Jega Failed To Respect My Invitation – Oritsejafor

 The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor today revealed how the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega failed to hold a meeting with him.

Oritsejafor who was bitter said that Jega ignored his invitation to the meeting earlier this year due to what some of the close associates of the electoral umpire must have told him.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

“Some people have told me that I am too small to meet with him (Jega),”Oritsejafor said.

He disclosed this at the one-day interactive session of key stakeholders in the Nigerian project comprising religious, political organizations and security agencies organized by think Nigeria Christian-Muslim movement with the theme: ‘towards a peaceful and purposeful political transition in 2015.’

READ ALSO: Opinion: Why Buhari Is Scared To Debate Jonathan

Oritsejafor said: “The General Secretary of CAN has the INEC Chairman’s number. He sent him a text saying the CAN President wants to meet with you. The INEC chairman text back saying those days were not good so Jega gave us two days to chose from and we chose one and he (Jega) accepted. I do not live in Abuja, I live in Warri, and so I have to make my plans to come here. All my plans were made and just as I was ready to come to Abuja my General Secretary contacted me again that the INEC chairman (Jega) said he cannot meet with us that he is too busy.

“Till today I don’t have access to the INEC Chairman. I could not meet this man. We wanted to discuss things bordering us with him. We want to give him some solutions, suggestions but that was it. No new date for us to meet with him. So this is a problem that is why I am saying this now publicly. This happened a little less than two months ago.

READ ALSO: PHOTO: Read The Tragedy That Befall Three People In Ikorodu Area Of Lagos This Morning

“INEC is a necessary organization that every nation must have. I am concerned about two things. One is on the issue of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC). I have had it said several times that there are many Nigerians who are refusing to collect their PVC. I beg to disagree on this because I sample this and the church I pastor in Warri with about 35 thousand people and I asked to show me there PVCs and I was shocked, I tell you probably close to half of my congregation do not have their PVC.

“I sent my pastors over 100 of them out to meet them and find out why this is so.

“I think one of the things INEC can do is to publish the PVCs that they have quickly, so that Nigerians can easily locate them or pass information on it to each other, so that one can go there to collect it. I am not saying this will solve all the problems but it will go a long way to solve the problem. We charge INEC to please make sure that everyone of those Card Readers work. They should work, they must work.”

Oritsejafor asked the Christian and Muslim leaders to sign a peace pact so the election could be succesful.

READ ALSO: Fire Destroys Oritsejafor’s Church

This pact would ensure that Christians and Muslims are safe before, during and after the general elections.

He said: “If we are going to have a successful election there must be confidence building. And one of the things that will build confidence is that Christians and Muslims must resolve that we will protect each other.

“Let Christians who live in predominantly Muslim areas not be afraid to remain there. Many are running away. They shouldn’t. After all they are Nigerians. And our Muslim brothers must make a commitment to say Christians will not be killed in predominantly Muslims areas while Christians should also say Muslims who live in their area will not be killed.

“We must make that commitment to each other. And we must make it publicly. Let the nation know that nobody is going to be victimized based on his or her religion. Everyone must and should be free to go out and vote freely believing that who they are voting for will help them. That is what democracy is all about. Many of us here today are preachers; some are politicians and others. But the most important ones are the preachers because if you are politicians you will either go to the church or the mosque.

“The preachers here must also make a commitment to go to the churches and to the Mosques to begin to preach that Christians are save everywhere and Muslims are save everywhere and we must begin to teach our people to believe in Nigeria. We must begin to emphasize to our people that we are all Nigerians.”

He advised leaders of both religions that: “We must begin to tell our leaders, our followers to begin to think Nigeria. Nobody is superior to the other.”

Oritsejafor begged the Nigerian audience to pray for the army as they fightagainst Boko Haram.

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I Have Reached My Last Bus Stop With APC - Atiku

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has dismissed rumours that he is about to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying the opposition party is his final bus-stop  in politics.

In a statement released by his media office today obtained by Daily Trust, Atiku said that the demands of today’s cannot afford him the luxury of a vacation from politics.

