OBLONG MEDIA GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE is where independent minds meet to dissect politics, society, power, and global affairs without fear or filters. This is not mainstream media.
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The Gulf states are angling for closer ties with African countries, and the feeling is mutual. But critics say differences over governance values, labor rights, and ongoing conflicts could stoke tensions. The major players of the Arab Gulf—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which are member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC—have been upping engagement with African countries in a drive to diversify their economies and build influence in the region. African countries welcome those partnerships, but tensions remain over governance values, rights abuses, and control of natural resources, as well as concerns over spurring…
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It all started on March 5, 2014: a US sponsored fascist coalition government under the disguise of democracy was installed in Ukraine. With historical foresight pertaining to the dangers of a Third World War, this article by Felicity Arbuthnot was first published on March 15, 2014 in the immediate wake of the US sponsored EuroMaidan Coup d’état. On March 5, Ukraine’s Putsch “Prime Minister” Arseniy Yatsenyuk, arbitrarily sacked three senior Defence Ministry politicians, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Oleynik, with Deputy Defense Ministers Vladimir Mozharovskiy and Arturo Francisco Babenko. According to Itar-Tass (6th March 2014) they had drawn Yatsenyuk’s ire by expressing: “sharp criticism over giving…
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Following the war of words, or as Chief Dele Momodu puts it, the cold war going on currently between Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote and his refinery on one hand, and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the other hand, regarding alleged sabotage and frustration in the supply of crude oil and legitimacy, another Nigerian businessman in the oil sector, Chief Tony Chinyere, has spoken up again, calling out the government of Nigeria of deliberately seeking the downfall of Dangote Refinery on the same way they ruined his refinery in Sierra Leone many years ago. Chief Chinyere, the Chairman of…
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Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, was a guest of President Bola Tinubu on Friday, where he and other leaders of thought went to sell the idea of a new Constitution for the country. The group under the auspices of The Patriot said a new Constitution has become imperative to address the persistent challenges bedeviling the country. According to Anyaoku, the existing constitution lacks the capacity to take the country to the promised land, stressing that it was also responsible for the prevailing social, and economic challenges. The group addressed State House Correspondents after meeting with President…
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The recent defection of the senator representing Imo East in the National Assembly, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is causing a big rift among his people – Owerri Zone – in their quest to produce the successor to Governor Hope Uzodimma. Senator Onyewuchi’s defection came after several months of speculations and rumor that he was being packaged by the Emmanuel Ihenacho-led Imo Harmony Project (IHP) as a possible consensus candidate for the Owerri zone governorship project. There had also been the thinking in some quarters that as a two-term Honorable member and…
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Once more, food insecurity and the hunger crisis have forced Nigeria to face a crossroads. Protests have erupted across the nation, and young people are going on the rampage in numerous states, resulting in sorrows, tears, and blood. At least 20 lives have been tragically lost due to the protest, and properties have been destroyed. While Anambra youths are not participating, their governor has flagged off the “FARM TO FEED” campaign to end hunger in the state in a few months. With the twin economic policies of the Tinubu administration—fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the Naira—causing suffering and…
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The country’s hunger protests have brought about a great deal of sorrow, violence, and property destruction, which have taken a toll. Over twenty lives have been lost. These tragedies could have been prevented if better coordination and cooperation had existed between the government, security services, and protesters. Sadly, if the protest fizzles out without achieving any of its objectives despite the heavy cost it has incurred, blame it on the factors reviewed hereunder. It is not impossible for peaceful protests to happen in the current situation. Peaceful protests have occurred in Nigeria in the recent past. Furthermore, as long as…
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ANYTHING LESS THAN THE WHOLESALE DECOMMISSIONING OF NIGERIA’S UNITARY CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THAT NIGERIA WILL COLLAPSE – August 8, 2024. Being a NINAS Rejoinder to the video clip on the imperative of Restructuring by someone in Kano, now making the rounds on the internet: The purpose of this Rejoinder is to provide clarity to the public regarding the misleading postulations, prescriptions and sophistry of this Speaker who on the surface, may seem to be an advocate of an Equitable Federal Union for Nigeria. He may be making ‘some good sense’ to those who do not understand what went with the “Federation…
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“The opening ceremony of the Olympics felt like the closing ceremony of humanity.” —@KimDotcom Fearless Archbishop Vigano has the following to say to the Olympic Games opening ceremony travesty: “It is no coincidence that the one sponsoring this revolting carnival is an emissary of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Emanuel Macron, … —Statement by Archbishop Vigano following the sacrileges and scandals of the Paris Olympic Games The entire opening ceremony was filmed while Paris was under pouring rain – including a blasphemous Last Supper, the setting of Leonardo da Vinci – but with full LGBTQ+ label and characters, with a fat, big-breasted trans-lady in…
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“The opening ceremony of the Olympics felt like the closing ceremony of humanity”, posted on “X” (former Twitter) by @KimDotcom. The Satanic symbolism of the inauguration of the French Olympics on 26 July 2024, raised many questions on interpreting them. Those who are behind these diabolical symbols of course knew what they were doing. In brief, as the “Satanic Cult”, has on many prior occasions before, they showed us, the People, what they have already done with us, how far they have advanced in their evil endeavor, and that we are at “the final stage of the apocalypse” as depicted…
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Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos, currently unecessarily shoulders an immense burden as the country’s primary gateway for international trade and travel. With Lagos ports being the only functional international ports in the country and almost all air cargo entering through Lagos airport, the city’s infrastructure is stretched to its limits. This situation not only hampers the overall efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics but also contributes to significant socio-economic challenges, including mass migration and urban congestion. It is high time for President Bola Tinubu to consider decentralizing sea and airport development from Lagos to other regions. Developing seaports and airports in other regions…
