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Tag: Bush

  • World leaders honour Bush at funeral

    George W. Bush brokes down in tears as he paid farewell to ‘the best father a son or daughter could have’ in a moving eulogy at a state funeral which united presidents, politics and a nation in tribute to United States (U.S.) 41st president yesterday.

    The body of President George H.W. Bush was taken from the Rotunda to the National Cathedral shortly before 11am

    His five children and their spouses escorted his casket to the cathedral after a 21-gun salute at the Capitol

    Around 3,000 people attended the funeral at the National Cathedral and more than 50,000 lined the streets

    Former presidents, including Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended the service along with their spouses

    President Donald Trump attended with First Lady Melania Trump – they sat in the front row next to Barack and Michelle Obama and the Clintons

    The former president died at 94 at his family’s home in Houston, Texas, last Friday.

    After delivering a moving tribute to his father at his memorial service in Washington, Bush  broke down in tears at the end as he spoke lovingly of the 41st president as a caring father, loyal friend and formidable president.

    He said “through our tears let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you, a great and noble man,” Bush said of his father and namesake, George H.W. Bush, as he spoke at the end of a two-hour long service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

    His was the fourth speech and most emotional tribute to the late president.

    For most of his eulogy, the president maintained his composure as he described how much his father was looking forward to reuniting with his late mother Barbara and their toddler daughter Robin, who died in 1953 aged three from leukemia.

    It was at the end of his remarks, as he eulogised him as ‘the best father a son or daughter can have’ that George W. buckled with emotion.

    He said: “We’re going to miss you, your decency, sincerity and your kind soul will stay with us forever.

    “In our grief, I just smile knowing that dad is hugging Robin and holding mom’s hand again,” before stepping down from the pulpit to rapturous applause from the congregation.

    Earlier in his remarks, the 43rd president recalled calling his father during the final minutes of his life.

    ‘I called him. I said dad, I love you you’ve been a wonderful father. And the last words he would ever say on earth were, “I love you too,” he said.

    Bush, the first president since John Quincy Adams to follow his father to the nation’s highest office, also spoke of some of the values his father displayed in office.

    ‘He showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country,’ he said, adding: ‘They will say that George H.W. Bush was a great president of the United States.

    ‘A diplomat of unmatched skill.

    ‘A commander-in-chief of formidable accomplishment,’ his son said.

    He wove back and forth during his remarks from the personal to the national and political, referencing his father’s war service and service to the nation as well as the family that was central to his life, particularly his wife-of-74 years, Barbara.

    ‘He laughed and cried with her. He was dedicated to her totally,’ he said.

    Late in life, they would watch police show reruns, with ‘the volume on high. All the while holding mom’s hand.’

    After she died in April, ‘all he really wanted to do was hold mom’s hand again,’ George W. said.

    He also told how his father prayed ‘every day’ for his late sister Robin which demonstrated to the rest of the family ‘how setbacks can strengthen.’

    There were some lighter moments which included jokes about his ‘lousy short game’ and notorious dislike of broccoli.

    ‘He wasn’t exactly Fred Astaire on the dance floor….the man couldn’t stomach vegetables, especially broccoli…and by the way, he passed these genetic defects on to us,’ he joked.

    As he made his way back to his seat, he placed a tender hand on his father’s casket then took his seat in his pew where he was comforted by his wife Laura and brother Jeb.

    He sobbed into a tissue then broke out into laughs, clutching his brother’s hand then planting a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

    George W. entered the cathedral last, taking his place with other family members in the front pew across a well-worn aisle from President Donald Trump and every living former president.

    He was seen fighting back tears at the Capitol as his father’s body left the building.

    A 21-gun salute, the week’s fourth, had rung out an hour earlier, booming over a quiet, damp Washington morning at the Capitol as his body was removed from the Rotunda where it had been visited by tens of thousands of mourners over the last two days.

