Thursday 15 January 2015

The Humans Of Lagos (Street Photography Project)

Hi guys welcome to The humans of Lagos photography thread, my initial plan was to do this project for nairalanders but I had troubles, first with the pm issue they kept me from sending as much mails as I could and secondly most nairlanders I was able to contact declined due to privacy concerns so I decided to take it up a notch, go out on the streets of Lagos and meet random Lagosians, interact with them, take a portrait and share their story.



Humans of Lagos is a street photography project capturing the lives of everyday Lagosians and sharing their story. Inspired by Brandon Stanton's HONY project. Capturing the heart and soul of everyday Lagosians, telling the Lagos story one shutter at a time.



Welcome on board as we start this interesting journey together and please do follow us on instagram http://ift.tt/1AmntdF and like our facebook page http://ift.tt/1G5NWou http://ift.tt/1AmnvlQ for latest updates.


Dear LIB readers; how do you handle unreasonable friends?


From a LIB reader...

I have had two friends stay with me on two different occasions and they stay for months (even though the initial plan is for them to get their own apartments after two to three months) and I have had to ask them to leave with reasons why they cannot keep staying with me when I sense they are not making plans to move out.

Now my issue with these friends is simple as I currently have another friend going through this… These friends never contribute to the welfare of the house/living...


They work and earn salaries like me but they will never buy things as small as dispenser water when it finishes or even fuel for generator meanwhile you see, they know the time for every program showing on TV. They expect me to take care of all the bills while they stay with me and they spend their money on things that are important to them...

My question is, do you think it is OK for a friend (the friends that work or making money NOT the ones who aren't working o or still looking for job) who is staying at your house to disregard these things and not contribute because it is not their house?




Will A Cheat Always Be A Cheat?

"A cheat will always be a cheat"



I hear this saying making rounds on social media but I think it is false. Nobody is born a cheat. A person becomes a cheat when he/she is placed under certain circumstances.







A faithful husband that has been denied sex for long periods of time is more likely to cheat than if he has sex regularly. A girlfriend who is denied love and attention constantly by her lover is more likely to cheat with him over someone else. This would have been different if her boyfriend was more loving and attentive. A poor guy that shows his love, support and attention to his girl is more likely to have a loyal babe than a rich guy who hardly shows his girlfriend any attention.





Saying a cheat will always be a cheat leaves the relationship open to do whatever you like, thinking that your partner will always be faithful no matter what. It also prevents you from forgiving your partner even if he/ she makes a mistake because you think once they have started cheating they will continue cheating all their lives no matter what. That assumption is baseless.



Of course there are exceptions to the rule but should we use the stubborn few to punish the vast majority?


Panic As Presidential Guards Shield Jonathan From Gun Salute Drama

There was a mild drama and slight panic yesterday during the ’21-Gun Salute’ at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration and wreath-laying ceremony in Abuja, as the Presidential Guards were forced to form a protective shield around President Goodluck Jonathan.





The event, which took place at the National Arcade, involved the rifle of a soldier in the ‘firing party of the gun salute,’ which is one of the key rituals of the annual event.





The 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day with the theme, "Appreciating the Nigerian Armed Forces,” started at 10 a.m. with the arrival of the president, who is also the grand patron of the Nigerian Legion.





Upon the president's arrival, there was a general salute, rendition of the National Anthem and inspection of parade.

Prayers were also offered for the repose of the souls of departed heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation by Christian and Muslim clerics.





Shortly after the prayers, the president laid a wreath, followed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, was absent.

Jonathan and other top government dignitaries took turn to lay wreaths at the foot of the monument of the 'Unknown Soldier'- a symbolic gesture in honour of the nation's fallen heroes from active military service.





However, the drama started when one of the soldiers in the ‘firing party,’ who unfortunately was on the president’s right side, mistakenly got the butt of his rifle entangled in his military uniform, preventing him from lifting the rifle to his shoulder.





As the scenario was playing out, unknown to the president, who as custom demands, stood in the middle of the ‘firing party,’ made up of soldiers from all the three services of the armed forces, and was looking straight at the monument of the ‘Unknown Soldier’ opposite Eagle Square.





Fortunately, the eagle-eyed security agents were quick to observe that the rifle had tilted the posture of the soldier, causing the barrel and muzzle of the gun to turn towards the president who was standing at the middle of the ‘firing party.’





Alarmed, a plain-clothed security agent standing behind the firing party immediately intervened from behind the soldier.

He, at first, tried to correct the soldier’s skewed posture and eventually helped to untangle what might have been the lower sling swivel (rope attached to the butt of the gun) from the soldier’s uniform.





Instantly, two presidential guards who were standing behind the president’s aide-de-camp (ADC) also moved in quickly to the right flank of the president, placing their body between the president and the soldier, while the 21-gun salute continued as if there was nothing amiss.

