By Uncle Ebo Whyte (The Mirror-Ghana)
In 1993, Margaret Thatcher’s wealth was put at £9.5 million or roughly $6 million. Kamuzu Banda’s wealth was estimated at $320 million, that is 53 times the wealth of *Margaret Thatcher.*
In other words, *Kamuzu Banda* of poorest of the poor Malawi was worth 5,300 per cent more than Margaret Thatcher of first world UK.
How do you explain that? How can you explain that? And remember that if you compared Kamuzu Banda’s wealth with that of Abacha, Kamuzu Banda is a mere pauper in comparison to Abacha’s wealth that was estimated in the billions of dollars.
When Zambia’s Frederick Chiluba left office, he was put on trial for corruption and abuse of office. At the trial, it came out that on one trip abroad, Chiluba went on a shopping spree and came home with 11 trunks of personal items made up of 64 shoes; 206 designer suits; 185 shirts; 74 designer ties; 36 jackets and 157 trousers. Total cost: $1.1 million.
I can tell you that no leader in any first world country can afford to spend that much on dresses on one trip and Chiluba was only the leader of a poor country. How do you explain that?
Not too long ago, the Speaker of Parliament of one African country had 24 vehicles at his disposal and yet he went on to order eight more at the cost of $290,000 for his personal use.
Thirty-two cars for one man, and this is just the Speaker of Parliament. It leaves you wondering how many cars the President of that country had at his disposal.
Which Speaker of the Parliament of any of the developed countries can afford
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday scrapped an Obama-era program that protects from deportation immigrants brought illegally into the United States as children, delaying implementation until March and giving a gridlocked Congress six months to decide the fate of almost 800,000 young people.
As the so-called Dreamers who have benefited from the five-year-old program were plunged into uncertainty, business and religious leaders, mayors, governors, Democratic lawmakers, unions, civil liberties advocates and former Democratic President Barack Obama all condemned Trump’s move.
The action was announced not by Trump but by Jeff Sessions, his attorney general, who called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program an unconstitutional overreach by Obama. There will be an “orderly, lawful wind-down,” Sessions said.
Trump later issued a written statement saying that “I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents. But we must also recognize that we are (a) nation of opportunity because we are a
Catalan lawmakers are due to vote on Wednesday on laws approving the referendum and the legal framework to set up an independent state.
The parliamentary session opened with an intense debate between pro-independence and pro-unity parties.
Catalonia is expected to approve plans for an October 1st referendum on whether to declare independence from Spain, a vote the government says is illegal and has promised to stop.
The laws will likely be approved because pro-independence parties have a majority in the regional parliament.
Reuters
I had to find a way to reach out to you all because my attention was drawn to concocted falsehood from those that claim they speak for Niger Delta and Ijaw. My brother brought a malicious and destructive account of the ultimatum to my notice. Some persons resident in and indigenous to our region are working hard to avoid our inevitable unity prior to secession.
No one or group has the right to speak for the entire Ijaw and Niger Delta. Even without a good means of communication, I have been in and out of meetings in our region. I was privileged to meet the Chairman of Ijaw Elders' Council, and I can assure you that what he and I discussed was wonderful. Our unity is a very serious work in progress. Please do not allow social media hustlers dampen your spirit. There are some self-acclaimed elders that do not even know when the real Ijaw elders meet and reach resolution. No true Ijaw elder sermonizes on social media. Our real leaders are too tactical for such ugly manifestation.
Those of you that are careful will have observed that our regions now watch each other's back. Yes, the ultimatum given to the Hausa/Fulani by our Niger Delta forces is a sign that we are too wise to be fooled again. The joint forces that released that ultimatum made it clear that NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO MAZI NNAMDI KANU. The likes of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari and my entire team areworking round the clock to ensure that this time nothing scuttles our unity.
Those who still talk about RESTRUCTURING and NIGER DELTA REPUBLIC know whose interest they are protecting. Shame will be their portion by the time we
By Eze Uche
The title holders and elders across Biafra land have drawn support for the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking to Northern Btv in Ohofia, Abia State, Biafra land where all the title holders and elders gathered for a brief meeting; the Orlu organizer of title holders and elders, Eze Ejike said, “We are solidly in support of our son. We love the work he is doing and we have seen his determination that is why we come here in mass to show the whole world that we are behind our son and there is nothing anyone can do about it”.
