attempt to bring the rest of her family here.It is expected she would try to remarry her real husband to get them all visas.But despite being tipped off two years ago, the Home Office seems to have done nothing to stop the scam by one of their own workers.Until recently, Mr Adesanya was employed as an occupational health nurse for the Home Office, working with immigration officials at Gatwick airport.A whistleblower sent letters to the High Commission in Lagos and the UK Border Agency including specific details such as names, addresses, passport numbers and even a copy of the wedding photograph.When there was no response, he sent emails to then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and ministers Vernon Coaker and Phil Woolas on February 1 this year. He heard nothing.Mr Adesanya, who came to Britain in 1976, flew back to Nigeria on May 29, 2007, and held the bogus wedding ceremony a few days later at a register office in Ikorodu, Lagos.A source said: 'They paid people to attend the wedding so that the British High Commission in Lagos would believe it was genuine. The commission then gave Karimotu Adenike a two-year settlement visa in October 2007.'On her settlement visa application form, of course, she did not mention that she already had a husband and four children.'The date of birth on her Nigerian passport is not her real date of birth.'Miss Adenike is believed to have aged herself by ten years on her wedding certificate to disguise the age gap with her father.Although her settlement visa expired last month, she is hoping to be given the right to remain.David Burrowes, the Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate and Shadow Justice Minister, was also tipped off by the whistleblower and wrote to the Home Office.This time there was a reply, but it said that although the matter was 'under investigation', no further information would be provided because it could 'breach of our obligations under the Data Protection Act'.Mr Burrowes told the Mail: 'I am very surprised and concerned that no action appears to have been taken, because the allegations are extremely serious.'Mr Adesanya, who lives with his daughter in Dagenham, Essex, vehemently denied the plot and said he had never been questioned about the allegations.He said: 'Married my own daughter? I have never heard anything like this in my life. I deny it. She is my wife, not my daughter.'However, asked to confirm his 'wife's' date of birth, he said he did not know without checking her passport, and refused to allow her to speak for herself.Unbeknown to him, his daughter had confirmed the arrangement when she told a friend she would shortly apply for her own British passport and 'divorce daddy'.Last night Jonathan Sedgwick, from the UK Border Agency, said: 'These individuals are already under investigation, and I want to make it clear that abuse of our immigration laws will not be tolerated.'If we identify marriages which we believe are not genuine, we will challenge them and prosecute where appropriate.'We are determined to send home any foreign nationals convicted of these types of crimes once they have served their sentences.'
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 18, 2009 at 10:18pm
By Festus Owete and Ini Ekott with a brief intro by Abi John Balogun
The song "The more money we get the more problems we see ...." These lyrics must have had Nigeria on the mind of the Singer slain Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G
Now The apparently dim witted Dimeji Bankole Speaker of the Federal House of Reps and general youth disappointment to the youths of this great Nation has spearheaded this opportunity for Business as Usual.
Story
The House of Representatives yesterday consented to President Umaru Yar'Adua's request to get $500 million loan from the World Bank.
The loan was approved after a motion sponsored by the Chief Whip, Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by John Kalipa (PDP, Rivers).
Mr. Ihedioha, who stood in for the House Leader, Tunde Akogun, said that Mr. Yar'Adua had in a letter dated July 27 asked the House to endorse the emergency supplementary expenditure to effectively respond to current challenges.
He reminded the house that the 2009 Appropriation Act inadvertently omitted or insufficiently provided for certain items, adding that the supplementary budget will be funded from a special concessional facility from the World Bank.
The lawmaker said that the concessionary terms for the World Bank facility include zero interest rate, 0.7 per cent for service charge, 0.5 per cent commitment charge on undisbursed balance, 10 years grace period and 40-year-repayment period, among others.
Mr. Ihedioha said that if granted, the loan will address core infrastructural development in power, works, transport and aviation sectors.
Earlier however, there was confusion over the President's request for the loan. Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi) while invoking Order 8 (4) of the Standing Rules, had complained that the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday approved a $300 million loan from the International Development Association to fund the power sector without recourse to the National Assembly.