Calm and unruffled, President Jonathan completed the ceremony by freeing the symbolic white doves and signing the 2015 AFRDC register.

However, a senior military officer, who agreed to speak to some journalists on the incident, revealed that "the rifles used by the firing party during the ceremonial 21-gun salute usually have blank bullets".

Others who also laid wreaths at the event were the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, who is a new comer to the system following his recent appointment, Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed.



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Wole Soyinka Impressed By 2015 Election Peace Accord

It was with high expectations that I went gone through details of the Abuja peace accord recently agreed by the political party leaders, mandating decent and civilized campaign conduct among the contestants, their agents and supporters.



I was not disappointed. It is a positive step in the direction of democracy, for which I must commend the efforts of those seasoned interventionists, Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi Annan. Adhered to with good will and sincerity, it should ensure a wholesome space for future elections, and pre-empt further violence. It might even come close to what the democratic ideal should be, as canvassed by others, including Governor Fashola a few years ago – a people’s fiesta!



...



I join General Abdulsalami and others in hoping that 2015 prove a live-and-learn election year, not a do-or-die!



Wole SOYINKA

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Baga Killings: Boko Haram Killed Woman During Childbirth —Amnesty International

BOKO Haram fighters killed a woman as she was in labour during what is feared to be the deadliest attack in the six-year insurgency in Nigeria, Amnesty International claimed on Thursday.



The human rights group said an eyewitness to the assault on Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad in North-East Nigeria, told them the woman was shot by indiscriminate fire that also cut down small children.



“Half of the baby boy (was) out and she died like that,” the unnamed witness was quoted as saying.



Amnesty said hundreds of people, if not more, might have been killed in the attack, which began on January 3, thought to have targeted civilian vigilantes helping the military.



“They killed so many people. I saw maybe around 100 killed at that time in Baga. I ran to the bush. As we were running, they were shooting and killing,” a man in his 50s was quoted as saying.



Another woman added: “I don’t know how many, but there were bodies everywhere we looked.”



The testimony tallies with claims from local officials that huge numbers were killed and that of witnesses spoken to by AFP, who described seeing decomposing bodies littering the streets.



One man who escaped from Baga after hiding for three days said he was “stepping on bodies” for five kilometres (three miles) as he fled through the bush.



Nigeria’s military, however, said 150 people died, dismissing as “sensational,” claims that 2,000 may have lost their lives.



Human Rights Watch said the exact death toll was unknown and in a statement published on Thursday, quoted one local resident as saying: “No one stayed back to count the bodies. We were all running to get out of town ahead of Boko Haram fighters who have since taken over the area.”





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Tech: Learn How to Unflag your Facebook Ads Account





This is the full solution on how to UN-flagged your Facebook ads account,because of unusual activity.



Lets roll, before you can unflag your Facebook ads account you need to have any of this valid, government-issued photo ID (ex: passport, drivers license,voters card, national ID card ).



Now If you believe your ad account has been disabled by mistake, please give Facebook more information so they can investigate the issue and hopefully reactivate your account.



HOW CAN I FILL THE FORM?







HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR I.D

Please provide a copy of of your government-issued, photo ID. This ID must:











NOTE: If facebook reply you with this message “This is our final decision” ignore it and fill back the form




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Only God Knows Nigeria’s Next President — Pastor Adeboye

THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, has said only God knows Nigeria’s next president.



Adeboye made the submission on Thursday, at the just-concluded two-day Bible study programme organised by the University of Ibadan (UI) Christian Family Fellowship, at the International Conference Centre, UI.



Citing an example of a highly-placed ambassador who requested to know his opinion about the political future of the country, Adeboye said people waiting for his opinion concerning where the presidential pendulum would swing in February 14 needed not bother themselves, as his opinion did not matter, but that of God.



“Do you know that if we talk more about Jesus than we do about politics, God will take care of politics? One great ambassador asked what my opinion is about what is going on, I said my opinion does not matter. He said that was not what we wanted to hear. I said my opinion does not matter, because what God is going to do is what He will do,” the septuagenarian cleric stated. He said: “When you say you are on the side of a politician, you are on the wrong side ever possible. Because politicians never tell you the truth and you can quote me. Tell them that I said so. Politicians know how to say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ at the same time.”



The annual event started on Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m with other sessions held at 6:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m of Wednesday, as well as 6:00 p.m on Thursday.



Adeboye, who has kept his distance from making public statements on issues relating to the forthcoming general election, while teaching on “Obedience to God’s commands,” enjoined Christians to spend more time preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to unsaved souls rather than politics.



Quoting from the scriptures, he reeled out nine areas to include: Giving, Tithing, Purity, Transparency, Forgiveness, Love, Evangelism, among others where Christians should ensure they walk with God.



