KWARA YOUTHS AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE SEASON 1

Good day our esteemed compatriots. The new year festivities are long over and we now even at the 2nd month of the year (February) and fast counting! Waooo!!! That is simply how time flies! It slowly ticks away as if it is inconsequential. But, the reality is, with each inconsequential ticking of that clock, we are growing older! JUST IMAGINE!!! That small boy born sometimes in the 70's, has now clocked 40 something! That small boy born in the early 80's, is now trending the way to 40 years! 

Those small boys of yester years, are now fathers having children they are catering for! The reality is, if we do not make adequate use of the available time at our disposal, time will invariably make use of us by taking away our youthfulness, strength, beauty and sharpness! Just like that Hymn that Christian fellows usually sing at Church. "Fading away like the stars in the morning". Time makes us to fade away! The youths by which implies those of us born between 1970 to 1999, we have never had the opportunity that those ahead of us had! The Nationalist by which we are referring to the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Chief Anthony Enahoro and the likes, were leaders who wanted the very best for the children coming after them. This fact was reflected in the kind of policies they made and projects they implemented. 

Barrow's Inaguration: Nigeria Warship, Fighter Jets, ECOWAS Special Squad Head For Gambia

The Military Troops of the Nigerian Army will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

Nigerian Naval also  emback on a marching order withe the Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation. 

Also, it was gathered that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would fully involve in the Opreation to Remove Jammeh as they were expected to airlift the troops. Air Force will leave for Senegal 0n Wednesday. They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND THE QUEST FOR REVOLUTIONARY SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION; THE CALL OF HISTORY BY JAYE GASKIA

Let us begin with a poem by David Diop titled ‘The Vultures’. But first who was David Diop? He was a poet of the African independence movement era, born to a Senegalese father and a Cameroonian mother in France, the colonial master. He was educated in France and lived in France. He began writing poetry pretty early, and became one of the leading poets of the Negritude literary and political movement led by Leopold Sedar Senghor, who will go on to become Senegal’s first, and post independent president in 1960.

David Diop himself however did not live to see Senegal’s independence, nor did he live long, he had gone to Guinea in 1958 as part of the wave of influx of the African Diaspora into Guinea to support that country after that country gained independence from France in 1958 prompting the French to maliciously and precipitously withdraw all French expatriates and technocrats from Guinea in act of vengeful punishment for daring to vote for independence.

Euro 2016 wrap: Overnight Actions - France beats Albania, Switzerland draw Romania, Slovakia down Russia

LATE goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet booked hosts France’s place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 after overcoming stiff resistance from European Championship debutants Albania.

Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann came off the bench in Marseille to head the opener in the 90th minute before West Ham United’s Payet strengthened his reputation by smashing home a second deep into stoppage time.

“We needed a win to qualify, and it’s done,” Griezmann told French television. “The coach had told me that I would be a substitute. I knew it and I wanted to do what I had to do once I got on.” Payet also struck a late winner as France opened the tournament with a nervy 2-1 win over Romania

Spectrum of Leadership Vision(lessness) & Hopeless Followership - Oluseyi Faseyiku

From Buhari to the youngest state chief executive, Yahaya Bello, tell me whose offspring can be found in a Nigerian college or a local university.

I do not pity Mr. Nasir El-Rufai. If truly he is determined to effect a change in a small portion of that poverty landscape called the Kaduna State he has his work cut out for him. The greatest paradox of that change and its challenges is when his vision and foresight as a leader are completely beyond the people or group he leads. When I read that there were demonstrations in Kaduna against the anti-begging legislation I knew we do have a problem, a huge one. Mr. El-Rufai isn't a purist and should not be fully credited with a 21st century idea of society for his people, but we must arguably admit that he does have a 20th century vision. But when you have a 20th century perspective, as inelegant or outmoded as that is, but the people you lead are still trapped in their 14th century jacket, there is so much to do. You must get them into the 15th century first and if that works, move them into the 16th and with real success get into the 17th until you arrive where you had earlier hoped. The problem is that this guy has only four years, maximum eight, to transport a state of 6.3 million people into the 20th century and that is it. If he leaves while they are in the 16th century, and his successor, unfortunately, happens to be weaned to the 15th, there it is clear that they will go back to their Egypt, which is still the 14th century.

UN Committee against Torture: See Reports Against France, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Philippines, Israel

 GENEVA (May 2016) – The UN Committee against Torture has published its findings from its latest session from 18 April to 13 May when it reviewed France, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Philippines and Israel.