He stated that the finance minister and his counterparts in the ministries of power, justice, and power as well as officials of the Debt Management Office and Power Holding Company of Nigeria, entered into negotiations with the association between May 11 and 13 this year.
He added that on June 16, the World Bank executive met with the officials after which the federal executive council asked the minister of finance to implement the plan to obtain the loan.
Violation of Constitution
Mr. Melaye said that the executive arm violated Sections 21 (1) and 22 (3) of the Debt Management Establishment Act by not consulting the National Assembly on its plan to take the loan.
He said that when Mr. Yar'Adua wanted to grant a loan to Sao Tome and Principe he asked the National Assembly for approval, wondering why he could not do so when he was planning to take the $300 million from the World Bank.
Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Emang, reminded the House that the President had in July written the National Assembly asking for permission to get a loan to fund the emergency supplementary budget.
He said that the House approved the budget but did not approve the loan at that time. Mr. Enang said he had met with Mr. Melaye severally on the issue with a view to explaining the matter to him.
However, in his response, Mr. Melaye insisted that the two are different loans since "one is $300 million and the other $500 million" and that the House should treat it as a matter of urgent importance on the next legislative day.
Both the deputy finance committee chair and his police affairs counterpart also made contributions and called for caution. In the end the loan was approved, but to ensure clarity on the matter, the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole asked the committees on finance, appropriation and local and foreign debts to investigate if the $500 million dollars approved is inclusive of the $300 million that president obtained from the international Development Association. Mr. Bankole asked the committee to report their findings during the next legislative session.
Supplementary budget
Also on Wednesday, the lawmakers approved the N353.6 billion as supplementary budget for the President. The amount is higher than the N352.8 billion requested by Mr. Yar'Adua two weeks ago.
However, the lawmakers approved an amendment proposed by Mr. Ihedioha to transfer N2 billion from the N10 billion allocated to the Public Mass Transit (Revolving Fund to Procure Vehicles) to complete the Port Harcourt-Opobo-Azumini-Ukanafun Road. This leaves the allocation to mass transit at N8 billion.
They also asked the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Adamu Aliero, to send to the House a written explanation on how the contracts for the expansion of airport and Kubwa roads were awarded. The deputy chairman of the Committee on Finance, Leo Dilkon, had informed the House that Mr. Aliero opted for Private-Public-Partnership when the banks which were to grant loan to the FCT to fund the projects asked for 23 per cent interest rate on the loan.
Mr. Dilkon said that with the new arrangement, the FCT will be saving the nation about N109 million.
Not mine I DON"T own this audio lyrics: Now, who's hot who not Tell me who rock who sell out in the stores You tell me who flopped who copped the blue drop Who jewels got robbed who's mostly Gold..
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ARSENE WENGER reveals the secrets of Arsenal's beautiful game.In an in-depth interview, the Gunners boss uncovers how he teaches his young side to play what is universally regarded as the best football in the land.For many purists, only European champions Barcelona are as pleasing on the eye as Wenger's Arsenal.Spectacular combinations based on speed of body and mind, together with technical ability and power, have made the North Londoners the nation's favourite second team.This season, more than any other since the Invincibles of 2003-04, Wenger's Gunners seem to be mounting a quietly confident title challenge - lying in the slipstream of leaders Chelsea.With 36 League goals in 11 games they have scored seven more than the Blues and 13 more than Manchester United - even though they have played one game less.Wenger's blueprint is based on intelligence, class, technique, and fitness. But the key ingredient is confidence, which makes individuals comfortable on the ball.His players must always have choices and alternatives, which provide "solutions".The legendary French boss has revolutionised the English game since arriving from Japan 13 years ago, changing dietary and training habits as well as the lifestyle of the top professionals.But it is Arsenal's brand of football that is Wenger's biggest achievement.The 'Arsenal way' is based on off-the-ball movement, with the main objective being to give the man on the ball as many alternatives as possible. Those solutions, as Wenger calls them, mean endless problems for Arsenal's rivals.When he teaches his charges, Wenger uses what he calls "green lights" and "red lights" to show where his players must be when Arsenal are in possession.Of course, like any teacher, he wants his pupils to stay well clear of the "red light" districts on the pitch.Essentially, when an Arsenal player has the ball there must at least two possible passes he can make - the so-called green lights - and so on and so forth.He said: "We work a lot on the potential of combinations between players. We plot it on the pitch and, once a player has the ball, there are red lights or green lights."The collective goal is to create the most possible green lights."That is to say to give passing solutions to the man with the ball and to leave the responsibility with that man to make the best choice possible, allowing the team to keep possession but at the same time - if possible - make the game progress towards the attack."So you must always offer the player solutions that allow him to utilise his intelligence around the game to the maximum."Advertisement