Adeboye contended that if Christians focused more on preaching the Good News and winning souls to populate God’s Kingdom, God would take care of the political situation of the country.



He admonished Nigerians to engage more in profitable pastime than dissipating their time and energy on which political candidate was good or bad, saying no human being was good.



“Do you think God is sitting down in Heaven and scratching His head on who should win (the general election)? That has been settled before we were born. Don’t waste your energy discussing this one is good, that one is bad. Is there any human being that is good?” he queried rhetorically.



Adeboye said Christians should focus on telling God in prayers that His perfect will should be done in February, saying they should also understand that God could use even His enemies to carry out His will if need be.



“Ask for the perfect will of God for the elections, instead of worrying over who will win. God can use His enemy to fulfill his will.



“There are many of us who want to know the details of who will win the next elections, who is going to be president, who is going to be governor, ...just say, Father let Your perfect will be done.



“What’s God’s perfect will? That if the fellow, who is going to come to power is going to be God’s enemy, it will be part of His perfect will. Because occasionally when God wants to move you to where He wants you to be, He may need to use an enemy. Joseph would never have fulfilled his destiny if his brother had loved him,” the man of God explained.



To drive home his point that politicians should not be trusted because of their penchant for double-speaking, the humorous lecturer-turned cleric told the congregation about the story of three characters among which were a Hindu, a Jew and a Politician whose car broke down at night after embarking on a journey and they had to pass the night at a farmer’s abode.



According to him, “Three people were in a car and the car broke down at night. So, they went to a farm to stay. And the farmer said “well, I I have two beds, but the third would have to go and sleep in the barn. And the first one that went to sleep in the barn, I think a Hindu or so, very soon he came and said “sorry I can’t sleep in the barn because there is a cow there and the cow is our god and I can’t sleep with my god.



“So, the Jew said I can go and sleep there because cow is not my god. But very soon, he came back and said “oh, I’didnt know there is a pig there, a pig is an unclean animal to us. I can’t sleep with the pig.”



“And the third person said “no problem, cow or pig whatever, is not my problem. And he was a politician. He went to sleep and very soon, there was a knock on the door. The farmer opened the door and found the cow and the pig standing by the door and they said “we can’t sleep in the barn because there is a politician there.”



“So, the farmer asked them “why”? They said “because by tomorrow morning, we will become liars.” And he said to them ‘how come?’ And they said ‘because he’s (politician) been with us for just five minutes and he has promised us so many things. He promised us that as soon as he gets home, he would air-condition the barn, he would give us colour television.... .’ Do I need to say more?” the man of God concluded amid an applause from the congregation.



It will be recalled that Pastor Adeboye, in his New Year prophecy to the nation, has said he would keep to himself what God told him what would characterize the political atmosphere of the year, but added that “By the end of the year (2015), many will say “all is well that ends well.”





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Obasanjo Wants To Make Buhari President So That He'll Die In Office - Fayose

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, has urged Nigerians to be very careful with Olusegun Obasanjo,in relation to next month's presidential election.



According to Fayose , Obasanjo wants to make an old man like Gen. Buhari,the president of Nigeria so that he will die in office like late Musa Yar’Adua.He said what happened to Yar'Adua is about to repeat itself if Gen. Buhari wins the presidential election.



Disclosing this today Thursday, January 15,in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose said heis baffled why Obasanjo has a misunderstanding with President Jonathan,stressing that the relationship between Obasanjo and APC leader, Bola Tinubu, is “like a lion and a goat living together”.



Read his statement below...



”Nigerians should be wary of Obasanjo’s banana peel. He was the one who put forward Umar Yar ‘Adua as the president knowing the man’s state of health and the man died in

office. He was the one who said President Goodluck Jonathan was the best for Nigeria and that without him there would be no Nigeria.”



“The question people should ask former President Obasanjo is what has gone wrong between now and then? He is against President Jonathan because the President refused to be pocketed by him and any Nigerian leader who wants to succeed will not allow that. Obasanjo is now presenting General Muhammadu Buhari as the best candidate

for Nigeria knowing the man’s age and that the pressure of office would be too much for him.”



“In the North, there are so many qualified, brilliant and credible people who can rule the country well.Why is Obasanjo going after an old horse that may collapse mid way. Nigerians should know the state of health of Buhari. His age and health cannot stand the rigours of the office. Nigerians deserve to know the health status of Buhari.”



“The strange love between Obasanjo and Tinubu is like a lion and a goat living together in the same house. Jonathan should be allowed to complete

his term and after that the North will be allowed to present credible candidate in 2019, not an old horse being put forward."