  • George Bush: Buhari condoles with United States

    President Muhammadu Buhari has joined world leaders in mourning the passing of former President of United States, George H.W. Bush.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, sent condolences to the government and people of the United States, family of the 41st President and all political associates of the great leader, whose legacies continue to inspire and attract encomiums across the world.

    Read Also:Former America President George H.W. Bush dies at 94

    The President believed the passing of George H.W. Bush is a loss to the entire world, not just America, especially the many people he inspired.

    He extolled the late President’s love for his family and country, which remains legendary as clearly seen in the way his children have taken up leadership roles and are steadily breeding new generation of great thinkers and leaders.

    The President prayed for God’s comfort on the mourning nation, the family of the nonagenarian, and a peaceful rest for his soul.

  • I spent 14 days in the bush preaching to my abductors

    I spent 14 days in the bush preaching to my abductors

    James Enyidah, popularly known as EyiJesus, is a pastor with the Assemblies of God. He was abducted by unknown gunmen on August 3. He was with them for 14 days. He spoke with PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA on his ordeal.

    When your abductors knew you were a pastor, what were their reactions?

    Yes, I did.  I told them that I am a pastor with the Assemblies of God, that I am fondly called Enyi Jesus, a   name given to me from heaven by my heavenly father. I also told them that I am the author of the book titled the   ‘Efficacy of Blood of Jesus’, that I don’t have money. I was in Assemblies of God in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local government   before I was posted to Ubima in Ikwerre Local government Area of Rivers State. And after the introduction, they calmed down a little.

    How did your kidnap happen?

    It was on Wednesday, 3rd of August 2016. I got information that one of my members was arrested by the military while he was sleeping in his uncle’s house. To sympathise with them as their pastor I had to follow them to their family house at Omukpalukwu.  When I got there, they told me that he was arrested at gunpoint. Immediately, I took my vehicle to search for him with other members of my church and that of his family were four. We went to some checkpoints of military officers on Omegwa and we reported to them.  The captains called all his men to ask them if they arrested anybody; they said none of the officers participated in any raid in Ubima. Then I left there to Isiokpo in search of the arrested member of my church and they said the same thing that they were not aware. The officers at Isiokpo also went as far as searching their cells to see if he was there. We also went to the military camp at Elele. After searching round and we didn’t see him, I went back home to park my car. But towards the evening time, one of my church members called me that they found out where he was detained, and I took two members of my church to follow me. As we were going along Elele Isiokpo road, I saw some men shooting gun in front of my car. And when I looked back, I saw other men with pump action; then I applied the break because I didn’t want to run. When they came to me,I told them who I was; they dragged me out of the vehicle and took my phone, the other person gave me a sign that I should raise my hand. When the army heard the gunshot, they started coming but before they could reach there, they had already dragged me into the bush.

    At that point, what did you do?

    The first thing I did was to start speaking Ikwerre language to them because I knew some of them are Ikwerre boys, but they pretended and told me that they were not hearing what I was speaking. The next thing they did was to hit me with the head of the gun and blood started coming out.  Then I shouted. I flashed my Identity card for them to know who they were maltreating.

    Were you blindfolded?

    They took me to the bush and that was where they told me they were kidnappers. I stayed there for fourteen days. They attended to me but I was still blindfolded. They told me they weren’t after me, but after politicians who handed the gun to them and I should pass the message. But since I was there, the only thing needed was money, they also took care of me by giving me water, food and clothing to prevent mosquitoes, we stayed there for a while waiting for the money from my church members but to no avail until my elder brother told them he had N300,000 which was in contrast to their initial agreement of N20m. They later asked for N10m which I told them was not possible. Even in that situation, I preached to them and some repented. Some said if they could get enough money, they would drop the gun and start a business. They asked me to bring whatever amount of money I had.

    Did God reveal to you what was going to happen before the incident?