READ ALSO: Atiku Is A PDP Man To The Core, He’s Only On Vacation In APC – Presidency

He said: “You know, it’s funny how some people put politics and vacation in the same sentence. Let me assure you: politics is a serious business, it is hard work, and for me at least, it is more than a full time job. I really don’t know how you can seriously think of taking a vacation, in a country like ours, with the politics we have.

“I did that when we built the great assemblage of the finest men and women under the umbrella of the PDP to get rid of the generals; I did that when I left and returned to the PDP, and I did that when I helped to turn the APC into a serious opposition party. 

“When I toured our country, and listened to the hopes, fears, and expectations of Nigerians from all walks of life, I said the APC is the final bus stop, and that it is the end of the line. Because it is, for me.

“So some say I’m a PDP man to the core. I’m asking you, what does this even mean? what is the PDP?” he asked.

“You know where I stand: I want a competitive democracy, true federalism, a government that creates conditions for people and business to thrive, and keeps out of business and people’s lives, and I want a country that is united and proud of its diversity,” he noted.

READ ALSO: Presidency Tells EFCC To Investigate Atiku, Tinubu, Amaechi, Others (Photo Fact)

Reports surfaced in the media yesterday about a total of 120 groups loyal to Atiku decamping to the PDP which sparked rumours of the vice president’s imminent defection to the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the Turakin Adamawa as Atiku is famously called the APC  has revealed what he discussed with Mr President recently.

President Jonathan Gets Another Endorsement

With about 10 days to the presidential elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has received another endorsement.

Jonathan has been endorsed for re-election by the Fulani Sociocultural Association Miyatti Allah Kauta (MAYTTI), during their visit to the State House, Abuja.

The group also decorated the President as its “Life Patron”.

President Jonathan decorated as Life Patron of the group.

 

The group has endorsed Jonathan for re-election in the March 28 elections.

About a week ago, the Miyatti Allah Kauta had pledged its allegiance to the president, while overlooking his rival, Buhari.

Miyatti Allah Kauta (MAYTTI), pays the president a visit at the State House, Abuja.

The presidential elections scheduled for March 28 has no fewer than 16 political parties and their candidates vying for the post of President.

READ ALSO: North Ethnic Minorities Express Support To Jonathan

However, the battle is between the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) which has incumbent President Jonathan, who is Ijaw, from South-South as its candidate and the All Progressives Congress, which has Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani, from the Northwest region as its flag bearer.

No one seems to be talking about the other candidates even the media is flooded with reports of Jonathan and Buhari.

Buhari has been endorsed by a number of groups and other political parties, same thing with Jonathan.

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We Are Not Involved - Jonathan On The Lagos Protest

Pro-Goodluck Jonathan protest held in Lagos on March 16paralysed parts of the city and triggered mixed reactions, with condemnations to the address of the marchers and their sponsors. 

Governor Fashola of Lagos state expressed concern over the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)-led protests.

The members of the group, acting under security cover, smashed their way through Ikorodu Road, Lagos, while campaigning for President Jonathan’s re-election and calling for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

They roughened up motorists who did not get out of their way quickly and smashed the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign billboards, The Nation reports.

READ ALSO: Blood Is On Jonathan’s Hands – APC

The Lagos State House of Assembly, various Yoruba groups, Lagos West APC senatorial candidate Solomon Adeola, among others, also condemned the action.

However, the PDP in the state did not agree with accusations. Its spokesperson Gani Taofeek said: ‘’We are not involved. It is not the tradition of the PDP.”

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Besides, the Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups (COSEG), after its meeting yesterday, described the action as “diversionary, unnecessary and an invitation to chaos”.

A communique signed by Ifedayo Ogunlana, COSEG chairman, and Secretary Rasaq Olokoba wondered why President Jonathan was “hell bent on returning for a second term by any means necessary and as such he is massively bribing the militant groups across the country to cause chaos, before, during and after the election.”

READ ALSO: 2015: APC Accuses Jonathan’s Administration Again 

Leaders of the OPC factions, Dr Frederick Fasehun and Chief Gani Adams, are allegadly among those given the controversial N9 billion pipelines surveillance contract by the Federal Government.