Source: http://adres.club/4zi



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Opinion: Why Poetry Is More Important Than Science

Yesterday, I heard someone, a friend say in a possible attempt to rebuke poetry and poets, that she was a scientist and that through science only, the world could be cured of it's problems. Ishilove's reply to the friend reminded me of a long article I had once written in a reply to someone who had asked me what importance poetry had in our lives. Although, unfortunately, the asker never did see my reply to his question, I feel a reason to post my long reply here, for those who also might feel that there is no need for poetry in this modern world, and all we need are scientists. Enjoy.



Poetry is vital language. Poetry relies on the writer's feelings, history and perceptions, so every person has the background needed to write poems. Because poetry draws on the senses and the senses give deep access to memories and feelings, poetry writing is relevant and interesting.



Poetry is ancient. The most primitive peoples have

used it, and the most civilized have cultivated it. In all ages and in all countries, poetry has been written and eagerly read or listened to by all kinds and

conditions of people by statesmen, lawyers,

farmers, doctors, scientists, clergymen,

philosophers, soldiers, kings and queens.



In all ages, poetry has been regarded as important,

not simply for pleasure, but as something central to

each individual's existence, something of unique value, and something which makes us feel better off for having and which we are spiritually impoverished without.



Initially, poetry might be defined as a language that says more and says it more intensely than does ordinary language. In order to understand this fully, we need to understand what it is that poetry says.



Poetic language is employed on different occasions to say quite different kinds of things. Therefore, poetry is language of different uses. While novels, short stories and plays bring us a sense and a perception of life, their concern is with experience.



The poet may create new experiences for the reader in which the reader can participate and which will give him or her a greater awareness and understanding of the world.



Poetry is the literary vehicle which is not only an aid to living but a means of living. For example, an encyclopedia can offer information on elephants. You can discover where they live, what they eat and how they breed. This information is only for practical purposes only. You can grasp the ivory of the elephant, but not its soul. The encyclopedia will not touch on its majesty, wild grandeur, strength or power. The poem can turn the elephant from a museum specimen into the highest concrete visual image that comes alive in the mind of the reader. For the living elephant, we must turn to poetry.



Poetry takes all life as its province. Its primary concern is not with beauty, not with philosophical truth, not with persuasion, but with experience.



Beauty and philosophical truth are aspects of experience, and the poet is often engaged with them. Poetry as a whole is concerned with all kinds of experience beautiful & ugly, strange & common, noble & ignoble, actual & imaginary.



One of the paradoxes of human existence is that all

experience, when transmitted through the medium

of art, becomes enjoyable. Even painful experience is pleasurable when poetry romanticizes hard labour, poverty and even death.



Poetry comes to us bringing life, and focuses on giving us a better understanding of life. Between poetry and other genres of literature there is one sharp distinction. Poetry writing is a friend to all writers. Engrossing and honest, poetry extends universally to all members of society. Poetry exists to communicate significant experience imaginatively and creatively, deepening our knowledge of the senses more poignantly.



Poetry can be inspirational on the highest level, when it provides the reader with a precious affair, frequently incandescent, giving off both light and heat. Finally, poetry is a kind of multi-dimensional language. It is directed at the whole person, not just at his understanding. It must involve the reader's senses, intelligence, emotions and imagination.



Poetry achieves its extra dimensions per word by employing devices including metaphor, allusion, sound, repetition, rhythm, irony, symbol, connotation and imagery. Using these resources and the materials of life, poetry, in its highest form, comes alive on the page.



Sobur Lekan Adedokun

Ayamlaykorn


Photos: Suspected Yahoo Boys Build Hotel, Houses with Proceeds










Some of the confiscated property




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested three suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State - Okpekereke Timothy, Stanley Odjighere, and Teminor Karo.



The trio are part of a syndicate arrested over allegations of conspiracy, internet scam and stealing from one of the new generation banks to the tune of N806, 208,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Million Two Hundred and Eight Thousand Naira). Forty others are still at large.



The theft was perpetrated through a system glitch linked to the fraudsters, in which the bank suffered

a huge loss of more than N806, 208,000

The petitioner, who works in one of the new generation banks, alleged that a review of transactions involving the bank with Interswitch Nigeria limited revealed that the bank was not reimbursed for the transactions consummated on ATM terminals.












Confiscated property




He observed that while many of the transactions involved were failed transactions, the amounts involved were not reversed, and all the customers were seen to have withdrawn the cash amounting to the sum, on each day of the occasion it happened.



The EFCC has so far confiscated the following property, which are proceeds of the crime from the suspects who are all within the South-South zone: one uncompleted 59-room self contain hostel, a twin bungalow in Oghara, Delta State, one uncompleted hotel project, one bungalow with a swimming pool in Ughelli, a bungalow in Agbaro , one Toyota Venza 2010 model, two Toyota Solara cars 2010 model, two Toyota Camry cars, 2010 model and two Honda Accord cars, 2005 model.



The suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.








Muhammad Ali in Hospital After being Found 'Unresponsive' at His Home





Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was in a US hospital last night after guests at his home failed to wake him up.



The sporting great was released from hospital just one week ago after he was treated for a urinary tract infection.



But he was been taken from his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, to hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning where he is thought to be in an intensive care unit.



A source told US website RadarOnline a source said: "He wasn't responding.



"He went to bed Tuesday night, but didn't wake up in the afternoon or evening the next day. He was sleeping for 24 hours.'



"They thought he might be too exhausted."



Last night Ali was initially taken to intensive care and is now said to be resting surrounded by his wife Lonnie and daughter Hana at an undisclosed hospital.



"They're doing tests and results may not be back until tonight," said the source.



"So for now, he's resting."



Last night, a spokesman for the boxer confirmed Ali had been taken back to hospital.



He said he had been readmitted for continued treatment of urinary tract infection.



The development came just a week after Ali fought off a severe urinary tract infection.







INEC Officials Burgled Office to Steal Voter Cards





The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed two of its workers for alleged theft of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Delta State.



The commission said the officers allegedly burgled its office in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State to commit the offence.



According to The Nations, INEC’s in-house Daily Bulletin listed the affected officers as: Mr. Collins Omofoma (SGL 09 Officer) and Mr. Onome Avbunudiogba (SGL 07 Officer).



Two Decision Extracts on January 8 by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, said the dismissal and termination of the workers’ appointments followed the commission’s meeting last Thursday.



Also, INEC has terminated the appointment of Mrs Obi Chinwoke Ugochi, an Administrative Officer II (SGL 08), for alleged absence from duty without leave. Mrs Ugochi was of the commission’s Anambra State office.




Fresh Cases of Bird Flu in Kano and Lagos







The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday announced that there has been unusual high mortality in two poultry farms and live bird markets in Kano and Lagos States, Punch reports.



It said samples forwarded to the National Veterinary Research Institute tested positive for H5 strain of Avian Influenza Virus, otherwise known as bird flu, adding that confirmatory samples were sent to the International Reference Laboratory in Padova, Italy, for further characterisation.





Avian influenza, known informally as Avian flu or bird flu, refers to influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.



Influenza, commonly known as ‘flu’ is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus.



The ministry, in a statement, noted that it had taken some measures in the affected sites to contain the reported outbreaks.



According to the FMARD, it had quarantined the infected premises and placed restriction of movement of poultry and poultry products into and out of areas around infected premises.



It said, “All state directors of veterinary services and the Federal Capital Territory, Poultry Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders have been informed and advised to be on alert with intensified bio-security measures to avert possible spread of the disease to other states.



“The World Organisation for Animal Health and Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resource and development partners have been appropriately notified in compliance with our statutory international obligations.”



It added that it had ensured immediate reactivation of all animal health component of the Emergency Preparedness Plan on bird flu for Nigeria, adding that the conduct of surveillance activities around infected areas to determine the level of spread of the disease was being undertaken.



FMARD said, “All stakeholders in the poultry industry are urged to enhance hygienic practices (bio-security measures) which include, but not limited to, regular disinfection, proper disposal of dead carcasses and poultry products and timely reporting of mortalities in poultry and other bird species to veterinary authorities.



“We wish to assure the public that, given our experiences in handling previous outbreaks and with your full cooperation in the implementation of containment measures, we are determined to contain this disease again within a short time. We will keep you informed as events unfold.”




Photos from the Lagos state Gubernatorial debate today...


Lagos state governorship candidates gathered today at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja Lagos for a debate organized by the Diocese of Lagos West of the Anglican Church. The debate had in attendance 17 governorship candidates of various political parties. The candidates took turns to explain how they plan to improve the state if elected as Governor. More pics after the cut






















Boko Haram: Jonathan Had Visited Bornu Before Now, Why All The Lies?

In 2013, Jonathan was at a town hall meeting with Bornu Elders over Boko Haram.

I could recall that the Elders had asked Mr. President to withdraw the JTF, to which he replied he would, if they assure him there wont be any more killings.



Why all the lies that this recent visit was his first?

Why all these lies and propaganda?



It seems all our "progressives" have memory problems as well.



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Real Reason Why Jonathan Paid A Surprise Visit To Maiduguri



Contrary to claims by the Presidency that President Goodluck Jonathan made a surprise visit to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on Thursday out of genuine concern to identify with troops and displaced people, insiders in the president’s campaign have told PREMIUM TIMES the journey was packaged to prepare the ground for Mr. Jonathan’s campaign in the troubled Northeast region beginning next week.



The President, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, thanking them for their service to the nation and telling them the nation was proud of them and grateful for their dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists.