    There had been a lot of revelations to me initially by God to preach to these people and I had seen it as a way through which God wanted me to save souls. But I didn’t know it would be through kidnapping because the thought of going to the bush to preach was not a welcome idea. And could only happen through kidnapping  and even when I  saw myself in the dream scoring goals which I told them that very soon I  would win and God would send his angels to come with Bible. That is what I was ministering inside the bush and I even saw spilled blood and I told God I didn’t want bloodshed. And that I  wasn’t after destroying souls, but saving souls and  when I  get out, I  would not involve the police or army and would only allow God to do that which pleases Him because He doesn’t like bloodshed.

    Why did you decide to be preaching to them to become good persons after all they did to you?

    I went through rigorous sufferings, especially when they tied my hands, and there were times when we all went hungry due to the fact that the money expected was not forth coming.  They complained bitterly and even threatened to waste me and asked what kind of God I served. Whenever their girlfriends called they would tell them that they were in the church with their pastor. Sometimes they would give me phone to preach to their girlfriends. And I pitied those girls because they didn’t know the kind of job their boyfriends are doing. Amongst the bad ones, there were also good ones, and they also asked for my forgiveness when they brought me out.  They threatened to shoot my legs, and I said I would use my legs to preach the word of God. From there I started telling them about Bible. I am  in charge of a local church  and I  told them that I didn’t  have that much and what was in my  account was not up to N30,000.  There are ministers who have millions, which they confirmed when they saw my alert messages from my banks. I also told them how I used my personal money to do things for the church by buying them plot of land and fencing the church with my own personal money. Mind you, I stayed for fourteen days without the church (headquarters) raising money after promising to do so and some persons who may even know them (kidnappers) even called to ask them to release the pastor. I was released after raising the money which my wife went to deliver after being instructed to come alone  and she was about eight months pregnant.   When she came, they asked her what she was wearing and the people, who collected the money from her, covered their faces, took her phone and gave her the SIM card.

  • Pharell, Snoop Dogg to release collabo album, Bush

    Pharell, Snoop Dogg to release collabo album, Bush

    LEGENDARY rapper, Snoop Dogg, is about to drop his anticipated album titled Bush in March. The album is said to be produced entirely by Pharrell Williams.

    Snoop Dogg says in an interview with MTV’s Nadeska Alexis; “It’s a great record me and Pharrell did from top to bottom. It feels good and I’m happy to be back in the studio working with one of my favourite producers and homeboys.”

    Snoop also said that the album is set to be a departure from the material the duo has done in the past. “It’s different. It’s completely different than anything we’ve ever done. It feels good, sounds good, looks good,” the rapper says.

    Stevie Wonder and Charlie Wilson are among the featured guests slated to appear on the album. The album title and release date has not be revealed.

    Snoop and Pharrell have made some big hits including Drop It Like It’s Hot, Beautiful, That Girl among others.

    Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams is set to release a children’s book inspired by his hit track Happy. The Grammy Award-winning artist has signed a deal with Putnam Books for Young Readers which will have him release four books, the first of which is inspired by the song.

    The book, according to information, will be published on September 22 with Billboard reporting that Happy will feature children from around the world “celebrating what it means to be happy.”

  • Four rainy days in the bush with kidnappers

    November 16 last year was a normal Sunday for my family. We woke up to face the challenges of the day such as writing my story for Southeast Report which is published every Tuesday. After that I went out to buy some things for the family and pick up some materials for a story I was working on.

    On my way back to the house at about 7.15 pm I stopped in front of my house to call my wife to open the gate so I could drive in. Just then, men numbering about four started banging on my car door and trying to force it open. One of them was pointing an AK 47 at me.

    When I opened the door of the car they quickly took away my wedding ring and my wristwatch before snatching my two phones that were in the space between the two front seats, while others were busy searching my pockets for the little cash that I was carrying then which was about N2,450. Therafter, they dragged me into their car.

    Inside their car they forced me to lie down while they sat on me forcing a face cap on my head to cover my face and warned me not to try to look at their faces before driving off to an unknown destination. On the way they were making calls to some people to meet them at a coded point.

    When we got to their coded point, I was dragged out of the car and forced to lie on the grass, while my slip-on shoes were taken away.

    One of them placed the gun at my cheek and said, “Feel it, if you mess up I will waste you and what is your wife’s phone number?”