Eze also said, “If Northern elders can support their youths in their devilish, murderous and notorious activities, the Almighty God will punish us if we fail to support the good work our youths are doing through IPOB leadership worldwide.
He therefore called on the International Communities to look into the freedom of
They expected Nnamdi Kanu to give up on Biafra while in prison with all the monetary inducements offered him, but, he rejected them. To their uttermost surprise, the Igbo man who 'loves' money happens to love Biafra more than money. Gosh! Did they ever expect this?
They expected Nnamdi Kanu to renege(give up) on Biafra on being released from prison but he is rather resolved towards achieving Biafra more and more to their chagrin and to the joy of those his co-accused that the cause for which they were unjustly imprisoned for is gaining momentum every passing day.
They expected his Igbo brethren to cast him away as an outcast, but we embraced him. Why? Because he is one of our own! Igbos do not cast out a TRUE son of the soil who is fighting a JUST cause, more so against marginalization that they have long complained about.
They issued us a quit notice to leave the north on or before October 1st with the intent of breaking our ranks but we remained resolute for Biafra. To their
Written by
Hon. Freeman Kashiari Emefiele
Have you ever asked yourself why out of a country of over 150 million people, boasting of 36 states and a federal capital territory, why all the fully functional ports are located only along the axis of the South West?
Why have the Port Harcourt, Onne, Onitsha inland port, Warri, and Calabar ports never come into full operation and functionality?
This has been their mischievous game plan of the Yorubas since the end of the civil war in order to maintain Lagos ports as the singular functional port destination.
They also directed all oil companies to have their corporate headquarters in Lagos. They know that the successful functionality of ports in other viable regions regions would be a game changer for the South-South and South Eastern regions. You'd watch how industry, trade and commerce would exponentially rise in these regions and displace Lagos of its economic monopoly.
Yorubas think they can continue to work against the economic progress of other regions by making sure only the Lagos ports work, they should be ready to continue contending for the ownership of Lagos with others and also suffer the
Time will come when you will run for your guns, to your utmost surprise you would see nothing, because we had those bullets. Teargas will not make us cry anymore because we are used to it. Handcuffs will not hurt our arms anymore. Arrest us, we will gladly accept.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have vowed that the restoration of Biafra is a mission that must be accomplished whether the Nigerian government likes it or not. It is left for the Nigerian government to wake up from its delusion and understand that Biafra restoration is a task which we have vowed to accomplish.
We have followed the court proceeding and the shameful games being played by the Nigerian government. We monitored their moves and how desperate they have been trying to kill or re-arrest Nnamdi. We are making it clear that if the Nigerian government persists on playing this game of shame, then we will swing
WASHINGTON ― Hours after North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, President Donald Trump on Sunday said the military option against Pyongyang remains on the table.
“We’ll see,” Trump said, while exiting St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington after a reporter asked him whether he planned to attack North Korea.
The president did not elaborate. Following several North Korean nuclear tests in recent weeks, Trump has issued vague threats toward the regime but provided no details on how he plans to address the escalating crisis.
He has also issued economic threats toward China, North Korea’s only ally, which he again appeared to reiterate in a tweet on Sunday.
President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off trade with any country that does business with North Korea would have massive consequences on the global economic stage if executed, experts said.
Trump’s threat came after continued aggression from North Korea, which recently conducted its most powerful nuclear test.
If the president followed through on his threat, it would would mean ending trade with China, the United States’ largest trade partner. According to 2015 data from the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, the value of trade in goods and services between the U.S. and China is about $663 billion.
China accounts for the vast majority of North Korean exports and imports. But other countries that do business with North Korea include India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Thailand, the Philippines and Russia, according to
Nnamdi Kanu speaks on current plan to rearrests him. The Federal Government recently initiated a move to re-arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu after he was granted bail by an Abuja Federal High Court. Meanwhile, Kanu in an exclusive interview with the Sun, vowed to resist the arrest, insisting that Nigeria would burn if the Federal Government move to re-arrest him. He also spoke on other issues as they relate to the agitation.
You’ve toured the territory called Biafra since you came out of detention, what is your impression about what you have seen so far?