The Arsenal boss, 60, accepts his biggest challenge as boss of a team that plays the 'Wenger way' is to prepare his team mentally.Over the last few years, a lot has been made of the mental fragility of his Gunners side.Critics have argued that, while they may be easy on the eye, they are also easy to disrupt.The way Arsenal collapsed in last season's Champions League semi-final against Manchester United is a case in point.Their confidence was shattered after the Red Devils grabbed a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes in the second leg - and one of the biggest games in Arsenal's history turned into a procession for United.Speaking on French radio, Wenger continued: "For it to work, players must make themselves available and we work on that in training."That's where top-level sport becomes really interesting, in finding a way to have the team in a position of psychological comfort so that they can offer solutions."Because you know that, when doubt creeps in, the green lights become red lights."Because each player takes fewer spontaneous initiatives and, all of a sudden, it's absolutely unbelievable at what speed all those lights become red and the player with the ball finds himself in the s***."Doubt is the key enemy of our game but, eventually, we must at the same time give our team the sense of availability."And, on a psychological level, we must give them a taste for audacity and for developing connections between each other."Wenger insisted that to maintain the quality of Arsenal's game, he simply cannot afford to make too many changes or bring in too many players at once.During the summer, only Thomas Vermaelen was brought in to bolster the Gunners' first-team squad.He concluded: "When you change more than three players from game to game you take a technical risk."The balance of a team doesn't depend on one player but if you change three it's a grave risk, not only in a game but also in signing players."You change three players and bring in three or four new faces who do not know your playing philosophy and it can hit your team like the flu."Sometimes when the players are extremely intelligent they adapt very quickly and it can also click very quickly. But it's rare."
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Posted by chizindu king on November 18, 2009 at 4:00am
it is unfortunate that in the recent times women hve learn to dress without looking at the mirror first before they jump out of their verous home but withutmost dismay i think it is begining to give every nigerian citizen that is petrotic a serious concern. I said a patrotic citizens because i know some of us enjoy it,some even go as far as telling there wives to wear it .if ask they will say i want her to look sexy,but my qestion is this,is this sexy u want her to look for only u?or......the worst part is that they even wear it to church i beging to wonder and to ask what is happening to our women.is it madness or rascal?.how can a woman wear jeans or trousier without pant some even wear skirt without pant yet they will put the thing just by there 'yash' almost every woman wear cloth that must show some part of their breast whether the breast is it or not they try to make it someting like it.please every body should help us advice our women to look at themelves using their mirror first before going out to the street as this will help them see what they look like to the members of the public.They should also remember that they are the mothers of the society and a lot of things as regard morality in our soceity is dependent on them.they should not make this society the place of mad women please.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 17, 2009 at 9:30pm
Yaradua's 7 Point Agenda Poem They said that it could not be done
Verse 1
They said that it could not be done, One war many left un mended
He said "Just let me try." My slate is clean See the billions i left in my state
They said, "Other men have tried and failed," Gowon Shagari IBB even Lord Lugard !
He answered, "But not I." I will give it a good turai !
They said, "It is impossible," nafisah said he, used to watch kimpossible !
He said, "There's no such word." but that which steals the words, in pdp we trust to rust this nations trust
He closed his mind, he closed his heart... triple by pass saudi style ..
To everything he heard, we all heard the generators, whose sound was no p-h-c-n !
Verse 2
He said, "Within the heart of man, very close to his kidneys
There is a tiny seed of hope not like vision twenty twenty
It grows until it blossoms, from Granaries steeped in china
It's called the will to succeed, but yall call me go slow
like lagos traffic, with good speedbrakers, some of you call potholes !