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The call for accountability from our state governors regarding the federal, state, and LGA allocations they have received is a very pressing issue. President Bola Tinubu, in his recent speech, highlighted that aside from the regular federal allocations, additional funds have been disbursed to the states, including billions of naira earmarked for local government areas (LGAs). Yet, the glaring question remains: where are these funds, and what has been done with them? While many Nigerians express their frustrations towards the President and the federal government, it is crucial to also hold our state governors accountable. The governors have been receiving…
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A Nigerian Statesman, Business Mogul and Convener of Eastern Nigeria Businessmen Forum, Chief Charles Ahize (Akpuruka n’Orlu) has called for an immediate cessation of the protest and destruction of Private and public properties of the citizens, urging young people to engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue to address their grievances. The Statesman condemned the escalation of violence, looting, and destruction of public and private properties that have overshadowed the protest and highlighted the negative impact of the protests on businesses, infrastructure, and the overall sense of security in Nigeria. The renowned business mogul, philanthropist and socialite urged the protesters to…
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They did what locusts do to farms. They spared almost nothing. They ate road slabs, pilfered roofs and stole ceilings. They attacked and looted at least one mosque – and at least one church. They hammered concrete slabs and squeezed out of them iron rods for sale. Well-paved roads suffered their anger because the beauty of the asphalt offended them. In a library, they stole dustbins and spared books. Trash is valuable, book is worthless. They attacked public and private buildings; they looted doors, wrenched windows off their hinges and stole installed tiles. They are the perfect proof of what…
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Following President Bola Tinubu’s recent speech, widespread disappointment and frustration has engulfed most Nigerians. Many had hoped the speech would uplift their spirits and address the nation’s pressing issues and provide a clear path forward. Instead, it left a significant portion of the populace feeling disillusioned and alarmed. The speech highlighted the deep disconnect between those in power and the people they are supposed to serve. Crucial topics such as ethnic tensions, obvious nepotism, government waste, and the unsustainable cost of a bicameral legislature and maintaining 36 mostly unproductive states were conspicuously absent. Additionally, the president failed to provide concrete…
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(PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS, CASE OF THE PARTIES AND THE JUDGMENT OF THE APEX COURT) Part 1 of these serialized interventions on the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/343/2024 which the plaintiff filed on the 24th day of May 2024 via Originating Summons had dealt with the FIFTEEN QUESTIONS FOR DETERMINATION raised by the plaintiff. Part 2 dealt with the FIFTEEN DECLARATIONS AND FOUR ORDERS SOUGHT by the Plaintiff against the 36 Defendants. As projected earlier, this concluding Part 3 will dwell on the preliminary objections raised by the defendants, the case presented by both the plaintiff and the…
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I address you today not because you people have been calling on me to speak to the citizens of Nigeria. I am not doing this because some of you have been making noise on the streets of Abuja, Lagos, and Kano. Such behaviors do not move me. I am the Jagaban. Nobody pushes me around. Iro! If you don’t know who I am, go and ask them in Lagos. I can rule Nigeria for eight years without holding a single press conference or speaking to Nigerians in a live broadcast. Heaven will not fall. I make this exception today because…
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The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests that are convulsing the neoliberal fundament of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration are redefining and redrawing the contours of protests in Nigeria in many significant ways. Although I’ve been on the road since Thursday, here are lessons I’ve learned from the protests. One, there is now a profoundly consequential decentering of the locus of protest culture in Nigeria. In the past, protests against unpopular government policies used to be conceived, constructed, and carried out by a self-selected class of professional protesters based mostly in Lagos who earned activist bona fides from their anti-military, pro-democracy, human rights…
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…says we must decide if we still want to be together’ …insists it’s time to revisit 1914 amalgamation …blames sad state of nation on citizens who elect bad leaders An accomplished academic, administrator, Professor Ango Abdullahi, is a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, in Zaria, as well as the convener of the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF). In this interview with OLAOLU OLADIPO, he spoke on the state of the nation and the need to look at Amalgamation Decree of 1914 imposed by the British to unify the country. According to him, Nigerians need to decide wither…
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The challenges we face in this country are complicated by the notion that nothing is a problem until it affects you directly. We need to deconstruct this fallacy! Be it in business, (in)security, or economic hardship, etc, it affects us all. With what is currently happening in Lagos to the Igbos and the call for them to leave, where will the Igbos run to? Is the Southeast secured for businesses? Can those in authority guarantee the safety of lives and properties? To put things in context, Lagos was built with our commonwealth as the capital of Nigeria, hence the reason…
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The nationwide End-Hunger Protest, also known as the End-Bad-Government Protest, has officially begun and is sweeping the country, causing deaths and damage in its wake. And there’s the worry that the worst might yet come. Due to the ethnic profiling that a president’s spokesperson brought into it, which targeted Igbos and their businesses, the Southeast states had to abstain. By starting the Igbo-Must-Go (Ndigbo must leave Lagos and South West) campaign, some X users are also echoing the threat and ethnic profiling against Ndigbo in Nigeria, similar to what happened in Rwanda that resulted in ethnic cleansing. An analysis of…
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My attention has been drawn to numerous articles that Ndigbo are opposed and do not support the present National protests against Bad Government and Hunger in Nigeria. This view is wrong and it is tainted with ignorance. Ndigbo support the on going National protests. Ndigbo more than any other ethnic group in Nigeria are opposed to bad government in Nigeria. Ndigbo are a politically dynamic ethnic group in Nigeria. Look at the records. Ndigbo have five states in the South East zone. Abia is Labour Party. Anambra is APGA, Ebonyi is APC, Enugu is PDP and Imo is APC. No…
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The U.S. is warning Israel against launching all-out war on Hezbollah — while continuing to send Israel unconditional military aid. Attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, the militia and political party based just across Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, are fueling fears that a wider regional conflict may erupt any day. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia group loosely allied with Hamas, has been in a low-level war with Israel since the conflict in Gaza began last October. Hezbollah, which is believed to have an arsenal of more than 150,000 rockets and missiles, has repeatedly emphasized that attacks will continue as long as the…