But those familiar with Mr Jonathan’s political strategies as he campaigns for re-election said the President was talked into the trip by his political advisers and officials of his campaign council as a way of neutralising criticism over his refusal to visit the region despite an upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram militants who have massacred civilians and security officials.

The president’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had recently announced that Mr. Jonathan would visit the troubled zone to canvass votes despite failing to visit the towns where the insurgents have continued to murder and abduct hundreds.

Our source, who asked not to be named so as not to be accused of sabotaging the President’s campaign, said Mr. Jonathan became concerned after widespread criticism trailed the announcement that he would be campaigning in the region.



“The president was advised to try and make at least one non-political visit to the region to shut up critics,” one of our sources said. “Everyone agreed that taking campaigns to the zone without this kind of initial visit might expose the President to ridicule. That’s essentially why he visited today, and I’m telling you this authoritatively.”



Another source said Mr. Jonathan has scheduled campaign stops for Bauchi (Bauchi) on January 22, and Maiduguri (Borno) on January 24.



By the schedule read out to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night, the president’s campaign train plans to be in Yola (Adamawa) on January 29 and Gombe (Gombe) and Damaturu (Yobe) on February 2.



“With today’s visit to Maiduguri, we believe the ground is now better prepared for campaign stops,” an official said.



The top officials of the President’s campaigns couldn’t be reached to comment for this story. Director General Ahmadu Ali and campaign spokesperson, Femi Fani-Kayode, did not answer or return calls seeking comments.



Meanwhile, our reporter in Maiduguri has sent dispatches giving additional details about the President’s surprise visit to the Borno state capital.

The president arrived Maiduguri on his official jet, accompanied by two other military aircrafts that landed at the Maiduguri International Airport at airport at about 3pm on Thursday.

Mr. Jonathan was accompanied by all the service chiefs of the Nigeria Armed forces as well as the national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and few other politicians from the state.



There was no special reception at the airport, even as major PDP politicians in the state including the minister of states for power, Muhammed Wakil, and former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, were all conspicuously absent at the airport.



The Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, as well as his deputy, Zannah Mustapha, were at the airport alongside other heads of security forces in the state to receive the president.



The president was immediately driven in a convoy of few motorcades escorted by heavily armed soldiers and counter terrorism unit of the police through the barricaded streets of Maiduguri to Brigadier Maimalari barracks where he addressed troops there.



The president who commended the soldiers at the barracks for their gallantry told the troops that his visit to them was in commemoration of the armed forces remembrance day.

Mr Jonathan gave the soldiers the assurances that their welfare would be improved to enable them “crush the insurgents”.



The President was also ushered into the military hospital wards inside the barrack where he met with some of the injured soldiers behind closed doors.

From barracks, the president headed back to the airport after stopping over at one of the IDP camps along the way where he met and sympathised with the displaced persons from Baga town.

He informed the IDPs through an interpreter that the federal government is doing everything possible to ensure they all return to their homes very soon.



“The federal government is very much concerned about your situation here and I assure you all that we very soon you will all return back to your homes in Bama, Gubio, Ngala and Baga. I want you all to be patient and cooperate with the NEMA and other emergency aid agencies who are instructed to cater for your welfare while in the camp,” he said.

The presidential aircraft took off from Maiduguri International Airport at about 6:20pm.





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Very Hot: How To Make Your Own MTN Caller Tune With Your Own Recorded Tune





You can now compose and personalize your

own MTN caller tune by yourself. Imagine how

exciting it will be when your callers hear your

own voice as caller tune whenever they call

you.



ADVANTAGES:



* It can be used for advert: May be you want to advertise your organization product or service

through MTN Caller Tune. No matter what you do

for the living.



* It can be used as reminder of birthday anniversary, wedding, ordinations, etc.



* It can used as a greeting message.



* It can be used as a means of passing information of or reminder of an event.



* A business man or trader can use it as an advert to tell his/her customers any new item

he/she has in stock.



* A pastor or priest can also use it as a greeting message for his/her congregation and lots more.



STEPS TO ACTIVATE YOUR OWN MTN CALLER TONE



Follow the process below to configure a

personalized MTN Caller tune using DIY Service:



Call the MTN Caller tune zone on 4100 then listen Press 1 to activate your caller tune first Now press 4 on your phone to DIY your favorite song or tune Now press 1 to begin.. Listen to the information that will be given to

you then record your tune to the phone after the

beep, you can record anything you like, either

with your voice.



Note: (Restricted calculate allowable) (For eg. You can say, â??Thanks for calling

Naijabams. Pls wait while I pick your callâ??) One of

Our Admin Used: Thank you for calling

Mr Vicx-Max, proudly admin @ of

Naijabams.com..

