Increased Tempo of Boko Haram/Terrorist Activity in the wake of Sanusi Saga by Wendell Simlin

|Note| The text you are about to read was the press release sent to journalist by one Wendell Simlin. Not a single word was re-written|
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In the wake of the saga involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the tempo of terrorist activities carried out by the Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
Taken together with some historical facts, there is a strong case that this increase in tempo and other activities are not coincidental.
The following Timelines may throw some light on the likely linkages;

Nigerians ask #whereisourmoney

Allegations that billions of dollars in oil revenues are missing has Nigerians online demanding accountability from their government.
Central Bank governor Lamido Sanusi has repeatedly called for an investigation into the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Sanusi initially charged that nearly $50 billion went missing in 18 months, but an audit ordered by the Senate finance committee estimates the amount to be closer to $20 billion.
President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Sanusi on Thursday, describing his leadership of the central bank in a statement as "characterized by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct".
Sanusi plans to appeal the suspension in court.
Many used #WhereIsOurMoney to debate the suspension and criticize the government for failing to account for the alleged missing revenue.

#WhereIsOurMoney NNPC

Misbahu Chedi
@Emtee_chedi "please some journalist should ask him tonite. 200Billion USD no b small money."
Read more...

Lobbying, lobbying and the Nigeria economy. Read Erastus Akingbola's letter to President Jonathan?

Just read this letter purportedly written by Erastus Akingbola to GEJ on how Saraki had a meeting with him back in 2009, asking for a merger between Intercontinental Bank and Societe General Bank. He, Akingbola, said he declined because a background report shows that Saraki's SG is no match in Market value to IB.
To cut things short, Sanusi came in and in 3weeks, a review of banks was conducted. Prior to this, a similar review, 4 months earlier gave IB a 'clean bill' but on that occasion, the report was 'negative'. A quick rap with one of the examiner, by Akingbola, revealed that "Sanusi was bent on removing me".

Akingbola, in the letter, said he met Saraki to help mediate with Sanusi and he, Saraki, came back to tell him that Sanusi accused Akingbola and one other person of trying to block his CBN with a N6billon bribe.

After Akingbola's removal, former SG Bank's Manager, Saraki's employee, was purportedly chosen to head IB and in it first few weeks, the new management "wrote off about N40billion Saraki loans, returned collaterals to Saraki" among other stuffs.

This is really, really disturbing and warrant a strong response from EFCC, ICPC with close monitoring and pressure from the Fraud Division of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Nigeria economy is getting knocked from all sides by selected few (I am not speaking on the context of this letter but from events that have played out between 2006 to 2010, especially during the shares buying era where companies of 6 months old are given concession to be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.)

Prosecuting is one thing, making culprits pay is another.

All these allegations and cross allegations, bad deals, siphoning, selfishness coming to the surface while about 160 million people groan under bad economy load? It is a matter of when? When will the people say "it is enough."

What will you do for £300,000 a week? Ask Rooney

Talking football, especially on this platform, is not something that occur often but for £300,000 a week? Ah! Today, we are talking football.

Desperate Manchester United is not new to grazing headlines; from record losing streaks to other clubs breaking their winnings records after two, three decades and now, the premier league struggling club have paid over the odds to keep Rooney.

The amount? £300,000 a week for the next 5 years.

Wayne Rooney whose existing £250,000-a-week deal ran into its final 18 months, had twice walked away from negotiating tables due to disagreement over how much should be his new earnings.

The fallout of 'no agreement', United feared, is losing Rooney for nothing at the end of next season.

IS ROONEY WORTH £300,000 A WEEK?

Chimamanda Adichie: Why can’t he just be like everyone else?

I will call him Sochukwuma. A thin, smiling boy who liked to play with us girls at the university primary school in Nsukka. We were young. We knew he was different, we said, 'he's not like the other boys.' But his was a benign and unquestioned difference; it was simply what it was. We did not have a name for him. We did not know the word 'gay.' He was Sochukwuma and he was friendly and he played oga so well that his side always won.

"If we are part of a majority group, we tend to think others in minority groups are abnormal, not because they have done anything wrong, but because we have defined normal to be what we are and since they are not like us, then they are abnormal." ~ Chimamanda Adichie

In secondary school, some boys in his class tried to throw Sochukwuma off a second floor balcony. They were strapping teenagers who had learned to notice, and fear, difference. They had a name for him. Homo. They mocked him because his hips swayed when he walked and his hands fluttered when he spoke. He brushed away their taunts, silently, sometimes grinning an uncomfortable grin. He must have wished that he could be what they wanted him to be. I imagine now how helplessly lonely he must have felt. The boys often asked, "Why can't he just be like everyone else?"

Dons flay WAEC over 39 new subjects BY ARUKAINO UMUKORO

Academic dons have questioned the introduction of 39 new subjects by the West African Examinations Council in its curriculum.
In an interview with our correspondent on Friday, the Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, queried why so many subjects were introduced at once by the examination body.
He said, "I believe the introduction of vocational studies, business studies, and technical studies into the curriculum is a good idea; but it is not just the introduction of those courses that is the issue; it is whether we have competent teachers to teach these subjects, the requisite equipments. Do we also have the appropriate learning environment for the students?

Click http://t.co/j0T6hOsQtr to read what our columnist, Sunday Odedeyi, said about the new 39 subjects.

The Story of St Valentine

The story of St. Valentine has two different versions - the Protestant and the Catholic one. 

The Protestant

During the lifetime of Valentine, the golden era of Roman Empire had almost come to an end. Lack of quality administrators led to frequent civil strife. Education declined, taxation increased and trade witnessed a very bad time. 