PDP Has Not Grown Democracy - Na’abba

It’s no longer news, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, has dumped the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Ghali Umar Na’Abba

In an interview with Daily Trust, the former speaker reveals why he dumped PDP. Read excerpts from the interview below:

On his reasons for defecting: “The PDP was founded in 1998 by its founding fathers and millions of founding members trooped into the party enthusiastically, believing that a party has been formed that will grow democracy. But it is unfortunate that 16 years after, PDP has not grown democracy. It has refused to allow its members to grow within the party. What we are seeing today is a situation whereby impunity and corruption are taking over the party to the extent that there have been so much imposition of candidates to contest for various offices within the polity. This is one of the fundamental reasons I thought I must leave the party.

READ ALSO: APC Is The Light Of Our Country – More PDP Members Change Party

On his defections as a result of personal frustration: “Certainly, you cannot divorce one’s feelings about his party from his own personal interest and it will be false to pretend that some of the reasons why I am leaving the PDP are not also personal. But to be honest, my reasons are not totally personal, if it were for personal reasons I would have left long ago. Whatever it is I lost in the course of establishing democracy in this country is the price I have to pay for leadership.”

On what future does he see for  PDP: “I really don’t see any future for the party because once a party loses its soul, the only method available to it to maintain its presence is through doing the kind of things the vice president is doing, by going to various states and meeting various stakeholders, giving them money and making promises of things that they will give after the elections. But nobody will be interested in doing anything for the party because people are tired of the PDP. The PDP is maintained through inertia and nothing more. I don’t see how the party can survive all of these things, in most states, the PDP is dead. Of course, there are structures but nobody is interested in it and feeling committed to it. So once a party exists and nobody is truly committed to it, then, the party is dead.”

READ ALSO: APC Chieftain, 7,000 Members Dump APC For PDP In Yobe

On his future plans: “At the moment, as a politician, I have a lot of friends within other political parties who have been discussing with me and I may eventually end up in another party since I have not retired from politics. In the next few days I may be in another party and I may decide not to go to any party until after the elections, when I see the terrain more clearly.”

Meanwhile the Kano State of PDP has described the defection of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, from the party as a non-issue saying the politician “was of no value aside the relics of him serving an office”.

JEGA Speaks, Says There Are ‘still A Few Security Concerns’ Ahead Of Elections

Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent national electoral commission (INEC), says there are still a few security concerns hovering over the 2015 general election.

Jega, who refused to speak to the press after meeting the president and service chiefs on Tuesday, finally spoke at a situation room dialogue session at Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja on Wednesday, where he revealed the outcome of the Aso Rock meeting.

“Yesterday, I had an opportunity to brief security agencies and we received assurances that they were doing everything to provide security,” he said.

“There are still a few concerns and challenges which will be addressed with security agencies. There has been progress with the security agencies in getting rid of insurgents and there are three local government areas (LGAs) left to rid insurgents.

“We are working together with security agencies to get rid of thugs identified in states. We have emphasised the protection of ad-hoc officials with security agencies and they have assured us progress has been made.”

He went on to assure Nigerians that internally displaced persons (IDPs) would vote in the coming elections, adding that the commission has deployed necessary materials for the election.

“We have plans on the ground for IDP voting. We have designated secure places for IDPs to vote,” he said.

“We have procured and deployed sensitive and non-sensitive materials. We have completed outstanding distribution of PVCs to Ogun state and distribution has started in Jos.

“We have secured the International Conference Centre as a better facility for collating results and meeting election observers.

On card readers, Jega said: “The card reader does not stop working at 1pm (the scheduled time to end accreditation); it stops when every voter on the queue has been accredited.”

About 82 percent of registered voters have have already collected their voter cards.

http://www.thecable.ng/just-jega-finally-speaks-says-still-security-concerns-ahead-elections

ADDRESS BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT AN INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH THE NIGERIAN PRESS ORGANISATION

Text of Address by His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC at an Interactive Session with the Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO in Abuja. Tuesday 17th March 2015

Thank you for honoring me with your presence here today. Thank you for heeding my invitation to this special meeting with key stakeholders in the Nigerian media. Our country is on the verge of something new. The tide has turned and the world can sense the wave of CHANGE that is about to flood this nation.