I’ve not completed the tour as a matter of fact. What I have seen so far is much enthusiasm. I have seen hope, the rekindling of hope and I have seen the burning desire for genuine change and the call for freedom which is exactly what we are doing and pursuing. There is no visiting dignitary, Head of State, political or religious leader that has been able to command the type of crowd that come out anywhere I visit or any town I go to. It has never been replicated or set as a precedence ever before. All the crowd that came out to welcome me were unprecedented; they came out in their historical numbers to witness the gospel that I preached. I don’t pay any of them. In fact, those people are the ones who are responsible for the running of IPOB and to make things happen. If I were to visit Lagos, it will be the same, If were to go to Kano, it will be the
Frontline rights group International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) on Friday morning released indicting evidence against top Nigerian Military and Police chiefs dragged before a United States District Court for alleged brutal suppression of pro-Biafra protests in Nigeria and the killing of some secessionists. In Part One of a statement entitled “John Doe, et al. v. Buratai & 15 Ors (Civil Action No: 17-cv-01033-ESH (USA: DC): How It All Started”, Intersociety traced the history of the crackdown on the Bafranists and SHiites, directly implicating Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, and erstwhile Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.Apart from Buratai and Arase, 12 other top Nigerian Military and Police officers are joined in the US suit, as well as Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The Intersociety joined the fray via a statement issued in Onitsha, signed by the Board Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi; Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Programme, Barr Obianuju Igboeli; and Head, Int’l Justice and Human Rights Programme, Barr Ndidiamaka Bernard. It reads:
“On 11th November 2015, the Nigerian Army issued a violent threat against protesting pro Biafra activists and their leaders in the Southeast and the South-south zones of the country.
The Army also labeled peaceful assemblies especially those organised by pro
SERIOUS WARNING TO ALL IPOB FAMILY MEMBERS IN IGWEOCHA WHO ARE UNDER CONSTANT POLICE HARASSMENT AND THREAT OF ARREST
Anybody in IPOB that gives money to Zoo police for their bail will be expelled from IPOB. The Zoo police in Igweocha populated by Hausa Fulani Muslims are using IPOB to make money because some people are not mentally tough enough to resist them until our dedicated legal team arrives to secure their release.
The more we give these Hausa Fulani illiterate primitive parasites wearing Zoo police uniform money, the more they keep raiding our homes to abduct us because they know some of us will pay. For them to has become a lucrative money making venture.
Abducting and kidnapping of IPOB family members is the highest illegal money earner for the Nigerian Police. Nigeria Police Force is a criminal organisation, run by criminals for the benefit of Northern Arewa criminals. It's not the duty of
Ethiopian Airlines, owned 100 percent by the Ethiopian government, says it has made a bid to the Nigerian government to take over Arik Air, Nigeria’s biggest airline.
In February, Arik Air was taken over by the federal government via the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) due to the company’s huge debt profile, which was over N300 billion.
The government immediately dissolved the airline’s management team, and appointed a receiver-manager.
“The Airline will now be managed by Capt. Roy Ukpebo Ilegbodu, under the receivership of Mr. Oluseye Opasanya, SAN,” the government said in February.
Speaking at the World Bank/IMF meetings in April, Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, said the government was speaking with some investors on the sale of the flagship airline.
She did not disclose the name of the investors, but said “it was a preliminary discussion. They just expressed interest in buying the airlines and we told them
The action of the Southeast Governors is a mark of boldness. It marks the beginning of a new frontier in the Southeast politics. Contrary to the permutations of political pundits and propagandists, who continue to send the dangerous impression that Ndigbo are irredeemably fragmented; by this singular act, the new leadership of the Southeast governors forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have shown a resolve that has never been witnessed in recent times.
We cannot continue to look down on Igbo hybrids (our youth), while our competitors erect the structure of the future on the energy, vibrancy and brilliance of the youth. Nnamdi Kanu is a product of circumstance, as well as a child of necessity. Rather than chide him and his followers, we must adopt the principles eji mara Ndigbo. It is highly commendable that our leaders have exhumed, dusted and applied the quintessential ethics of Igbo socio political system, which accommodates varying degrees of opinion. This is a proof that we do not operate in the spirit of inferiority complex.
It is great that you have not let the accolades of your office override your leadership skills. If Nnamdi Kanu had not being invited, it would have sent a very negative signal to the international community, who are already intervening in our matter. We can't be asking for fair hearing, justice, equity and accommodation from the Nigerian government, when we can't offer same to our