    I told them that I still had another phone with me in case they searched me and found it on me. I am sure they would have shot me thinking that I intended to make calls with the phone. Then I gave them my wife’s phone number and they placed a call to her and placed the phone on my right ear and said, “Tell her that you have been kidnapped”.

    When the call went through I told my wife, “My dear I am being held, she said by whom, the police? I said no, some gentle men are holding me.” Then they took the phone from my ear and told my wife, “Madam we have kidnapped your husband, don’t call the police or the army else, we will kill him. Just cooperate with us”, and they switched off the phone.

    One of them said, “Please call her and let her know that their car is in front of their house as she may not be aware.”

    A call was once again placed to my wife and when she picked the call, they said, “Madam open your gate and take your car and your child’s material in the car, we have gone with your husband”.

    At this point I was handed over to another set of people who quickly blindfolded me and tied my two hands at my back and dragged off to God-knew-where. According to the two men who took me into the bush we started walking from 8pm till 1am when we stopped where they wanted us to spend the night.

    There I was told to sit down after they had gathered some leaves; meanwhile my hands had swollen beyond a standard boxer’s boxing gloves. When I sat down my two hands were tied to two different trees, while my legs were tied together. I laid down there and shortly after it started raining.

    It rained for the four nights I spent in the bush with black ants having a feast on my body and was only given bread and sachet water twice on Monday night by 11pm and Thursday morning by 4 am.

    Meanwhile they were calling my wife and demanding for the sum of N20 million while the two with me were demanding for N5 million. I kept telling them that I had no such money and that as a journalist that it will take me working for the rest of my life without spending a kobo from my salary to earn such amount of money.

    We kept haggling for price to the extent that they asked me to sell something to raise money, “I told them that I had nothing to sell except my two cars which when sold will not produce such amount of money. One of them said, “Is there nothing else you can sell, I said, Ok tell my wife to take our house documents and go to a money lender for the sum of money [huge sum] which she did”.

    When they got the money I was released at about 9.30 and I got to my house an hour later on Thursday 20th November. I came out to hear that my case had been the talk of the town and country, on the radio,

    television newspapers, CNN and the social media.

    I cannot thank my professional colleagues enough especially the Abia NUJ, The Nation family, especially the MD Mr Victor Ifijeh who kept calling my wife to know what was going on, the AGM Port Harcourt plant, Shola O’Neal, Southsouth Editor, who visited me after my release and the state governor Chief Theodore Orji who mobilised the security men in the state to ensure that I was released, and the security agencies in Abia state.

    My special thanks goes also to my wife, Patience who never slept all through that harrowing period and my children who missed me, my good cousin, Chief Okoji Nmaju, Chief Ogba Nwokoro President General of my town union, Dr Onyii Ogelle and his brother Uche and others too numerous to mention. May God bless you all.

     

  • Council chief warns against bush burning

    Council chief warns against bush burning

    Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Shaban Tete, has cautioned traditional rulers against bush burning, which he said has negative effects on the development of any society.

    Tete also said that the council would soon organise a sensitisation programme for all village heads across the 10 wards of the council on the dangers of bush burning.

    The council boss, who stated this when some village heads and district heads visited him, said the council’s decision to organise the sensitisation programme was timely since farmers have started harvesting their farm produce.

    The council boss said that lives  and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed as a result of indiscriminate bush burning, especially at the rural communities, which sometimes nearly resulted in clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Tete said it is at the peak of every year dry season, which is the harvest period, that some parts of the country always witness herders and farmers clashes, in which lives and farm produce are lost.

    “Our major concern is how to ensure that there is always peace between farmers and Fulani’s in our various communities, especially now that we are into harvesting period, sometimes you will hear that some farm produce have been burnt as a result of bush burning, which sometime accusing fingers are pointed at the Fulani herdsmen, “ he said.

    Tete, however, noted that bush burning, has adverse effect on the society, saying even the federal government has always champion the course of ensuring that people desist from bush burning.