In less than two weeks, the Nigerian electorate will head to the polls to make their voices heard. Through the ballot, without a single shot fired, a CHANGE revolution will likely take place. There are two specific reasons why I have invited you here today. The first is to use the opportunity to say a special thank you to the Nigerian media for the role you have played in advancing our country’s democracy thus far, and especially for being a platform through which Nigerians’ cry for CHANGE was articulated all around the world.

On newspaper pages, TV screens and radio waves, the alarming depth of corruption and impunity in our country, the terrifying level of insecurity, and the grim state of our economy were kept constantly before the world’s eyes, making it impossible for the current government to doctor the truth, despite their meanest efforts.

I urge you to not relent in your role as watchdogs, to continue to be the voice of the people. The health of Nigeria’s democracy rests partly on you. Without a robust and thriving media, the masses would have no voice. The electorate would also not have sufficient information to make sound decisions, such as deciding to vote out a clueless government and vote in CHANGE.

Secondly, I want to give you my full assurances that in this democratic dispensation, I will ensure that the Nigerian constitution is upheld. This includes respect for the media, respect for the right to free expression and freedom of speech. Page 1 of 2 any of you are aware of Decree 4 of 1984, which was heavily criticised.

I have said elsewhere that I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. Dictatorship goes with military rule as do edicts such as Decree 4. However, I am a former–former, note the emphasis on the word ‘former’–military ruler and now a converted democrat, who is ready to operate under democratic norms. I am not only subjecting myself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time, but even after being elected, I will continue to promote the consolidation of democracy in our great country, Nigeria, by guaranteeing that the media’s freedom is not compromised in any way.

I give you my full assurances that the Nigerian media will be free under our APC government. I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to use your media outlets in shaping positive public discourse and eschew hate speech mongering and slanderous political rhetorics which heat up the polity for the sake of peace and stability of our dear nation.

Thank you, once again, for being here this afternoon. I look forward to working with you in future, and to similar meetings which shall take place on a regular basis to keep the Nigerian people constantly informed about the activities of the government that they will have elected to serve them.

General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
APC Presidential Candidate

Nigeria Will Be On Fire If Jega Resigns Now – Akanbi

Pioneer chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission(ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi yesterday warned that Nigeria will be on fire if the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),Prof. Attahiru Jega, was forced to resigned.
Akanbi said if INEC chairman resigned at this nick of time’ that will be the beginning of violence’.

The former President of the court of Appeal spoke during a special public lecture titled “Towards Peaceful Elections In 2015: The Roles of Stakeholders in Nigeria” organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin.

Akanbi also cautioned Nigerians against doing anything that would make predictions about a possible breakdown of the country after the general elections a reality.
He reminded them of unfortunate incidents that led to the cancellation of the 1993 presidential elections believed to have been won by the late chief Moshood Abiola.

Akanbi, who condemned Monday’s attack on the convoy of Mrs Aishat Buhari in Ilorin, said the sad occurrence in a town reputed for peace and harmony “instilled fear in me that we may not have peaceful elections.”
He said: “We must encourage Jega not to resign before the elections. If he resigns, that will be the beginning of violence. Jega that I know is a man of integrity; if you change him at this nick of time that will draw us back.

“We should not do things that led to the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election won by the late MKO Abiola. We should know that Nigeria is greater than all of us, therefore, whatever we do concerning these elections must meet international standard. I’m happy that Jega has declared that he would not resign before the elections.

“Let’s hold the elections and show the World that we are decent people. We should not allow predictions about possible breakdown of Nigeria after the elections become a reality.”