Its roots are strength, its stem is hope, its friends like anenih
Its petals inspiration,
Its thorns protect,like that of the gangster anini .
its strong green leaves like the greens in usa money
With grim determination. Heading for the swiss, whose bounty was our dictators booty
"Its stamens are its skills the ills of the dimejiss
Which help to shape each plan, when the senate rocks the nation
For there's nothing in the universe even in aso rock
Beyond the scope of man that the young musa couldn't snap ."
With Ak47's and powerbikes to match, let me show the money while i get rich or die by tryin.
Last Verse
They thought that it could not be done,they even "voted" him in
Some even said they knew it,and wrote him this seven point agenda
But he faced up to what could not be done"
And he couldn't bloody do it!
originally written and performed by the late brirish Comedian Benny hill !
Rewritten for 9jabook.com by Weboga Abi john Balogun
Shortlisted models that scaled through the screening for the Next Nigeria Super Model beauty pageant paid a scheduled visit to the Palms Shopping Mall Lekki, Lagos Nigeria, as part of their camping activities.
The models seven in number had photo sessions and they went for shopping getting themselves tuned up for the pageant which will be taking place sometime next year.
The ladies really had a lot of fun as they visited shops within the Palms and met with a lot of curious people who were amazed at the beauty of these contestants
One of the highlights of the ladies visit to the Palms Shopping Mall was a special cat walk up and down the shopping mall.
Passersby were eventually invited to take part in the “catwalk” which drew claps and cheers from shoppers who were happy to see this unexpected side attraction within the Palms
Later it was time for kids to do their own thing trust the kids to show a lot flair for modelling as they too had the opportunity to walk up and down the make shift catwalk aisle of the Palms
VIEW GALLERY PICS HERE
http://www.9jabook.com/photo/albums/nigeria-next-super-models
Photos courtesy GL Enterprises
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 17, 2009 at 7:34pm
The Lagos State government, on Monday, demonstrated its commitment to recognise gallant and patriotic law enforcement agents by presenting the keys of a three-bedroom flat to Mrs Olubunmi Oluseyi Awe, widow of a naval officer, who was killed during an attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty. The state government also presented certificates of commendation to 16 police officers and men who have distinguished themselves in their careers.
Speaking at Lagos House, Ikeja while handing over the keys of the flat located at Igbogbo II in Ikorodu, Deputy Governor Sarah Adebisi Sosan, who stood in for Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the state government would always stand by officers in times of need.
According to him the death of late Commander A.K Joshua Awe, during the attack by unknown men on the Atlas Cove Jetty, some months ago, showed the commitment and gallantry of the officer in the course of duty.
He added that the widow, Mrs Olubunmi Awe, who was accompanied by her three children, one of whom was marking her seventh birthday, should take solace in the fact that her husband died in the course of national duty and would forever be remembered in the annals of the history of the nation.
While asking her to be of good courage, Governor Fashola said Mrs Awe should be steadfast and ensure that the future remained bright by training the children left behind by the deceased and giving them sound education.
He added that like all mortals, the late officer had transited to the great beyond, promising that the state government would not abandon her and the children in the years ahead, adding that the provision of the accommodation was one of the little ways by which the state wanted to appreciate his service.