    “I want it make it categorically clear that at the end of the sensitisation programme, any village heads that fail to take the message home to their subjects on the dangers of bush burning and any crisis that later broke out either between farmers and Fulani’s as result of loss of farm produce, such chief or village head would be held responsible,” he warned.

  • 2015 and Nigeria – Between Bush, Brazil and Nigeria

    2015 is  like  George  Orwell’s    book  1984  published    in 1949 which  I  read  in the sixties  when it seemed 1984  was so far away  it would never come.  The  same is true  for 2015  the year that  the Americans a long while ago predicted  that Nigeria will  disintegrate.  Well  2015  is here  and now and as  I said  happy new year  to  my friends  on new year’s  day,  I  felt  great, that at long last the year has met  all  of us in good  health and great  spirit,  in spite of  the predictions  of doom  it brings.  Which –  predictions – out    of  necessity,  must  take a back seat,  as we face the more  daunting and unavoidable duty  of living through a year  that will  not wait, or go away and has  to be lived  through, whether we  like it or not.

    George  Orwell’s  1984  was  about  the former  Soviet  Union and  how human  freedom  was trampled  on with impunity.  Indeed  the dominant  cliché on  security was  ‘Big Brother  is  watching  you‘  Which  briefly  meant that the long arm  of the state is watching every aspect  of the citizens  life  to ensure they comply with the dictates  of the  one party state which  the  Soviet  Union  was  at the time.  The Soviet  Union  survived 1984  but it collapsed  in 1991  under the weight of its tyranny, lack  of transparency and party  leaders  corruption  when  Mikhail  Gorbachev  came into power in  1989  and introduced ‘Perestroika’  and’ Glasnost ‘ which were all about transparency, openness and accountability  in Soviet governance  by the Communist  Party  of the Soviet  Union. The  former Soviet  Union  dissolved  into 15  states  and given  the mass demonstrations that brought people  to the streets  not many lives were  lost  in  the  dissolution  of the  massive empire  that Russian  President Vladmir  Putin  is trying to resurrect  as  he admitted  in his happiness at seizing the Crimea  from  Ukraine  last year  in his New  Year  Message  to  Russians in December  2014.  The passage  of  1984,  the dissolution  of the Soviet  Union  and  the flourishing of  democracy  in the  succeeding former  15  Soviet Republics  and their  jealous  guardian        of    their  individual sovereignty,  showed  that the  human  spirit  values  choice  in terms  of  leadership    and  would  suffer  any  injustice, indignity,  threats  and  many  incivilities  as long as  he has hope that he has an opportunity  at  an  election, the master ritual  of democracy  to vote and bring in leaders  of his  or her choice, according to the constitution  of his state or nation.

    That  is  the sort  of hope  that 2015  brings  to the table  for  Nigerians in spite  of the evil  prognostics  of  the  Americans  on  our impending disintegration  this year.  Nigerians are a  hopeful, prayerful, sanguine  and warm  people who  take  their fate in their hands even though they believe in God in their  peculiar  way  more  than  any people  on earth.

    That  explains  why  the  Nigerian  President  Goodluck  Jonathan  has been  the  most  eloquent preacher  at  the many  churches  he has visited  during the yuletide season and New  Year  to  thank  the churches  that but  for their  prayers  Nigeria would  have collapsed.  He  even admitted  that Nigeria’s problems are growing by the day but God  is  in  Charge.  In  the last  message  I  read  in a church at  Abuja  he  promised as Commander  in Chief  to defeat  Boko  Haram at  the end  of  the day.  Since  he was speaking at a church service one did  not expect  him  to say he would defeat Boko  Haram  if re elected  since  he is the candidate  of the ruling party  for the 2015  presidential  elections.  But  then  is a church the sort  of place  to say  what he says with  such pious innocence for a  man  who really  is in charge and on whose table the buck  stops  in our presidential  system? Really  I  think  what  the president says at church  services  should  be taken as personal as they  can  be quoted out  of context  for political  purposes.  Yet  the president  is entitled  to seek  his personal  salvation  with  his God except perhaps  to  add    that, that should  not  be a problem  or concern of Nigerians. This  is  because  our  constitution says loud and clear that  Nigeria  is a secular  state and  the president’s religion and salvation are  his personal  problem  as long as he makes the nation safe  for all  Nigerians  to  sleep safely  in their  beds.