Jonathan Swears In Eight New Ministers, Give Portfolios

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday Sworn In eight new ministers, recently confirmed by the upper chamber of the country’s House of Assembly.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Punch reported that the inauguration was carried out before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in the Aso Rock villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Obanikoro’s Appointment By Jonathan Is Absurd – APC

President Jonathan assigned the various portfolios to newly sworn in ministers as follows: Prof. Nicholas Ada (Minister for State, Foreign Affairs I); Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Minister for State, Foreign Affairs II); Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Minister for Information); Col. Augustine Akobundu (retd.) (Minister for State, Defence); Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo (State, Health); Mrs. Hauwa Bappa (State, Niger Delta Affairs); Mr. Kenneth Kobani (State, Industry, Trade and Investment); and Senator Joel Ikeya (Labour and Productivity).

The President reportedly named the Minister of State, Health, Khaliru Alhassan, as the Minister of Health.

READ ALSO: Senator Ojudu Reveals How Obanikoro Emerged Minister

Recall that Alhassan has been acting on the portfolio of the Supervising Minister of Health after Prof. Onyebuchi Ckukwu reportedly left office in 2014.

According to Daily Trust, the president also swore in 71-year-old Jona Madugu as a Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission representing Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue while Mrs. Abimbola Sule Kudeyi was inaugurated as the  Commissioner of the National Population Commission.

President Jonathan, who reminded the new ministers that they were joining the team at an injury time said: “You are coming in at a challenging period.”

Mr. President revealed that the civil service was key to the nation’s development and lamented the level of indiscipline currently in the service.

He also noted that the National Population Commission is also a vital key to national planning.

There has been strong criticism and resistance from concerned Nigerians and group over the ministerial list that was reportedly submitted to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The main reason for the criticism of the ministerial list was the inclusion of the former Minister of Defence, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, which made a civil society group, known as All Nigeria Save Democracy Movement (ANSD), kicked against the ministerial nomination of the latter.

My Husband Paid Millions For My Phone Number- Bose Alao

Nollywood actress Bose Alao has come out to say how her footballer husband first came to meet her before they finally got married.

The Yoruba actress, married to Nigerian footballer Rasaq Omotoyosi who is based in Benin Republic, told Ladun Liadi how her husband paid millions of naira just to get her phone number after watching one of her movies on screen and falling in love with her. Bose Alao recounted how a lot of people lied to and extorted money from her husband just for him to get her phone number.

READ ALSO: I Do Various Sex Style To Keep My man -Nollywood Actress

“To tell you the truth, my husband first saw me on TV and he started looking for my number and he reached out to the few people he knew to get my contact. These set of characters lied to him that I wanted money before releasing my number and he gave them money to the tune of some good millions, yet they gave him fake numbers…”

Talking about how he eventually got her phone number, the actress and mother of three said,  “It was by a stroke of luck, a guy who is also in the industry gave my husband’s friend my number and he asked to see me and I do not regret that decision to meet him because I actually married my God ordained man”.

Talking about the people that duped her husband, the actress said that her hubby did tell her the names of the dubious people. “Yes! of course..but let’s let sleeping dogs lie I beg of you”, she said.

Bose, who is set to produce her first all-English-language movie, revealed that the saddest moments of her life are when she is being referred to as a Yoruba actress.

“In fact that is why my next movie is going to be totally in English and I am set to dump Yoruba movie. I am an actress, why can’t people see that” she said

Recall that just recently, popular Yoruba actress Mide Funmi-Martins also talked about her husband and why she bleached her skin.

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OPC Council Disowns Gani Adams, For Betraying Yoruba Nation

Here’s a press statement by the National Coordinating Council of the OODUA People Congress (OPC) after a ‘violent’ protest occurred today in Lagos calling for the removal of INEC Chairman by Gani Adams fraction. The National Coordinator and other key members released this statement disassociating themselves from the act and wanting Nigerians to know Gani is on his own. Read….

We, the members of the National Coordinating Council of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, the highest ruling body of the organization, wish to disassociate ourselves from the shameful, destructive, violent and reactionary activities of the Gani Adam-led team which occurred in Lagos today. What was witnessed today in Lagos was the highest level of political violence sponsored and funded by certain elements in the Jonathan government.

Gani Adams is on his own and does not enjoy the support of a large size of our membership spread across the country. He is working for the sponsors of violence against our people who want the March 28 elections not to hold. Unleashing terror on innocent citizens and killing them is not the way of democracy. It is not our idea of a people-oriented advocacy.