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You make a foolish choice whenever you’re deceived on the internet love. I don’t mean foolishness on the partner you choose, no! But, what you do during the digital love.I mean whenever you look down on people you see around and imagine that there’s a perfect partner out there somewhere for you. Whenever you can’t find the prince/princess around and falls prey to love scam. Whenever you start acting foolish; revealing all the information about yourself. Or send your nude pictures to your online sweet heart-just as you could behave in bedroom apartment. Whenever the scammer threatens to publish the nude pictures and demands millions of monies. Whenever you become emotionally wounded etc.Love, romance and dating are yet to be digitalized. No matter the communication gap online dating fills. Those old ways of physically meeting your partner during date /courtship are still in vogue.Causes if the foolish choices are behavior you copied from movies, parents, literatures, televisions or advertisement. Those imaginary beliefs of love make you to look for those makes- believe love and romances you see on movies.You think you can have it all just as it happens on movies. Guys think, with their money they can have any girl of their choice, while girls assume that, with their beauty, they can get attracted to any man of their choice.Once you start to fantasies about romance and love. You’ll certainly make a foolish choice and fall prey to love scam. The scammers will disguised them and brainwash you into giving information about yourself.One of the scammers, who pretended to live in Switzerland, was asked the towns around him. His answer was,” I don’t go outside much, so I don’t know what towns are around me”. You may not identify a scammer when you live in illusion of love. Because, illusion is good as long as it remains illusion.FROM http://lovergist.comRead more…
As a direct consequence of the death of Mrs Uche Umunnakwe, who was crushed by a fence on Saturday, the Lagos Physical Development Agency started demolishing houses within the vicinity of the sad incident this afternoon.Earlier in the day, Officials of the Agency were around to access the extent of deterioration in the neighbourhood. Several houses were marked for demolition to the admiration of the residents who felt it was high time. Not long after, the neighbourhood witnessed an influx of journalists from diverse media houses who must have received tips from the government agency (I broke this news since Saturday).About one hour ago, the government officials returned with a retinue of policemen, more pressmen and several sledge hammer wielding young man who immediately brought down the offending fence and attached house, before moving on to other structures that from all indication, are death traps too.Caught unawareMost of the residents had already gone to work but the power of new age communication devices brought most of them running home to salvage as much of their properties.At this very moment, demolitions are still ongoing and the general belief is that the days of the standing structures are numbered.
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Months after they were first spotted at Rita Dominic’s birthday party and weeks after the news of their engagement broke via Stella D-K, Everton FC defender Joseph Yobo and 2008 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Adaeze Igwe have officially announced their engagement. Rather than going for a traditional engagement ring, Yobo presented Adaeze with a unique ring – a diamond encrusted band with a heart shaped attachment.
The bride-to-be Adaeze represented Nigeria at the 2008 Miss World competition and she recently completed a course at the New York Film Academy while the prospective groom is set to play in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Tunisia today.
Cute couple! Wishing them all the best.
Joseph Yobo engaged to MGBN Adaeze Igwe
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Months after they were first spotted at Rita Dominic’s birthday party and weeks after the news of their engagement broke via Stella D-K, Everton FC defender Joseph Yobo and 2008 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Adaeze Igwe have officially announced their engagement. Rather than going for a traditional engagement ring, Yobo presented Adaeze with a unique ring – a diamond encrusted band with a heart shaped attachment.
The bride-to-be Adaeze represented Nigeria at the 2008 Miss World competition and she recently completed a course at the New York Film Academy while the prospective groom is set to play in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Tunisia today.
Cute couple! Wishing them all the best.
Joseph Yobo engaged to MGBN Adaeze Igwe Read more…
A lot of commentators like to point to leadership as Nigeria’s biggest failing. Not true, in my view. There are worse problems bedevilling that poor dear country than its leadership. We have religion, ethnicity, the British, etc, etc. But taking pride of place at the top of this scrapheap are the ordinary Nigerians – the followers.
Last week, I was reading through the many commentaries from some Nigerians responding to a write up on Sahararepoters titled: “Nigeria Golden Eaglets Captain 7 Years Ago” written by Sunny Achi. The piece was done in support of an initial revelation that the team captain, Fortune Chukwudi is far older than the 17 years age limit of the FIFA under-seventeen World Cup football tournament. The writer also provided some pictorial evidence.
In those pictures, Fortune Chukwudi looks nothing like a seventeen year old. He looks decidedly older. That was not all. Former Green Eagles player, Adokiye Amiesimaka, who at one time was the Chairman of Sharks Football Club and the Coach of its feeder (Youth) team had earlier provided evidence to show that Fortune Chukwudi played for his club as an 18 year old in 2002. This is seven years later, and the same Fortune Chukwudi is the captain of our national under-seventeen football team!
There’s another player, Olanrewaju Kayode, who wanted to play for Sharks feeders in 2002 and he said he had finished secondary school back then. Kayode is also in the under-seventeen team. Please note that the first MRI test carried out by FIFA eliminated 15 of our squad members. 15! God only knows what ingenuity was then employed by our football authorities for the subsequent test.