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Aleksandar Vucic’s remarks come after a controversial Olympic boxing match between a female and a transgender athlete Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said “madness rules the world” in response to a transgender athlete defeating a woman in a boxing match at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. Italian boxer Angela Carini faced off against Algeria’s Imane Khelif in the welterweight category, but resigned after just 46 seconds. After taking a series of crushing blows from her Algerian opponent, who was barred last year from the World Championships after failing a gender eligibility test, the 25-year-old from Naples forfeited the bout, saying, “this is unjust!” …
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The bloc is “deeply concerned” about possible US policy changes after the November election The EU has set up a dedicated team of officials to prepare for the potential return of Donald Trump as US president, the Financial Times has reported, citing sources. The European Commission is seeking to assess the implications of possible policy changes that could ensue after the US election in November, especially on the issue of support for Ukraine, three people briefed on the matter told the outlet. The team will also determine what impact a victory by the Democratic Party’s presumed nominee, Vice President Kamala…
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The current US president has been replaced by an inferior candidate, the Republican nominee told Fox News The Democratic Party “staged a coup” against US President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump has claimed. Trump has previously alleged that Barack Obama orchestrated Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Biden suspended his reelection bid last month, after a weeks-long pressure campaign in which senior Democrats – including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama – and party donors convinced the 81-year-old that he could not defeat Trump in November. “They staged a coup against the President of the United…
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A rivalry with the Republican could make or break the vice president’s political career After the apparent loss of the first presidential election debate, the obvious question was “How long until Biden drops out?” The final days of Biden’s presidential campaign after the debate were reminiscent of the sinking of the Titanic: the inexorability of the crash was matched only by its swiftness. Everyone whose support seemed unshakable back in the fall, like Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate, prominent left-leaning journalists and major donors to the Democratic Party, turned away from Biden. Finally, in a very rare…
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Together with its allies in London, Washington plays by rules of its own Over the past few weeks, the media focus on the spectacle that is the US presidential election campaign has been relentless. The incumbent Joe Biden’s disastrous debate with his opponent from the Republican Party, Donald Trump; then the latter’s miraculous survival following an assassination attempt; the choice of Trump’s running mate; and, finally, the change in the candidate of the ruling Democrats. As a result, Vice President Kamala Harris – who has not yet proved herself in any way – has entered the fray. The whole mess…
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In Nigeria, we lack genuine ideological political parties because most people don’t see the need for them, and there are no incentives for their existence. Political parties in Nigeria function merely as vehicles for campaigns and elections. Political leaders often belong to a party in name only, not necessarily sharing the same policy, ideology, or program direction. Our presidential system resembles a selected monarchy, a winner-take-all system. In our current presidential system, despite the number of stakeholders (political competitors), only one emerges victorious. Yet, Nigeria is a diverse country with about 300 ethno-linguistic groups and different socio-economic classes. Inclusive representation…
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The Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, secured the Democratic party’s presidential nomination on Friday. The development confirms Harris as the party’s standard bearer in November’s showdown against Republican Donald Trump. Harris was the sole candidate on the ballot for a five-day electronic vote of nearly 4,000 party convention delegates. She will be officially crowned at a Chicago convention later this month. “I am honoured to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States,” Harris, 59, said on a phone-in to a party celebration after securing enough votes by the second day of…
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Have you wondered why upon all the moves by the Fulani to kick start a protest against Tinubu, Yoruba people are not calling out Fulani people? They are simply calling out Ndị Igbo, threatening them and accusing them of leading the protest. The Yoruba are simply playing their usual games which for the last 60 years haven’t failed them. They betray the South and with it make a path with the Fulani. This path has always given the Yoruba lots of edge over others in the south. In 1966, after the coup that ought to have favoured the Yoruba, because…
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Nigeria is currently experiencing a profound upheaval as widespread protests sweep across the nation, underscoring the deep-seated economic and social issues that have left millions of its citizens in a state of acute hardship. The protests, erupting in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, reveal an urgent demand for substantive change and greater government accountability. As the government faces mounting pressure, it is essential to understand the root causes of this unrest and outline concrete steps to restore public trust. Understanding the Root Causes The catalysts for these protests are deeply intertwined with the nation’s economic policies. Since…
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The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced that its operation in its Abuja and Lagos consulates will be handled by a new visa services provider, starting August 26, 2024. The decision was announced on the official website and verified social media pages of the American embassy. In the statement the US embassy revealed that Nigerian applicants who had already booked an appointment date would no longer have access to the U.S. travel website from August 16, however, adequate provisions are being made for the existing and prospective applicants as it migrates to a new service provider. Addressing Nigerian applicants whose…
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Press Statement INC Call on CDS to Stop the Unlawful Extortion of Motorists and Wanton Humiliation of Civilian Passengers and Road Users in South East Region Open Letter to Chief of Defense Staff (CDS)Defense HeadquartersMohammadu Buhari WayGarki, FCT AbujaNigeria 29th July, 2024 Sir, RE: PETITION AGAINST THE UNLAWFUL EXTORTION OF MOTORISTS AND WANTON HUMILIATION OF CIVILIAN PASSENGERS AND ROAD USERS BY SECURITY OPERATIVES SERVING IN SOME JOINT TASKFORCE / MILITARY CHECKPOINTS AND OUTPOSTS IN SOUTH EAST REGION OF NIGERIA The Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide is the vanguard grass root mass based membership organization of the Igbo Race and Igbo…