The findings cover positive aspects of how the respective State is implementing the Convention against Torture, Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and also main matters of concern and recommendations.
The reports, officially termed concluding observations, can be found here.

Friendly Matches: French Embassy Denies Visas for Super Eagles Players, Officials

Ahead of the Super Eagles friendly matches in France and Luxembourg later this month, some of the team players and officials have been denied visas by the French embassy.

Those affected are the only home-based player, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, two coaches and administrative officials of the three-time African champions.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF have pleaded with the authorities of the French Emabassy to issue the visa to allow for smooth preparation for the friendly matches.

The NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said, “We are appealing to the Embassy of France in Nigeria to reconsider its stance and issue visas to these officials.

PRESIDENT BUHARI, HOLLANDE, BIYA, USA, BRITAIN, EU, ECOWAS, OTHERS FOR SECURITY SUMMIT IN ABUJA

In furtherance of ongoing efforts by his administration to enhance the security of lives, properties and investments in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, President Muhammadu will host the second Regional Security Summit in Abuja on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

Participants in the summit will include President Francois Hollande of France who hosted the first Regional Security Summit in Paris on May 17, 2014.

President Buhari and the French President who is scheduled to arrive Abuja on Friday on an official visit to Nigeria will be joined at the summit by the Presidents of Cameroon, Niger Republic, Chad and Benin Republic.

Amb. Ahmadu Was An Accomplished Diplomat - Saraki

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday expressed grief over the death of former Ambassador to the United State, Hamzat Ahmadu and said he was an accomplished diplomat and technocrat per excellence.

Saraki in a condolence message to the government and people of Sokoto State, immediate family and friends of the deceased, signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said death is an inevitable end but he quickly reminded the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that the departed diplomat lived a selfless life lived.

France to increase troop numbers in Ivory Coast after beach attack

French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

(Reuters) - France will nearly double the number of troops it has in Ivory Coast, the defence minister said on Saturday on a visit during which he laid flowers at the site of an attack on tourists that killed 19 people.

Jean-Yves Le Drian placed a bouquet on the beach in Grand Bassam, a resort town 40 km (25 miles) from Abidjan, where gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming hotels last month, an attack claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Four French citizens were killed.

Anti-corruption war: Buhari, 59 world leaders agree sanctions on looters

The party appears to be over for public officers in the habit of looting the nation’s treasury.

The Federal Government and 59 other nations will in May sign agreement on the sanctions to be imposed on corrupt political and public office holders.

President Muhammadu Buhari will join 59 other world leaders in the United Kingdom to seal the pact by which any of the 60 countries involved would no longer be a “safe haven” for treasury looters.

Some of the sanctions that may be imposed on culprits include: travel restriction or denial of entry visa into the 60 countries;rejection of request for political asylum by corrupt political and public office holders;likely loss of citizenship;no more approval of naturalization for any corrupt person;no establishment of shell companies abroad; andthe corrupt will not be allowed to operate foreign accounts in any of the 60 nations.

NFF confirms Mali, Luxembourg friendlies for Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has announced that the Super Eagles will take on Mali and Luxembourg in friendly matches.Nigeria football senior national team, the Super Eagles will take on the Eagles of Mali and the Luxembourg senior national team in two international friendly matches in Europe.

This was confirmed via their official Twitter handle.

Nigeria, former African champions will take on Mali, ranked four places above them at 63, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on May 27. 

The Eagles of Mali have already qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals, having garnered 10 points from their first four matches of the qualification series.

WHAT CORRUPTION DEPRIVED YOU OF: The Need to Support Ant-Corruption War

Sambo Dansuki, Former NSA

The say Saraki's TRIAL is a witch hunt.
Dasuki's TRIAL is a retaliation.
Dokpesi's TRIAL is opposition. 

But they do not say they are innocent.
They do not say the trial is not fair. 

They say there are many other thieves, So they say wait and catch others first! 

A child will die in about a 1000 homes today because it lacks access to primary health care. Someone is driving a car built from looted funds allocated to Primary Health Care;


A car will hit a pothole and cause grief to families because someone is living in a mansion built from looted funds meant for road projects;

Russia to Intensify Air Strike in Syria, warns US to Keep Off

Contrary to the calls by the United States of America and her allies in the middle East, Britain, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar that Russia should stop its military air strike in Syria. Russian army has confirmed it will intensify air strike of the ISIS targets in Syria and that US and her allies should just keep off!