But that wasn’t the worst news. Out of about 76 commentaries on Saharareporters from Nigerians (as at the time I began writing this), close to half were dismissive, contemptuous and lampooned the writer, Amiesimaka especially, even Saharareporters (whose only crime was publishing the story) and the other commentators who thought the whole affair was blatant cheating and wrong.
I now, for the first time, understand why our senior team, the Super Eagles, can’t get off the ground (or is it grass?). I had always wondered why we play ‘walking football’ at the senior level. I had wondered many, many times why the same players who excelled at junior levels could never deliver at the senior stage. Now we know: Those players were performing at their peak in junior tournaments. At the senior stage, they were already in their 30s, with kids, mortgages and individual retirement accounts.
But this is not an isolated case as much as there could be the temptation to pass it off as passion for the game or nationalism. It is woeful cheating and misplaced patriotism. It is a manifestation of the Nigerian malaise; the Nigerian factor. Worse; it is short sighted and very self defeating. A retrogressive practice where we mess up our own future.
When former governor Alamieyeseigha, who had Bayelsa in a headlock was let out of jail, he was immediately feted with government’s money over three days by the same State. Otherwise intelligent people who hail from that part of the country could not bring themselves to condemn this abhorrence because; well…he is their thief. They loudly and angrily told other revolted Nigerians to mind their business and go mind their own thieves.
Ibori was recently able to get grown men to stand out in the cold in front of a London court, holding up freshly made PVC banners in demonstration where his sister, secretary, and mistress are being tried for laundering some of the money that he stole. Those demonstrators decried the English legal system and blamed Ibori’s troubles on colonialism. This happened in the UK in the year of the Lord, 2009! At least some of the protesters were sufficiently embarrassed and tried to avert their faces, but they still stood there in the open protesting on Ibori’s behalf. How hungry can someone be? The same Ibori was able to bus a few women with sad drooping breasts from Delta to Kaduna earlier in the year to demand his release from custody.
Freshman Bode George still has people (not just his immediate family) trooping to protest his innocence and rain curses on the EFCC as George begins classes at kirikiri.
Today, even though Babangida’s house is no longer the Mecca it once was, there are still Nigerians going there and telling the man that his gap teeth is the best thing to happen to Nigeria this side of a tuning fork.
There’s currently a character turning the internet blue pushing the candidacy of governor Shekarau as Nigeria’s next president. But almost everyone knows that Kano in the last eight years has actually retrogressed during the Shekarau years.
When some of us heaved a sigh of relief and said thank God, Chief Adedibu was gone and that Oyo State could catch its breath and can get on with normal civilised life, a gentleman from the Nigerianvillagesquare retorted that I don’t know what I was talking about and that Adidebu’s brand of politics was the best thing that ever happened to Oyo State. He said ‘outsiders’ like me don’t understand Oyo political dynamics, blah, blah, blah. Months before that, a Yoruba Professor teaching in one of the schools in America had sent me a disapproving email accusing me of not showing enough respect for criticising Chief Adedibu and calling his method ‘thuggery.’
Nobody wants to call a spade a spade anymore. We have perfected the art of self imploding and looking outwards for the pin prick. There’s absence of shame and absence of responsibility. Cheating and lying is simply the reality of our life as most Nigerians have come to know it. Most of us, depending on the circumstance, would find no qualms at all in justifying any perfidy but we then have the nerve to look and point elsewhere. We point to the leaders – as long as they are not from our neck of the woods – as the problem. Only a few honest Nigerians buck this trend.
I once had a surreal debate with a Nigerian who returned from Abuja and said that Abuja was better than London only on the basis that in London, there was too much maintenance of roads and that he found that very annoying when he drove. But in Nigeria, when a contractor comes in the dead of the night and fills a bad road with blocks and bricks instead of a full scale repair job, that is acceptable because he has settled officials and other civil servants who willingly accepts the money, or may even have demanded it knowing fully well that it means the road which they all ply would not be repaired. The contractor then takes the rest of the money and goes out to celebrate his ‘arrival.’ Everyone – including the greased civil servants then acts surprised and blame leadership when the same road falls apart worse than it was before.