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For months before and after the special military operation (SMO) started, the mainstream media ran several propaganda narratives simultaneously. One of the first doom and gloom claims was that Russia would take Kiev in three days and most of Ukraine in a week or two. However, this didn’t happen for the simple reason that Moscow never planned to take the largest country in Europe in such a short period of time, particularly not with less than 200,000 soldiers. Still, the mainstream propaganda machine went full afterburner with the ludicrous claims that the Kremlin was now losing, that the Neo-Nazi junta forces are unbeatable…
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Today, the dangers of military escalation are beyond description. What is now happening in Ukraine has serious geopolitical implications. It could lead us into a World War III Scenario. It is important that a peace process be initiated with a view to preventing escalation. The history of this war must be understood. The bombing and shelling led by Ukraine’s Armed Forces directed against the people of Donbass started eight years ago, resulting in the destruction of residential areas and more than 10,000 civilian casualties. A bilateral Peace Agreement is required. A visibly anxious and panicked Biden tweeted yesterday, March 11: “I want to…
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If he is elected in the November 5 election, Donald Trump could leave NATO allies the choice either to “accept a forced settlement favoring Russia” or the US withdrawing defence guarantees, Politico reported. The main reason for this, according to allies of the former president, is that the Ukraine war is diverting resources needed to confront Beijing and defend Taiwan. Soon after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, Washington and its allies in NATO increased the flow of military aid to Kiev, which has only contributed to the prolongation of the conflict, depleted Western stocks of weapons, and exposed the weakness in American and…
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I should say right away that I am an activist in my own right and have been since I was a student. I’m not against protests taking place under the appropriate circumstances, even though the planned nationwide hunger protest meant to put a stop to hardships may not be for my generation. The EndSars protests, which started Oct. 8, 2020, resulted in a disaster that claimed many lives and severely damaged property, especially in Abuja and Lagos. Thus, numerous commercial buildings in Lagos, such as Shoprite, continue to bear the scars of the devastation caused by an otherwise nonviolent protest…
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The US secretary of state warned Beijing against allegedly continuing to provide support for Russia’s defense industry. Washington will continue to take measures against Chinese companies if Beijing does not halt its alleged support for Russia’s defense industry, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos on Saturday. In a press statement published on the US State Department’s website, spokesperson Matthew Miller outlined the details of Blinken and Wang’s meeting, stating that the two sides had “productive discussions on key bilateral, regional and global issues.” Blinken asserted that the US would continue to advance its…
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sale of Crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local Refineries in naira instead of dollars. This was disclosed to State House Reporters by the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Monday. The FIRS boss, while addressing state House Reporters said, by the approval, refined products of the refineries will be sold to marketers for local consumption. In a statement issued on the development, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Startegy, said, “To ensure the stability…
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(ISSUES SUBMITTED FOR DETERMINATION) Many people are quick to pass comments, grant press interviews or hold strong opinions on the judgment of a Court. More often than not, some go to the ridiculous extent of criticising the judgment and or Judge without reading the judgment in question. Impulsive garrulousness, untrammeled overzealousness, horrendous ignorance, acting on the spur of the moment, plain mischief or inordinate desire to attract attention can only lead to such perfidy. It is only the decision or holding of the Court as contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment that is the judgment of the…
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(DECLARATIONS AND ORDERS SOUGHT BY PLAINTIFF AGAINST DEFENDANTS) Recall that on the 11th day of July 2024, the apex Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment on what has become popularly known as local government autonomy in Suit No. SC/CV/343/2024 brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation against the Attorney-General of each of the 36 States of the Federation. It was a historic judgment as the Supreme Court, gave judgment in favour of the Plaintiff (Federal Government represented by the A-G Federation) against the Defendants (all the 36 States of the Federation represented by their respective State Attorney-General). In that judgment,…
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Note: Wheelbarrow people are consumers of energy, time and resources. Note: Mosquito people only sing your praises when they have something to benefit from you, while they backbite and backstab you thereafter. One good thing about “Scaffolding” is that it’s useful but it’s usefulness is for short-term purpose. It is dangerous to be kept for permanent purpose. Note: You must know when the relevances of scaffolding people have started constituting nuisance to your personal development and progress. And at such a time, all you must do is to discard them without delay, if not, your star will never shine. Note:…
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Prophet Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe echoed: the white man is clever, we were amused at his foolishness and let him stay, now he has put a knife to that which held us together “THINGS HAVE FALLEN APART”, in like manner the draconian approach to shove liberal ideals down the throats of African’s using all sorts of treaties like the Samoa partnership agreement as bait to impose liberal ideals on Africa will later have an adverse impact on our values, culture and traditions. African traditional institutions are in a deep slobber and have failed to come to terms with reality that there…
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Nigerians’ seeming obliviousness to the massive sums of money allocated to governors, ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as the three tiers of government for development, is a glaring issue that demands attention. These funds, meant to propel the nation forward, are squandered by those entrusted with leadership, leaving the country in a state of stagnation. The lack of transparency and accountability has created a culture of impunity, where leaders prioritize personal enrichment over national progress. The oil sector’s criminality, importation of petroleum products, and sabotaged refineries are mere symptoms of a larger problem – the mismanagement of funds and…
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This dance has been trending for days. At every nook and crannies of the social media platforms, the dance steps very prominent. Everyone wants to dance that dance of twisting of waist and raising of one leg. Turning thereafter to pursue themselves in a very comical manner. I have sat down to look at the sense in the dance as popularised by Brain Jotter, all I could see was a gregarious instinct of the masses and the craves to join the bandwagon. What is Gwo Gwo Ngwo? Gwo Gwo ngwo was just the last part of the lyrics that is…