    In  England where  the Monarchy  is the bedrock of  British political stability in a parliamentary  system which  we abandoned for a presidential  system,  there  is  a  saying  in  political  science that  ‘with    the Queen  in  Buckingham  Palace  every  Briton sleeps well  in  his  bed‘.  I doubt  if we can say that with  any confidence as Nigerians in connection  with  the present occupant  of Aso  Rock  in  Abuja  our  fount  of power,  political might and distribution  of political  largesse  and wealth  in  Nigeria.

    Yet  even  the president at  another Church  service  has admitted that security  and  corruption are  key  issues  bedevilling  the Nigerian  nation  today.  On  corruption  he said he was busy trying to put on the ground  the institutions  to fight  corruption so that people will  not just  be put on trial  and  set  free.  Since he said  this at a church it  should  not be a matter  for debate but as he is contesting re  election and has  been  in  power for so  long what has he been  doing since.  But  again, the  church should  not be a place for a political  debate.  One  can however remind  our  president  of how  a former      US  president got  re elected  on the way he handled  security  and  how  Brazil’s  President  Dilma Rousseff  aged  67  and  a woman,  who  was sworn  in this week for a second term,  got re elected  because she  fought  corruption  and lifted  Brazillians  out  of  poverty.

    US  President  George  Bush  was  president  of the US  from  2001  to 2OO8  and  he started  the present global war  on terror  because 9/11  happened  on his watch  in 2001. While  many Americans  loathed him fiercely  for  the invasion  of  Iraq  in 2003 on the false premise  of availability  of weapons  of mass  destruction  which were not found  during the invasion,  he was able  to get  re elected overwhelmingly in 2004  when  he  defeated  Democratic  candidate John  Kerry  the  present US  Secretary  of  State, because Americans  felt  that  he has  done enough to make  the US homeland safe  for them  to  live  in. In  2015  Nigerians  in the  North East  and  the  North  and  in  Nigeria  should  judge  the incumbent president on  his record  in this regard and  not  on his  musings and rationalisations at  church  services  where he  is  entitled  to his  privacy  and  his  communion  with  his God  and  his  Maker.

    The  name  of the game  in politics and democracy is renewal  of power as reward  for responsive  governance  and  the  punishment  is removal  through  the  ballot  box    for unfulfilled  promises  and mandates. That  was what George  Bush  experienced  positively  in 2004  and  he was also  able  to extend that electoral  goodwill  to the mid term  elections in 2006 for  Republican  legislators  in Congress.  Which  is something his successor  President  Barack Obama  was  not able  to do in  last year’s  mid term  elections  for Democrats  and  he  admitted this failure  by saying that he has heard the American  people  loud  and clear.

    In  Brazil  the newly  sworn  in President Dilma  was Chief  of Staff to  former President  Lula  da  Silva  of the Workers  Party  which came  to power  in 2003  and  whose  campaign  promise  was to lift people  out  of  poverty  during Lula’s  two  terms.  Now  at Dilma’ s    second  coming, making  more  than  a decade  of  their party  in power,  she announced  last week  that the  Workers  Party in  Brazil  has lifted  37m  Brazilians  out  of poverty  and  that the year 2015  is  the  Year  of  Education  in  Brazil.  Dilmar  won this election  narrowly  because protesters  felt  that  Brazilian sports  administrators  were  corrupt  and were  making  money  out of Brazilians  love  of sports  and soccer.  She  fought  the election on her record  of performance  and  did  not take the electorate  for granted  and was  successful  at  the polls  because of the goodwill  and support  of the Brazilian  electorate. That  is a working democracy  and  that is what  we want  to  happen  in Nigeria  in  2015.