Gani Adams is on dubious project. He is using the Pipleline contract from the Jonathan government as a ploy or excuse to recruit people to work for Jonathan and PDP in the South West. Gani Adams is acting against Yoruba interest. The compromises he has made amounts to selling the Yoruba to the present government for a piece of Pipeline contract to line his pockets. OPC is not about Pipleline contracts or any other contracts for that matter. The Yoruba interest is beyond contracts. We seek justice and fairness from the current government.

We, members of the National Coordinating Council of the Odua People’s Congress, OPC, call all true Yoruba leaders, sons and daughters to stand with us in totally condemning Gani and his anti-democratic tendencies. We must renounce him and remind him he cannot sell the Yoruba race to Jonathan and PDP on the cheap. He also has no authority to speak on behalf of the Yoruba people. We pity those who rely on him to win votes. They will be sorely disappointed. Their investment is a bad one already. We reject today and always any attempt to use our organization and its members for narrow and selfish partisan purposes.

We must remind them that the Yoruba people cannot be hoodwinked by sweeteners. No one should expect them to kow tow to an individual who is a Lilliputian in the political development and history of the Yoruba nation. The Yorubas are a politically sophisticated persons and will simply ignore political opportunists like Gani Adams. We renounce him and his activities which are against the larger Yoruba interest. We renounce all other Yoruba sons and daughters who are playing roles inimical to the welfare and interest the larger Yoruba nation.

We call on our people to be vigilant politically at this time. Nigeria needs a new leadership, a new direction and a country that works.

Comrade Shina Akinpelu
March 16th, 2015

In attendance were Monsuru Akande, Sunday Adebayo, Kilanko Oladipupo, Kehinde Ogunyale, and Gbenga Eegunlusi. All pioneer members of the OPC.

Source: http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/03/16/opc-council-disowns-gani-adams-for-betraying-yoruba-nation/

Chimamanda Adichie's Vogue Recent Interview

Interviewer: Were you taken aback by the success of both TEDx talks?

Chimamanda: Yes, I she was taken aback by the success of both of those talks. "The things I think will do really well are not the things that do really well." I said yes to the 2013 TED invitation mainly because it was organised by my brother, Chuks, who works in information technology and development, and I wanted to help him out. "But I thought, I don't have anything to talk about. I'm not the kind of person who can manufacture things when I don't care deeply about them. But my brother said, well, there is this one thing you give us endless lectures about…" "Because it's known in my family, you don't want to demean women in my presence! And I knew this wasn't a comfortable subject, particularly for the people I was addressing, an African audience. "I was still writing it when I went up to speak, and afterwards, clearly people had listened, clearly people felt strongly about it - but I let it go. So they put it online, and only then I heard about people using it in their classes, about people arguing about it at work and school." But the approach from Beyoncé was unexpected.

Interviewer: What do you think about the Beyonce's collaboration?

Chimamanda: But the one thing I will say is that I really do think Beyoncé is a force for good, as much as celebrity things go. I know there has been lot of talk in the past year about how feminism is 'cool' now, but I think if we are honest, it's not a subject that's easy. She didn't have to do this, she could have taken on, I don't know, world peace. Or nothing at all. And I realise that so many young people in our celebrity-obsessed world, well, suddenly they are thinking about this. And that's a wonderful thing. So I don't have any reservations about having said yes."

Interviewer: What makes you angry? Do you get in trouble for speaking your mind?

Chimamanda: The oppression of women, she says, "Makes me angry. I can't not be angry. I don't know how you can just be calm. My family says to me, 'Oh, you're such a man!' - you know, very lovingly… But of course I'm not, I just don't see why I shouldn't speak my mind."
..................

She got into trouble for speaking her mind in Nigeria: when an interviewer addressed her as Mrs Chimamanda Adichie, she corrected him, saying she wished to be known as "Ms", which the journalist reported as "Miss". Her insistence on her own family name was all over the news here last spring. She should be happy to be addressed as "Mrs", she was told, since she was, after all, married. She laughs now, but it's clear the story still disturbs her. "It was the lack of gratitude on my part for having a husband. And yet I didn't want to proclaim it: I wanted to claim my own name."