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A “False Flag” Operation to Justify the Israel-U.S. Genocide against the People of Palestine Introduction From the outset on October 7, 2023, “A Tissue of Lies” has served to justify the killings in the Gaza Strip of more than 30,000 civilians, of which 70% are women and children. The atrocities committed against the People of Palestine are beyond description. At the time of writing, at least 13,000 children have been killed: “That is one Palestinian child killed every 15 minutes… Thousands more are missing under the rubble, most of them are presumed dead.” 1. The History of Israeli False Flags Military operations are…
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As you can see, the Republicans are not even in the ball park. The issue as framed by Republicans and media is: did the Secret Service provide enough resources to protect Trump. This is not the issue. The media will treat Jordan as a Republican male picking on a woman. Rep. Jordan should be asking the following questions: “Did the Secret Service collect the fired bullets?” “All of them?” “Are they all from the same rifle?” “What is the explanation for the acoustic evidence showing shots from different distances?” “How can the same rifle be in different locations?” “This implies…
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Understanding the Oil Theft Process in Nigeria Importation and Exportation Dynamics: How Oil Exportation and Importation Works in Nigeria Understanding the process is crucial for grasping the larger picture: The Acquisition of Agip Oil by Oando PLC Recently, Oando PLC announced the approval to acquire 100% of Nigerian Agip Oil Company. This effectively means that the Tinubu family now owns Agip Oil, which is part of Eni S.p.A., an Italian multinational oil and gas company. History and Ownership of the Ras Hanzir Oil Terminal Historical Background The Ras Hanzir Oil Terminal, located in the Grand Harbour of Malta, has a…
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A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND THE ELECTORAL ACT TO PROVIDE FOR DIASPORA VOTING, AND FOR RELATED MATTERS Date: 16th December 2023 Sponsored by: Hon. Chimazuru Ignatius Nnadi-Oforgu Enacted for the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: PART I: PRELIMINARY 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the Diaspora Voting Act, 2024. 2. Commencement This Act shall come into force on the day it is signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 3. Objectives The objectives of this Act are to:…
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Introduction Nigeria’s electoral system is at a critical juncture. For decades, it has consistently produced leadership that fails to meet the needs and aspirations of its citizens, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and a growing disconnect between the government and the people. This persistent leadership deficit, coupled with rampant electoral malpractices, has eroded public trust and faith in the democratic process. To address these issues, it is imperative to introduce diaspora voting and secure electronic voting systems. These reforms are essential to enhance the inclusivity, integrity, and overall quality of Nigeria’s electoral process. The Case for Diaspora Voting Inclusivity and Representation…
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Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote is battling to get his $20 billion refinery in Nigeria fully functional and begin recouping returns on his investment as clashes with local regulators and oil majors spill over into a public war of words. The Dangote Refinery was commissioned early last year to loud promises that it would end costly fuel imports by the continent’s top crude oil producer and offer affordable pump prices, without the need for a $10 billion government subsidy. The facility, which took seven years to build, is designed to refine 650,000 barrels of oil per day and meet all…
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In a startling revelation during an interview with Channels Television, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has accused certain officials within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of engaging in corrupt practices. Dangote disclosed that these individuals have established a blending plant off the coast of Malta, where they import substandard petroleum products using falsified certificates. Dangote said, “Some NNPC people have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta where they bring in poor quality products with fake certificates,” he stated. The billionaire industrialist expressed his determination to bring these malpractices to light, emphasizing that he is not afraid of confronting…
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The activist group has called on the Democratic Party to hold an open primary to nominate Joe Biden’s successor The Black Lives Matter organization has accused the Democratic Party of “trying to manipulate black voters” by installing Kamala Harris as the presumptive presidential nominee without a public vote. US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek reelection, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his stead. Harris announced her campaign immediately afterwards, and by Monday had secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to win the party’s nomination at next month’s Democratic National Convention. In a…
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Revealed by Government Reports and Pfizer If an experimental vaccine were to damage the heart and immune system in a significant number of individuals who received it, it is possible that it could lead to a decline in the overall population size. This could occur for several reasons. If such a vaccine were to be developed and distributed, it could potentially lead to depopulation due to increased mortality and decreased fertility. Unfortunately, the world has found itself in a situation where powerful institutions and Governments have coerced millions of people into getting an experimental Covid-19 vaccine that causes all of…
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Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the nation’s attorney general, became born again after having previously supported the Nigerian governors in their quest to deny local governments (LGs) financial autonomy. Insofar as the brief is good, lawyers, you know, can represent anybody, even terrorists, bandits, rapists, and killers. By the way, local government autonomy is the freedom given to local governments to exercise authority within the confines of the law or constitution. This is to enable them to discharge legally or constitutionally assigned responsibilities satisfactorily but without undue interference or restraint from within or higher authority. This time, the minister of justice…
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GOP lawmakers are urging the US leader to resign after he dropped out of the presidential race US President Joe Biden is facing growing pressure to step down immediately, after announcing that he will not seek reelection in November. Biden has declared that he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, which officially ends in January. Just moments after Biden announced his decision on Sunday, Rep. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, accused the Democrats of lying to the American people. He argued that if Biden lacks the mental capacity to run for reelection, he…
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The president has not been seen in person since self-isolating after contracting Covid-19 last week Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has demanded a “proof of life appearance” by US President Joe Biden as the 81-year-old has not been seen in public since contracting Covid-19 last week. Boebert’s demand comes after Biden unexpectedly announced via social media on Sunday that he would be dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and would be endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to represent the Democratic Party in November. The written announcement sparked concerns over Biden’s health, given that the message wasn’t accompanied by any photos or videos…