The same goes for NEPA. Every new landlord or shop owner goes to bribe a NEPA official and stick their line into an already congested transformer that is extended well above its normal capacity and blame leadership when the transformer blows up within two months.
Another mate recently admitted that he regularly settles the boys in black at their illegal checkpoints with N50 every time he drives through. Most of us do. What will eventually happen if we all begin to refuse to pay this N50 bribe to the police? I am sure this person bribes other officials privately and publicly as a matter of course but remains adamant that he is awaiting a non-corrupt Nigerian to come and fight a clean fight against corruption that he and others like him daily empowers. The irony is completely lost on him. Nobody takes personal responsibility anymore. Nigeria’s problems are someone else’s making and it is therefore for someone else – untainted – to come and resolve. Meanwhile the majority seems to condone, abets and, in fact, awaits their turn at the trough. Only lip service is paid to fighting what is wrong. It is only wrong when other people do it or when we are inconvenienced by it. But if it directly benefits us, then other people complaining are unpatriotic, or it is a case of ‘bad belle’ and ‘pull him down syndrome’ – our newfound lazy, condoning, mop-up phrases.
Our leaders know us so well and have been happily shafting us accordingly. They probably have a good laugh behind our backs whenever they meet. Every time anyone of us raises an objection to their thieving and other scandalous acts, they know and understand that that person is in the minorities’ minority. There would be no shortage of other Nigerians to rain him or her down. A country does really get the leadership it deserves. Just the other day, David Mark was audacious enough to say that Nigeria is doing very well indeed and that those Nigerians complaining within and without should go start their own country. This is how much followership has enabled the kind of leadership we have.
If you do the right thing in Nigeria or even talk about doing what is right, you are laughed at by the people around you. They quickly remind you that ‘things don’t work like that here.’ Amazingly, some people don’t seem to see their own handsome contributions to why things don’t or won’t work. On the football story, some of the commentators chastised Amiesimaka for waiting till the competition got underway to make his revelation about Fortune Chukwudi. Clearly this is an afterthought and a very poor excuse. If Amiesimaka had said something before the start of the competition, they would have said why not wait till afterwards; you’re going to blow it for us. No time is a good time. What they really mean is: leave it alone. I’m afraid these are the same people who would justify cheating during exams.
Some people have argued that FIFA has given us a pass (it hasn’t) on the second MRI test and so we should not complain about over-age players anymore. It is mind bugling really. That has never being the point. All sorts of specious talk and excuses are reeled out to justify what is clearly wrong and should have been universally condemned. Everything with some of us seems to be about short-term gratification - the here and now (no matter how), and the future is consigned into the hands of fate and for other people to fix – the inshallah mentality. When we have erected sub-standards around us and have pulled the environment down to that mediocre level, we then expect giants and worthy leaders to arise from the ashes.
I think that, largely, leaders everywhere would misbehave sometimes and do their own thing if their citizens don’t hold them to account and to better standards. But some Nigerian not only condone and rationalise away what is bad, they also happily abet their own under-development. Now, please, nobody should get me wrong; Nigeria’s leadership is mostly crap and has consistently failed that country. I mean, look at Yar’Adua and Michael Aondoakaa for goodness sake…But its followership is proving worse.
One of the more enterprising commentators on the referenced story on Saharareporters actually wrote: “Age cheating is the only way developing countries(sic) can compete with Europe, America and the 1st world who cheat with technology, better health facilities and quality food. Where would Africa match these people, if not over-age posing as under-age?”
So there!
demdem@hotmail.co.uk
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 16, 2009 at 10:47am
Reps to review NYSC billNational NewsNov 16, 2009
By Ola Ajayi
THE House of Representatives is set to review the bill that established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to make life more bearable for corps members across the country.
This was disclosed by members of the House Committee on Youth who were on inspection tour of facilities at the permanent site of the NYSC in Iseyin yesterday.
The committee which was led by Nasiru Sule Garo from Kano State, inspected the facilities on ground to assess if the N3billion budgeted for the scheme in the 2009 fiscal year was judiciously spent or not.