After that Press # when you finished Listen to the tune when replayed Press 1 to confirm and submit that tune.You would hear a voice

responding you that you have succeeded.

You will also receive a text message shortly. You

have now created a customized caller tune for

your line so when callers call

you, they would hear that tune.



You can check it out yourself bycalling your

number from another sim.



Note: MTN charges people for the time spent in calling the caller zone service. so if you are on

MTN Zone, mtn deduct only 15 naira for the

timespent�� neither 20 or 60 secs



Feel Free To Drop Your Comment if You have Any

Challenges..


Buhari Will Defeat Jonathan, Amaechi Boasts

AHEAD of the general elections in February, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed the confidence that Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, will defeat President Goodluck Jonathan.



Amaechi also said that the APC in Rivers State would win in the governorship, state and National Assembly elections.



The governor, who spoke on Wednesday at the APC rally at Abua Central in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state, described Rivers as a satellite Nigeria, adding that the people of the state had always dictated the voting pattern of other Nigerians.



Represented at the event by his deputy, Mr. Tele Ikuru, the governor recalled how Rivers had been following the voting pattern of other parts of the country since 1962 to date, adding that 2015 would not be different.



He said, “Rivers State is a satellite Nigeria. Whatever happens in Rivers State is what will happen in Nigeria. In 1962, Rivers State voted for the NPC (Northern Peoples Congress), and the NPC won in the state and at the national level.



“In the second republic, we voted for the NPN (National Party of Nigeria) and NPN won the election in Rivers State and the national level. In 1999, Rivers State voted for the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and PDP won in the state and the national level.



“In 2015, Rivers State will vote for the APC and APC will rule the state and at the national level. Any direction the state votes are the direction Nigeria will vote.”



The APC governorship candidate in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, alleged that the PDP was plotting to rig the general elections in the state.



Peterside called on the people of the state not to succumb to overtures and tricks of moneybags from the PDP, who might want to buy their votes.



He pledged to run a transparent government and improve infrastructural development in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area and the state as a whole if he is elected as the governor.



Reacting to the allegation that the state PDP was planning to rig the general elections in Rivers, the State Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, described Peterside’s allegation as false.



“If Dakuku Peterside could make such a false allegation, it is a sign that he has lost the election and it is a welcome development. The truth is that the PDP is not planning to rig any election because we do not need to do that to win the 2015 election,” he said.





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I Became a Terrorist Out of Love - American Housewife who Converted to Islam








From Daily Mail



A white Islamic militant who christened herself 'Jihad Jane' and was convicted of plotting to kill a cartoonist who satirized the Prophet Muhammad, has claimed her actions were motivated our of love.



Colleen LaRose, 51, of Pennsberg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to charges including planning a jihad and conspiring to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks in 2011 and was convicted in 2014.







She was sentenced to ten years in prison, but in a recent letter to a criminologist, LaRose said love was behind her crimes.



LaRose wrote in response to a query from Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco, who shared the letter with NBC News.



'Why did I do what I was convicted of?' she wrote. 'There's many reasons but the simplest reason is I did it for love.



'Love for my Prophet, love for my Ummah [community] and love for the brother that gave me the assignment.



'Also I think I did it for pride. Sisters are never given assignments like the one I was given. I felt my brother had enough confidence and trust in me that he honored me by giving me the assignment. I felt if he loved me that much then I had to do what he told me needed to be done.'



Mehlman-Orozco wrote to LaRose months before last week's terrorist attack on the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo after it had published cartoons of Muhammad.



The criminologist wrote to several people convicted in the U.S. of terrorist-related crimes.



She has since begun correspondences with LaRose and Richard Reid, the British national serving life for trying to blow up a plane with a shoe-bomb in 2001.



Mehlman-Orozco plans to ask both of them for their views on the bloodshed in Paris.



'I think there is some value in understanding how they perceive it,' she told NBC. Ultimately she plans to turn the letters into a book.



LaRose admitted to plotting to kill Lars Vilks, an artist who drew Muhammad's face on a dog's head in a cartoon, outraging many Muslims.



Raped as a child, she ran away from home to become a prostitute at 13. She told Reuters in 2013 that militant Islam gave her a 'place where I belonged.'



'When I found out about Islam I thought this is what I have to do, this is why I've lived so long.'

LaRose also explained the difficulties of her early life in Detroit, Michigan, leaving her as emotionally vulnerable adult.



At around eight years old LaRose, and her older sister Pat, was raped by her father Richard LaRose.



The sexual abuse continued until LaRose ran away from at 13. The girl then worked in prostitution and developed heroin and cocaine addictions.



At 16, LaRose married a man twice her age, but just a year later she turned up at a shelter for teens in Memphis and was committed to a psychiatric facility for several months.