Russia had warned the United States ahead of launching its air strikes and recommended that the United States stop its own flights in areas where Russia’s air force was operating, a senior Russian army official said on Saturday.

International coalition urge Russia to stop bombing Syria over fears of civilian deaths; Putin, Hollande had 1h15-minute conversation over Syria

The US-led coalition against Islamic State (IS) urges Vladimir Putin's forces to 'immediately cease attacks on opposition and civilians' in Syria.

Russian officials dismissed reports of civilian casualties as 'information warfare' and insisted strikes are targeting extremists.

 Iraq said Russian intervention is a welcome development.

The US and members of the international coalition bombing Isis have urged Russia to stop attacking the Syrian opposition and expressed “deep concern” over its intervention.

This is contained in a joint statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry with the U.S., Germany, Britain, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, on Friday.

Syria Conflict: Putin, Hollande Meet In Paris Amid Tension

Footage of Russia's bombing in Syria

The French and Russian presidents are set for talks on Friday amid fears Russia is carrying out “indiscriminate” air strikes on Syrian militants.

As the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine meet in Paris Friday to discuss Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart François Hollande are holding private talks amid rising tensions over Russian strikes in Syria.

The main summit, scheduled to negotiate a fragile peace deal in Ukraine, has been overshadowed by a refugee crisis spurred by the war in Syria and Russia’s dramatic military intervention there.

In Syria, French military, like the US, is targeting Islamic State (IS) fighters with air strikes. But the US says Russia is carrying out random strikes against the Syrian opposition.

Worst defeat in 100 years: Brazil plead for forgiveness

Belo Horizonte - Brazil's World Cup dream was smashed into oblivion Tuesday as majestic Germany ran riot to win an extraordinary semi-final 7-1, sending the hosts crashing to the worst defeat in their 100-year footballing history. Germany scored five goals in 18 astonishing first-half minutes on their way to a 7-1 semi-final mauling of Brazil on Tuesday setting a string of records and leaving the host nation's fans angry and bewildered.

Germany will meet Argentina or the Netherlands in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro after an unbelievable performance in which striker Miroslav Klose became the tournament's highest scorer of all time with his 16th World Cup goal.  Fireworks boomed across the city, and fans in the German capital took up the refrain chanted by the German supporters in Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: “What a day! So beautifully wonderful is today!” Their national team had stunned the world, including Germany itself, with a 7-1 trouncing of Brazil to reach its eighth World Cup final.

Matuidi's foul worse than Suarez's bite says Maradona

Argentina legend, Diego Maradona, has described as "criminal" Blaise Matuidi's tackle challenge on Nigerian midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi in Monday's round of 16 clash at the Fifa World Cup between France and Nigeria in Brasilia.

Maradona, working a pundit for the World Cup with Venezuelan television, Telesur TV, hit out at the American referee, Mark Geiger, for not considering Matuidi's "tackle as a criminal act."

He went on to state that the Frenchman's challenge on Onazi is worse than Luis Suarez's bite on Italian defender, Giorgio Chiellini.

"It is impossible that the referee did not see the tackle as a criminal act. It is even worse than what Suarez has done [to Chiellini]," Maradona said during the Venezuelan television show.

Stephen Keshi: World Cup elimination painful, calls for unity in defeat

Braslia - Stephen Keshi said that his side's World Cup elimination by France in the last 16 was "painful", but vowed that he would not seek out scapegoats.

Bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, Nigeria stood toe to toe with France for much of Monday's match at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha National Stadium, only to lose to two late goals.

A handling error by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama enabled Paul Pogba to head in a 79th-minute opener and France completed victory in injury time when Joseph Yobo scored an own goal from a Mathieu Valbuena cross.

While both French goals stemmed from Nigerian mistakes, Keshi was adamant that all of his players bore equal responsibility for the African champions' exit.

Coach Keshi, Captain Yobo quit Eagles after World Cup exit

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has stepped down from his position after the Super Eagles' exit from the World Cup in Brazil.

France scored twice in the last 11 minutes in Brasilia on Monday to reach the quarter-finals at their expense.

The 52-year-old was appointed Nigeria boss in 2011 and helped them become African champions two years later.

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo also retired from international football following their exit.

Fenerbahce's Yobo, 33, scored a late own goal after Paul Pogba's header had broken Nigerian resistance.

Coach Keshi becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

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