Interviewer: What do you think of race in Nigeria.

Chimamanda: "In Nigeria I'm not black," she says simply. "We don't do race in Nigeria. We do ethnicity a lot, but not race. My friends here don't really get it. Some of them sound like white Southerners from 1940. They say, 'Why are black people complaining about race? Racism doesn't exist!' It's just not a part of their existence."

Interviewer: Her thoughts on "Half of a yellow Sun", the movie and Lupita purchasing film rights to Americanah.

Chimamanda: And with the film of Half of a Yellow Sun - I remember Thandie Newton saying to me that it was important to her because you don't usually get to see black love on the screen this way." I had almost no involvement with the film "because my book means so much to me", but she was pleased with it, despite the fact that it was a small production. "It was very indie; they shot it in 12 days or something. I sometimes imagine what it would have been if it had been a grand production. But I do think it's a film that was lovingly done."
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As, doubtless, Americanah will be: optioned by Brad Pitt's company Plan B, it is to star Lupita Nyong'o, the Mexican-Kenyan actress from 12 Years a Slave, for whom Adichie "writes with the voice of a modern Africa, where ideas of tradition and modernity interact… She is witty, frank and compassionate, and her writing feels timeless and contemporary at once." Nyong'o was an admirer of Adichie's books long before she was cast in Americanah: "For the first time I felt that someone had found the words to express sentiments, analyse situations about the rich and varied African immigrant experience, in a way I never could."







http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2015/03/13/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-novelist-ted-speaker-interview

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APC To Drag Jonathan To ICC

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organization (APCPCO) has announced that it will send a petition against President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The APCPCO said in a statement on Wednesday and signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity that the petition follows the massive terror unleashed on the residents of Lagos by armed pro-Jonathan groups under the dubious cover of a faction of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) on the excuse of demanding the sack of Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

READ ALSO: APC To File Complaint Against First Lady To ICC 

The APC Presidential Campaign Spokesman noted that the machete-wielding and gun-bearing armed pro-Jonathan groups marched round the major streets of Lagos, harassing and intimidating motorists, chanting anti-Jega songs in a manner that gave them away as acting the carefully-prepared script for the truncation of the general elections. “There was such disruption to the tranquility of the city that warranted the citizens scampering for safety in all directions, a foretaste of the violence they plan to unleash on Election Day.”

“Our investigations have confirmed that Monday’s (16th March, 2015) show was a dress-rehearsal for the main disruption planned for the general elections. Lagos, and the entire South West, being a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been marked for massive disheveling commotion that would involve killings, maiming and kidnapping.

“Our findings have further shown that the recent Nine Billion naira (N9 Billion) Pipeline surveillance contract to OPC and some militant groups in Southern Nigeria was the elixir for the latest crude impudence of the pro-Jonathan armed groups. Indeed, the contract award was indeed a subterfuge for the mobilization of these murderous militant groups for the destruction of lives and property to force the desire of the re-election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on the Nigerian people.

“As an opposition APC, we are using this medium to serve Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the notice of our formal protest of this extreme show of impunity to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We are aware that Mrs Patience Jonathan is already on the watch list of ICC. The activities of this President and his wife as regards the elections are not patriotic and very unhelpful for entrenching democratic values in the nation.

“We recall the bombing of the APC secretariat and the shootings and disruption of the party’s campaign rally in Okirika in Rivers State, where the First Lady hails from with a muted silence from President Jonathan.

“Whereas the Police authorities had denied the opposition party its legitimate and democratic rights to organize one million person march for General Buhari in Kano it was, however, quick to approve that in Lagos, providing security to the pro-Jonathan armed groups while they unleashed mayhem on citizens in Lagos on Monday, a day that inhabitants of the city consider the most important of the week.

“We are not ready to cower to the intimidation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the general elections. We believe Nigerians shall speak eloquently on 28th March, 2015 and this brutality on the psyche of the Nigerian people shall cease.”

The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The protest put up by OPC is a crime against humanity.