    Lastly  let  me end  on a lighter  note, if  that  is possible  in a passionate game like soccer.  on an analogy  involving  my  favourite Premiership  team Arsenal  and its  famous  Manager  Arsene  Wenger who  happened  to be one  of the most  enterprising and  successful managers  of  his time,  till  recently.  I  say  this because recent results showed  that he has  lost  his  magic  wand  for success as  most Arsenal fans would  honestly  and painfully  attest.  What  Arsene  Wenger  has  not lost  however  is his excellent oratory  and  presentation  skills    for post  match  analysis  in which  he becomes  absolutely  objective  as if he had  no hand  in the result  of  a match in which  his team, which  he supervised and  led in strategy and tutoring for the game,  took  part.  Arsene Wenger  has  an absolute  talent  and knack  for  rationalising failure  that is unmatched  by any  Soccer  Manager  in  the world.

    Fortunately  for  him  but  most  unfortunately  for Arsenal  fans  a collection  of his post  match  analysis  has  become  a best seller book in  England. Which  means while Wenger  smiles  all the  way to  the bank  the fans  must  seek  help  for their    health  and security  of  mind and body while watching their  favourite  team.

    It  is definitely not an  acceptable  situation  and the fans  have started  demanding for  a change  of  Management  to    maintain their  peace  of mind and body. This  is  because C’est  la vie  [Such  is  life]  may  be French  just  as  Wenger  is  –  but Arsenal  is an English  team  with  a  global  following and change is inevitable  in  2015  for  the sake  of the sanity  of Arsenal teeming  soccer  fans.  Sorry  for  the digression  but change  is in  the air  for Nigerian  politics  in 2015 too  as  performance  or prospects  must  have  their    reward  or  punishment as the case may be.  Happy  New  Year.

  • Wanted twins dad’s body found in Ado-Ekiti bush

    The police in Ekiti State  have discovered the body of a man identified simply as Kola in a bush around Okela-State Housing in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Kola, according to the police, was wanted  for allegedly  strangulating his wife, Titilayo, to death last Saturday. He disappeared with their  newborn twins.

    The incident happened in  their one-room apartment located at no 23, Temidire Street, Ajowa, Ado-Ekiti.

    According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Ekiti Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi, Kola’s body was found in the bush following a manhunt for him on Saturday.

    The statement reads: “The police found the body of Kola, the husband of the late Titilayo, murdered and dumped in a canal at Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti. The twins are yet to be found. Investigation was in top gear to find the twins as well as the killers of the couple.”

    A source said the late Kola must have fallen victim to  ritualists who forcefully took the twins from him and killed him to cover their track.

    The souce explained: “Kola must have supported them (the ritualists) in some way by accepting to deliver his set of twins, killing his own wife to cover his tracks but, from the way things are looking, his other members applied a reverse gear and killed him, taking charge of the twins .”

  • Ex-U.S President Bush to Nigeria: tackle corruption

    America’s 43rd President George Walker Bush has advised the Federal Government to fight corruption with the resoluteness that no one is above the law.

    Bush spoke yesterday in Lagos as the guest speaker at this year’s Access Conference, organised by Access Bank, with the theme: Embracing Sustainable Leadership.

    The former U.S president, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with democracy while the government holds the people to account by bursting corruption.

    He said the powerful should not be allowed to escape the wrath of the law, when they breach the nation’s statute.

    Bush, who was America’s President from 2001 to 2009, was also the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

    He said the United States encouraged governments which fought corruption with aids to support such economies, adding that the criteria for receiving aids had been tied to countries with anti-corruption drives.

    The former U.S President said Nigerian needed to have clear rules that would be enforceable without prejudice and must hold the government accountable to honour its agreements.

    Bush said: “You must apply the law, no matter how powerful somebody may be, as this encourages entrepreneurship and economic development.”

    He said he was impressed by the Nigeria’s potential, adding that the best way to fight poverty was to create entrepreneurs.

    According to him, it is in the United States interest to encourage economic growth in vital countries, including Nigeria.