While at this shelter she worked with counselor Ollie Avery Mannino. When Mannino rang Richard LaRose to check Colleen's story, her father answered with hesitation: 'Yeah. I raped her.'



As Reuters journalist John Shiffman, who spent six months investigating the case, wrote: 'He said it sharply, without remorse, and in such a prideful, guttural tone that Mannino snapped her head, stunned.'



Richard LaRose died in 2010, having never been prosecuted for his crimes.



Collen LaRose continued to drift, split from her first husband, and married again at 23. This relationship ended in divorce 11 years later.



LaRose claims that her father's abuse ruined her life: 'I have done all kinds of bad things. I was rebelling because of what he did and because my mother did nothing to help us.'



LaRose became radicalized and posted under the name Jihad Jane on militant Islamic websites.



When Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks portrayed the Prophet Muhammed with the body of a dog in 2007 put a £67,000 bounty on the head of the artist.



In constant contact with al-Qaida operatives around the world, LaRose swore to travel to Europe and kill Vilks.

According to her indictment, she wrote: 'I will make this my goal till I achieve it or die trying.'



LaRose recruited other Americans, such as Jamie Paulin-Ramirez of Colorado and Mohammad Hassan Khalid of Maryland to her jihad cause.



She got to Sweden in 2009 but was arrested by the FBI on her return to the U.S.



While LaRose claims she got close to killing Vilks and achieving martyrdom, John Schiffman of Reuters claims: 'In truth, what happened proved more farcical than frightful, more absurd than ominous.'






Happy Armed Forces Remembrance Day


January 15th is the day set aside to remember our fallen heroes and veterans who died while fighting to keep Nigeria safe and secure. Thank you to the brave men and women who have served us and are still serving us.


Why Windows Phone Can Be A Boring Experience

Limited apps

According to Microsoft, Windows Phone has 525,000 apps available for users to download. That number is a mix of free, fake and paid apps, but it is still minute compared to what Google and Apple have on their respective app stores. At the time of writing, there are 1,418,453 apps on Google Play, according to AppBrain, while Apple has about 1.2 million apps as of June 2014. One reason for the low number of apps for Windows Phone is that app developers are not interested in developing for a platform that has minimal appeal to consumers.



Lack of official apps

For instance, doing a search for the YouTube app on a Windows Phone app store will yield dozens of fake apps as Google did not make one. Microsoft does offer its version of an official YouTube app, but it can easily get lost in the sea of fake YouTube apps.



Way too late

Windows is the last platform chose by developers as far as apps are concerned. The app store has only a fraction of apps that other stores have. If apps do become available for Windows Phone, it may have already missed the boat as people have moved on.



Application Updates Way Way too late

Application updates a little bit longer than the other OS. Because users of Windows Phone fairly far less than Android and iOS, the developers usually will put in a second application update OS from Google and Apple, then update to Windows Phone 8 will be issued.





Boring User Experience

It has only one interface with live tiles which may bore some users. The User Interface is another major problem it has only one Interface with live Tiles at the Starting of using this device the Interface is ok but Continuous Use of the same interface may get bored to the User.





Lack of Reliable System Wide File Manager

One of the Major Problem is There is no System Wide File Manager. We donot have any App also for this, For Access of Files in your Mobile you have to connect it to the System.



Add Yours





Pix of some window phones below:


Tweet Of The Day - Directed at Buhari's Stunning Daughter

So yesterday, APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari's daughter kinda stole the spotlight from her dad on twitter, when a picture of her was released either by her or someone else (not sure), and among the tweets i read, this perhaps, takes the cake for being the funniest.












Beautiful Zahra

Read the tweet after the cut....








LMAO !!!!!!

she is truly a beauty to behold, and i am sure the guy who tweeted this was joking. But, would you actually do this or say this for a girl? lol


Hilarious! Chigul TedXEuston 2014 Talk "Don't Be a Weiste"

A lot of you might have heard her voice notes that went viral or seen funny videos on Instagram from Chigul. The most famous of her viral voice notes is "Don’t be a weiste”. Remember? Here is Chigul aka Chioma Omeruah’s hilarious yet inspiring TedXEuston 2014 talk. According to attendees at the event, Chigul's talk was the highlight of the event. It is an inspirational story and a must watch for all. Enjoy!


Buhari Has Just A WASC Certificate For Next Month's Election? (see Photo)

Next month's election is getting interesting by the day as INEC released this shocking spreadsheet that detailed the educational qualifications of all 14 presidential aspirants. APC's Muhammadu Buhari, from the list just has a WASC qualification (he claims his other certificates are with the military) whereas his running mate Prof Osinbajo has an LLB Law degree and a BL. PDP's President Jonathan has a PhD (Zoology) and vice president Sambo has a masters degree (Architecture)



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