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Biden Repeals Diplomacy and Peace Initiatives. No Dialogue under Biden. UPDATE The good news is that Joe Biden has confirmed that he is ending his campaign for president. The bad news is that he has refused to resign. He will not be standing down from the White House until the instatement of a new president on January 20, 2025. The World is in Chaos. Biden Refuses to Resign Look forward to six full months of erroneous and irresponsible decisions including the repeal of diplomacy and peace initiatives, the deployment of advanced weapons systems against Russia, China and Iran, not to mention Israel’s genocide…
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The Israeli prime minister is in Washington to meet with President Joe Biden and deliver a speech to Congress Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting with Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump while on an official visit to Washington this week, as reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the discussions. The Israeli leader is expected to meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other top US officials during his trip. He is also scheduled to deliver a speech in front of Congress on Wednesday, addressing the ongoing war in Gaza. According to Politico’s sources,…
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The deeply unlikeable Kamala Harris has been tapped to get the Democratic nomination. Can her victory be ensured behind the scenes? The 81-year-old US head of state has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be picked as the Democratic Party nominee for the upcoming elections. Will this controversial shift drive a wedge between liberals long into the future? Joe Biden’s eleventh-hour decision not to run marks a history-making change in the 2024 presidential race less than a month before the Democratic National Convention, which will kick off on August 19. Just after announcing that he would not be seeking the…
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The modern green movement is far removed from the original principles of environmentalism. Fake sustainability is the political agenda designed and pushed by the United Nations, implemented by subservient governments, and which serves the aims of the private banking and mega-corporate super-entity. Central to this agenda is the climate change deception and other false UN narratives, as described in the book Transcending the Climate Change Deception Toward Real Sustainability. Under ‘FAKE sustainability’ we may consider points including: Central bankers are entirely funding the advancement of the worldwide climate change ‘project’. Central bankers hijacked the real environmental movement in 1992 creating the fake…
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Last year, Nigeria’s most successful businessman and richest person alive in the country, Aliko Dangote, had a meeting with his selected strategists. The purpose of the meeting was simple. To decide among the three presidential candidates, Aliko Danogte would support The three candidates were Peter Obi Atiku Abubakar Bola Ahmed Tinubu The candidate’s profile, merit, and demerit were analysed by the gentlemen seated in that room. At the end of the meeting, the consensus was that Atiku Abubakar was a better option to back, and the reasons were not far-fetched. Aside from the special chummy relationship between the businessman and…
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President Joe Biden announced he’s dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, following mounting calls from Democrats in recent weeks. The president faced pressure to exit the race amid concerns about his age and ability to win in November after his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump in Atlanta last month. Read the full letter here. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a letter released on Sunday. “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and…
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The US presidential candidate has vowed to “bring peace to the world” Former US president Donald Trump directly told Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky that he will bring the conflict between Moscow and Kiev to an end – should he return to the White House – during a phone call between the two on Friday. The Republican candidate for November’s presidential election wrote in a post on Truth Social that he “had a very good phone call” with Zelensky, who congratulated him on a “very successful” Republican National Convention and condemned last weekend’s “heinous assassination attempt.” Trump went on to say that he appreciates Zelensky “for reaching out because I,…
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The White House does not expect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack President Joe Biden when he addresses the US Congress on Wednesday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said. Senior US officials were reportedly concerned that the speech could include public jabs at the administration. The US paused its delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel in early May amid calls for West Jerusalem to scale back its assault on the densely-populated city of Rafah in southern Gaza. In June, Netanyahu publicly criticized Washington for “withholding weapons and ammunition to Israel” for several months, calling it “inconceivable.” The Israeli leader could stage a “diplomatically complicated and…
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The Republican presidential frontrunner narrowly avoided death when a would-be assassin opened fire on him during a campaign rally last Saturday The US Secret Service has acknowledged that it repeatedly denied Republican frontrunner and former President Donald Trump additional protection since he left office, the New York Times has reported, citing the agency’s chief spokesperson. The official reportedly attributed the supposed security lapse to the service being overstretched. Trump narrowly avoided death at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, when a would-be assassin’s bullet clipped his ear as it whizzed past his head. Firing from a…
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Though non-binding, the ICJ’s rulings on the ongoing Gaza massacre strip away the Jewish state’s ability to obfuscate its crimes The 15 judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest judicial organ of the United Nations, have issued what everyone agrees is a landmark finding. “Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” is, in essence, a devastating condemnation of Israel’s policies and crimes in the territories which it conquered more than half a century ago, as a consequence of the Six Day War of 1967, which it still holds…
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In the years following the deployment of “Operation Python Dance” (Egwu Eke) in the Southeast, it has become increasingly clear that the initiative, ostensibly launched to curb criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery, had far-reaching and largely negative consequences. What was intended as a security measure ended up sowing fear, resentment, and violence, ultimately destabilizing the region it aimed to protect. Symbolism and Fear The name “Python Dance” was itself a harbinger of doom. In Igbo culture, pythons are seen as dangerous creatures, and their presence signifies imminent danger or death. By naming a military operation after such…
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What is significant is that the German Health authorities based on official data have now been obliged under Freedom of Information to reveal the devastating nature and impacts of the Covid lockdowns imposed on 190 countries, starting March 11, 2020. Of Significance, the official documents of Germany’s Ministry of Health are consistent with the independent reports published in the course of more than 4 years pertaining to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the mandatory wearing of the face mask, and the experimental mRNA vaccines. Huge news out of Germany as the federal government have been forced to admit that so-called “conspiracy theorists” were right…