The Roman Empire faced crisis from all sides, from the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongolians from Northern Europe and Asia. The empire had grown too large to be shielded from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces.

More and more capable men were required to be recruited as soldiers and officers to protect the nation from takeover. When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and so, would not make good soldiers. He believed that marriage made the men weak. So he issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers.

Happy Valentine's Day

OPEN LETTER TO RAUF AREGBESOLA, governor of The state of Osun

While the ongoing issue should not be mistaken as religion bigotry, for education to function properly, every apparatus needed, cap, beret, socks etc, to create an enabling environment has been part of the system before now.

Unless we want to include religion portion to the laid down apparatus which we can come out, declare and pursue with vigor.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, you made it clear, in your explanations on Hijab, that you did not approve the use of Hijab, and while there is a restraining order, your visit to Baptist High School, Iwo was flaunted with students adorning Hijab around you, the ‘man of the people’.

Several male students, like the one circled in yellow, were putting on a white cap WHILE, YOU, THE GOVERNOR PUT ON THE APPROVED SCHOOL CAP to set an 'example' as to HOW TO DRESS TO SCHOOL.

I wonder why you set one example and our pupils are doing something else.

MEN, PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH by Odedeyi Sunday

MY attention was drawn to a video which was circulated recently on the social media about a man who caught his wife cheating on him , I did not watch the video though but I read through the comment of so many men in which gender biased is being displayed.
The question is, could this video brings so much attention if it is a woman who circulated the video of her husband cheating on her?
Although am not in support of any sexual immorality and infidelity, when a man caught his wife cheating on him, the whole world would be brought down but when a man cheats on his wife, the issue will be trivialized, Is this not gender inequality?

"Hey! Here is Five naira for you" by DON ABIODUN ODEDEYI

I called my neighbour's attention to an object that has been on the floor of our backyard for two days - Five Naira.

"Pally, here is N5 for you", I teased him.
"No, you can take it."

During the exchange, I gathered that the N5 bill has been on the open floor for five days!

As we laughed it off and head to our quarters, something jolted me to reality.

FIVE NAIRA on the floor for five days?

OSUN STATE EDUCATION PALAVA... the 'before' story BY DON ABIODUN ODEDEYI

For four days running, tension continues to mount in Iwo, Osun state as situation at Baptist High School, Iwo remain explosive as they remain divided on religious lines.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

It should be noted that under the present tussle lies a history of struggle for dominance by two predominant religions in the town – Islam and Christianity.

Iwo is well known for Arabic/Islamic education with several Arabic schools (Modrassah) established to foster the Muslim faith. Notable among them are Islahudeen Arabic School, Obatedo, founded by late Sheikh Abdulbaaqi Muhammad in the early 60s. Amin Trining Center established by late Sheikh Badrudeen Al-Amin in the 50s. Shariah College of Nigeria, which used to be in Ibadan before it was relocated to its permanent site at Oke-Afo, Iwo. Ansar-U-deen Primary School, Ansar-U-Deen Modern School which is now Ansa-U-deen Grammar School, and Anwar-ul-Islam Grammar School.

Make Yourself Sponsor-Worthy by SYLVIA ANN HEWLETT

"I've always given 110%," says Maggie. "Whoever I worked for, I gave them my all, every day, 10 hours a day, weekends and holidays, whatever it took. That endeared me to a lot of powerful men."
That dedication and loyalty should have made Maggie a star. Yet, although she rose in the organization, because she wasn't strategic about whom she gave her 110% to, she squandered her gifts on leaders who didn't invest in her. Without a sponsor to spotlight her attributes, offer her opportunities, and kick her career into high gear for years, she found herself stuck in what she calls "permanent lieutenant syndrome."
Maggie eventually was fortunate enough to find a sponsor and today is an executive at a global financial advisory firm with 22,000 people reporting to her. But there are thousands of Maggies out there - hard-working, devoted, consistent performers toiling in relative obscurity.

How can you break out of the pack and attract a sponsor?

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS OF CHANGE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM BY WAEC AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION by ODEDEYI Sunday

It is not news again that there is a change in secondary school curriculum by the ministry of education as this has been going on for about two years now but the latest development is the adoption of the new curriculum by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).

Here are some questions running through my mind as someone who has been in the educational sector for some years now.
(1) What development has the change in 6-3-3-4 system to 9-3-4 system done to our educational system rather than the fall in our education repeating itself like a re-occurring decimal?
(2) Has our higher institution of learning syllabus updated to fit in, into this newly introduced curriculum?                  more and possible solutions after this cut...

POLICEMAN ON VIDEO ALLEGEDLY DEMANDING DOLLAR BRIBE ARRESTED, NOW IN POLICE CUSTODY

A hitherto unidentified policeman caught in a hidden camera allegedly demanding "dollar bribe" from a citizen has been identified and arrested.

He is F/No. 374171 Cpl Aniyem Chiyem attached to Isheri Division, Lagos State Police Command. His arrest was sequel to a matching order issued by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubarkar, CFR, NPM, mni, psc to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Umar Abubarkar Manko to ensure prompt arrest and investigation of the matter.

Following his arrest, the suspect who is now in police custody, is undergoing Orderly Room trials and if found guilty will face appropriate disciplinary actions.

TRANSACTION FREEZE: Matter arising in Zimbabwe by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

My prayer, this morning goes to the people of Zimbabwe as they usher in four, additional, foreign currencies as legal tender.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced recently that the Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, Indian rupee and Australian dollar will be accepted, with Zimbabweans and exporters able to open accounts in the various currencies.

In 2009, the US dollar, South African rand, Botswana pula and British pound were approved as legal tender to override worthless local Zimbabwean dollar.