Garo said it was the responsibility of the Oyo State Government to provide accommodation for the corps members and that it should try and complete the work it started on time so that the corps members could move to the site.
Though, he accepted that the job done so far was a quality one, he said it was moving at a snail’s speed.
He said, “we have inspected the project and we feel the state government is doing a good job. But, we were here last year and we can see now that the work is going slowly. We ask the state government to continue with the standard and to expedite the project so as to get hotel accommodation for our youths”.
The State Director, NYSC, Mr Gabriel Ibe, complained that the scheme is suffering from acute shortage of funds and facilities.
“We have insufficient facilities. The hostels we use now are classrooms and we had to pack our things before the students arrive. NYSC could be funded better. Whatever fund that is accrued to the scheme should come directly. Oyo State Government has been living up to its responsibility.
Out of five operational vehicles we have, it provided four for us”, he said.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on November 16, 2009 at 10:44am
By Omoh GabrielLAGOS — Former First Lady, Mrs Maryam Babangida, yesterday said she is alive and kicking. She spoke to Vanguard on phone allaying the fears that she was dead.
She said; “I do not know that you people in Vanguard love me this much. Only God gives life and takes it. I am alive, well, I am okay. I don’t know where people got the rumour from.”
She further said: “I am surprised that some people are wishing me dead, I am still alive, I thank Almighty Allah for His mercies and kindness. I will soon join you at home”.
Her conversation with Vanguard yesterday put to rest the rumour of her death which had spread like wildfire.
She was said to be terminally ill of cancer at the University of California (UCLA) Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.
The rumour mill also said that the former First Lady was undergoing chemotherapy and pain therapy in the intensive care unit of center in the past few days. It was also said that the former military President General Ibrahim Babangida joined his wife a few weeks ago.
Last week, General Babangida and his children were even said to have been summoned to Maryam’s bedside as her condition was said to be deteriorating.
Mohammed, the first son of Maryam, was said to have returned to Nigeria two nights ago to brief members of the extended family about the condition of his mother in Los Angeles.
Maryam Babangida, former First Lady of Nigeria and Chairperson for the Better Life for Rural Woman, remains the toast of Nigerian women even in her advance years. She is one of the most glamorous and most photographed first ladies in Nigeria’s history.
Full of zest, she became a recurring decimal in top-rate state and social functions within and outside Nigeria.
Mrs. Babangida often brought smiles on the faces of many people particularly because of her sense of style and the glitter she brings to every occasion she attends.
Nigeria’s history has it that Mrs. Babangida as wife of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who was the nation’s president between 1985 and 1993 started the office of the first lady and went further to add glamour to it.
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Three University students were shot dead last week at the University of Benin, Edo State, while two others with gun shot wounds are currently receiving treatment at the teaching hospital attached to the university. The shootings had the markings of a cult war between student gangs.
Sources say it started last Monday when the first student was shot dead in Ekosodin, a village with student accommodation near the campus.
Two fatal shootings followed on thursday and Friday in what looked like retaliatory attacks. One of the dead is Michael Olasonoye, a 200 level student of the social sciences faculty.
Edo police command say they have not been formally briefed by the school authorities.
The University of Benin is notorious for violent cult wars. Several students have in the past lost their lives during these senseless fights.
From Thisday News Papers
3 Killed in UniBen Cult War
From Adibe Emenyonu in Benin, 11.16.2009
Two students of the University of Benin (UniBen) and a student of Lagos State University (LASU), have been killed in what appeared to be a renewed cult war in the university campus.
Besides, two other students who received gunshot wounds are on danger list at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A source close to the university said, “the three dead students were shot at very close range."
THISDAY learnt that the killings started last Monday with the shooting of a 300 level Life Science student of the University, while that of LASU, whose identity could not be ascertained, occurred on Thursday.
The third person, a 200 level Banking and Finance student of the university identified as Olasanoye Michael, was also shot dead last Friday.
Commenting on the issue, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Peter Ogboi, said he was yet to be briefed about the incidents.
Informed sources, however, said remains of the three students had been deposited at the UBTH morgue, while security had been beefed up in and aroun the two campuses, Ugbowo and Ekhehuan, to prevent reprisal attack.
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