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Important article first published on May 22, 2024 The “Soviet Threat” which became Washington’s foreign policy mindset was a self-serving creation of Allen and John Foster Dulles. The consequences of their creation and its recreation by the US neoconservatives await us unaddressed. Some years ago I reviewed Stephen Kinzer’s book, The Brothers, an extraordinary account of two men long serving at the top of the US government, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and CIA Director Allen Dulles. Both were appointed to office by President Eisenhower. Allen Dulles was the Director of the CIA, and John Foster Dulles was the Secretary of State. The interests…
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Zero legitimate explanation for how a man with a rifle got onto a roof only 120 meters away from Trump with a clear line of sight. As I have observed in previous columns, our era in the United States is frequently beset with incidents characterized by a catastrophic loss of competence. Decades of procedural knowledge seem to vanish from one day to the next, leaving sensible people wondering how it could possibly happen. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump this evening at the the Butler Farm Show Grounds is a perfect example of this bizarre phenomenon. The shooter climbed onto the roof—purportedly with…
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A major challenge facing this nation today is that people trying to fix Nigeria don’t seem to understand the problem. What they are focusing on as the problems are not the real problems but the offsprings which the problem brought. I have heard repeatedly trumpeted by many, including scholars, that corruption is our major problem. Well, it is not. It is merely the effect or symptom of the problem. The problem of Nigeria is neither stealing nor corruption. It is the absence of a culture of honour among both leadership, elites, and the commonality. The real trouble with this nation,…
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Emeka Maduewesi wrote: What I’m about to reveal will upset many people. I understand. History could be very upsetting. It could make one nauseous, and hypertensive, and at times create enmity. But we cannot forget our past, especially when the key to our freedom and liberty could be found in our past. Olaudah Equiano wrote about his place of birth thus, “The Kingdom is divided into many provinces or districts in one of the most remote and fertile called Eboe. I was born in the year 1745 in a charming fruitful vale called Essaka. The distance of the province from…
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Below is the perspective of a senior friend of mine on the Dangote Refinery story: “That refinery is a scam. It is a prematurely birthed government-supported venture that cannot survive without continuous government aid. There was no proper feasibility study; instead, a plan was hastily put together by his assorted Indian experts. In London, they told us the refinery was built on the assumption that subsidies would continue indefinitely. A man with a degree in Arabic & Islamic Studies from Cairo University managed to dominate the cement industry and make substantial money. He ventured into the instant noodle market with…
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This incisive article was first written by the late Stephen Lendman in the wake of France’s April 2017 first runoff election. May Stephen’s legacy prevail. Feature image: les présidentielles, April 2017 “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” in France? Historic Crisis of the French Republic by Stephen Lendman, April 2017 Its deplorable policies belie its national motto – first declared during its 1789 – 99 revolution, overthrowing monarchical rule, establishing the First French Republic in 1792. When the 1848 Constitution was drafted, it was considered a “principle of the Republic.” July 14, Bastille Day, represents transferring power from the monarchy to the people. The national motto was…
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Nigerian statesman Olusegun Obasanjo’s rejection of liberal democracy is heartfelt—and wrong. In recent times, Nigerian statesman Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken repeatedly of his conviction that Nigeria and other African countries “made a mistake” by adopting “Western liberal democracy,” a system that, being a unique product of “Western history, culture, and way of life” is poorly suited for African conditions. In the same breath, Obasanjo has canvassed for “a model of democracy that is true to the African heritage,” a model that, in his telling, “encompasses our culture, our traditional ways of life.” Obasanjo’s pedigree is one reason his assaults…
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On Sunday March 31, President Joe Biden posted the following message on the social platform X, formerly Twitter: “Today, On Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans: I see you. You are made in the image of God, and you’re worthy of respect and dignity.” The message drew immediate condemnation from various U.S. evangelical and right-leaning groups. House Speaker Mike Johnson, aggregating the opinion of many of such groups, accused President Biden of “betraying the tenet of Easter by proclaiming Sunday, Easter Sunday, as Transgender Day.” Although the White House noted in its response that Transgender Day had…
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The ongoing Emirship tussle in Nigeria begs broader questions about the place of traditional rulership in Africa’s emerging democracies. When, back in 2009, an interviewer asked Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the time, whether he had any presidential ambitions, Mr. Sanusi gave a curt reply: “No, I don’t. I have ambitions to be the emir of Kano.” Five years later, in June 2014, Mr. Sanusi got his wish with his installation as Emir of Kano following the transition of Ado Bayero, who had occupied the stool for fifty years. In March 2020, Sanusi’s reign was…
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Kenya’s protests mark a generational revolution in the country’s politics. The ferocity of Kenya’s uprising in opposition to President William Ruto’s Finance Bill should definitively debunk the notion that Kenyan youth are politically apathetic. It’s true that many young Kenyans declined to vote in the 2022 general elections. Unconvinced that either presidential candidate would represent their interests or offer a change from the political status quo, the elections had the lowest overall turnout in fifteen years. But recent days have heralded a dramatic break from the typical Kenyan political playbook, and young people are the agents of that change. When…
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Accusations of influence peddling in the heart of its presidency raise the ugly scepter of state capture in Nigeria. At a conservative N15 trillion Naira, the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, which will run through nine states upon completion is, by some estimates, the single most expensive infrastructure project ever embarked upon by the Nigerian government. To put the cost of the project in perspective, it is more than half of the total expenditure of N27.5 trillion budgeted by the Nigerian government for fiscal year 2024. Considering that the outsize cost of the project alone would have been ordinarily sufficient to…
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https://oblongmedia.net/2024/07/07/evisceration-of-the-united-nations-security-council-a-historical-analysis-the-gulf-war/