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I Am A Die-hard Fan Of Jonathan' - Sprinter Blessing Okagbare Says

Reigning African queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor has declared that she holds no grudge against the re-election bid of president Jonathan.

Last week, Okagbare expressed sadness over the use of her image and footage by a body said to be working for Jonathan without seeking her consent.

But the Commonwealth Games double medallist spoke again from her base in LA yesterday, saying: “I heard that some opposition parties are using that against Jonathan’s campaign. It shouldn’t be so. I don’t want anyone or opposition parties to get it twisted. I am a die hard fan of the president. He has inspired me so much and I appreciate everything and the changes he brought into Nigerian sports.


However, Okagbare stood her ground that the decision by GoodHouse Nigeria to use her image and footage in advertorial without seeking her consent was wrong.

“Like I said, I am in support of Jonathan’s re-election bid, But I want to say that what Good House Nigeria did in that advertorial by using my image and footage without seeking my consent was totally wrong and unprofessional.”

Okabgare had stated last week that it was ‘selfish and disrespectful’ for anyone to intrude into her privacy by using her image, footage for a presidential campaign without seeking her approval. http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-am-die-hard-fan-of-jonathan-sprinter.html

NEMA Partners Military, Security Agencies Over Polls

The National Emergency Management Agency has partnered with the Nigerian military to train military and paramilitary agencies on how to ensure that the 2015 general elections is peaceful and violence free and to quickly nip in the bud any attempt to cause rancour before, during and after the elections.

It is in view of this that NEMA organised a five-day Simulation Exercise on Electoral Violence tagged “Ingantachen Tsaro” which kicked off yesterday at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, Kaduna state.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Exercise, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said the exercise was aimed at honing the skills, responses and preparedness of the military and other security agencies to civil crisis that may arise during the polls.
Sidi, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Training, Engr. Daniel Gambo, said “the idea is to sharpen the responder’s level of preparedness to sharpen their skills to civil crisis whenever the need arises. It involved officials of rescue agencies, the military and paramilitary agencies.”
NEMA said it assembled majority of its stakeholders to map out blueprint towards a violence-free election exercise in the country.

“The present reality and the tension that has emanated from the electioneering campaign activities among the political parties have convincingly suggested the dire need to brace up our collective preparedness towards managing all forms of possible crisis/violence and the likely displacement of innocent Nigerians that could arise from the electoral contest.”

The Commandant, AFCSC Jaji, Air Vice Marshall John Ifemeje, in his comments said the exercise was to train the participants on the planning, preparations and conduct of operations aimed at restoring normalcy during elections.
He urged the participants to take the training seriously in order to achieve the desired objectives.

Jonathan Unleashing Thugs On Lagosians, Tinubu – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of carrying his re-election desperation to a new height on Monday when he unleashed thugs on Lagos residents during an alleged sponsored Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) protest against the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.  Attahiru Jega.
In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said just as it (APC) had alerted the nation in its press statement on Sunday, the President’s supporters, led by the OPC, took to major roads in the city during rush hour traffic to unleash mayhem on the citizens, create massive gridlock that prevented many workers from reaching their places of work and destroy any APC campaign poster they could lay their hands on.
It said: “They said we are raising false alarm. But just as we had alerted
Nigerians, the Jonathan Administration’s sponsored protest took place, with dire consequences for residents. However, the President’s chances in the forthcoming elections suffered a collateral damage as the 9-billion-Naira-powered protest backfired, with even supporters of the President being forced to have a rethink due to the massive scale of the lawlessness and brigandage that took place during a supposedly peaceful protest.”
APC also raised the alarm that the next plot by President Jonathan-led government is a series of anti-Tinubu demonstrations in Lagos, for which the planners have been mobilised with millions of Naira.
‘”During the forthcoming demonstrations, the protesters have been told to carry placards asking the EFCC to probe the allegations made against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the deceitful, ill-intentioned and irresponsible ‘documentary’ that was sponsored by the same Jonathan Administration. Such is the level of President Jonathan’s desperation for re-election that a man who is not on the ballot in the forthcoming elections has become a target of unprecedented mudslinging by his (President’s) Administration.”