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Contingency Planning Memorandum Violence around U.S. elections in 2024 could not only destabilize American democracy but also embolden autocrats across the world. Jacob Ware recommends that political leaders take steps to shore up civic trust and remove the opportunity for violence ahead of the 2024 election season. Introduction There is a serious risk of extremist violence around the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Many of the same sources of instability and grievances that precipitated the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol (along with other challenges to the outcome of the last election) remain present today. And, while the risk…
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The US president said that he is “praying” for his political rival who has survived an assassination attempt US President Joe Biden has condemned the shooting of his reelection rival Donald Trump that occurred at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Several shots were fired when the former president and Republican frontrunner was delivering a speech in the city of Butler. Trump was wounded to the right ear but received no other injuries. “I am grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as…
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There is something to be said about ignoring actors. They assume roles, quite literally, camouflage themselves in scripts where personalities are created, and behave accordingly. Given that they are paid liars, their political promptings should be treated with caution. It is no accident that much the same thing can be said about the members of Congress. Given that the US President is now not so much functioning in twilight as in rapidly descending darkness, the recent intervention by Hollywood grandee and Democrat benefactor George Clooney has prompted ever more tittering about the electoral prospects of Joe Biden. Choosing the New York Times to make his point,…
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The Brandon entity, from the start of its career in the executive branch, has been a synthetic creation of the corporate state, sponsored by the donor class, foisted on the American people with no due consideration to their will. (The reason, incidentally, Biden has always been a useful tool for the donor class is because it has publicly acknowledged that it is a prostitute in very clear, literal terms — subtlety not being a personality trait it is known for.) “I Tried To Prostitute Myself” Via Washington Free Beacon (emphasis added): “Former Vice President Joe Biden said during a 1974 discussion on campaign…
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As NATO wrapped up its Summit and Biden held a crucial press conference, the media frenzy continued to focus on Biden’s age and cognitive abilities. Is he too old and disoriented to lead the “free world”? Was he able to get through his press conference without stumbling too many times? Lost in the media coverage about the Summit, however, has been a serious discussion of NATO’s advanced age and NATO’s ability to lead the “free world.” At 75, NATO has not aged well. Back in 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron was already sounding the alarm, accusing NATO of being “brain dead.” While Russia’s invasion…
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US President Joe Biden used the opening of the NATO summit in Washington DC on July 9 to reassure member states that he can fight off an election challenge from Donald Trump. Nonetheless, Democratic Party donors are already writing off the presidential election and want another candidate. Although Biden defiantly spoke for about 13 minutes at the NATO summit and delusionally said, “Russia will not prevail; Ukraine will prevail,” visiting diplomats expressed scepticism about Biden’s leadership capabilities. “We don’t see how he can come back after the debate,” one unnamed European envoy told Reuters news agency. “I can’t imagine him being at [the]…
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The Same Folks Who’ve Been Running Every Administration Since 1976 The Trilateral Commission is the gatekeeper of the modern technocracy movement, and technocracy is ground zero for the global totalitarian (beast) system. This organization was co-founded 50 years ago by David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Trilateralists are the ones today who are pushing the war on carbon, the war on food and the coming world war between Russia-China and U.S.-NATO. Their overall agenda represents a war on humanity and, as such, receives inspiration from the very depths of hell. Since the Carter Administration in the 1970s, members of the Trilateral Commission have…
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“If I do not run for president, We’ll All be OK” Concluding his opening remarks, Biden handed over to Zelenskiy with the words: “Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination.” “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin!” https://www.cbc.ca/i/phoenix/player/syndicate/?mediaId=9.6445890 “When Zelensky took the microphone, he said, “I’m better” than Putin. Biden responded, “You’re a hell of a lot better.” Biden also called his own Vice President Kamala Harris, “Vice President Donald Trump,” (see below) at a time when he had to prove to the world that he was fit to serve another four years…
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Momentous events took place in southeastern Nigeria in January, 1970. That was the month the secessionist Biafra collapsed as federal Nigerian troops finally overran it. The Biafran leader, Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had given up command on 8th January; three days later abandoning ship. He delayed his departure for three days because the relief planes that were still bringing in supplies were too small to evacuate all the property he didn’t want to leave behind as he went into exile. U.S. President Richard Nixon, who was then clocking one year in office, had decided some months earlier to begin supporting the…
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In the dynamic landscape of Nigerian politics, Imo State has emerged as a microcosm reflecting a broader national trend of political degradation. The new breed of Imo politician is often characterized by immorality, sycophancy, and a profound ideological bankruptcy. This profile offers a critical examination of these traits and their implications for the state’s political and social fabric. Immorality and Ethical Decay The political arena in Imo State has become a breeding ground for immorality. Politicians in this new breed frequently exhibit a blatant disregard for ethical standards and public accountability. This immorality is not limited to personal conduct but…
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Dedication [ This essay is dedicated to the memory of Ariel Sharon, Colin Powell, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Hosni Mubarak, Generals of the army – Generals indeed and in truth not pepper-soup generals or generals by quota or manipulation – men who dealt bitterly and fatally with Islamic terror and saved their people from its scourge.] The Encyclopedia Britannica defines trench warfare as “a warfare in which opposing armed forces attack, counterattack and defend from relatively permanent systems of trenches dug into the ground. These opposing systems of trenches are usually close to one another.” One thing about trench warfare…
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Former governors James Ibori of Delta State and Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State have different takes on the Supreme Court judgement on Thursday that granted financial autonomy to local government councils Both Ibori and Kalu belong to the Class of 1999-2007 Governors together with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who equally served within same period as Governor of Lagos State.q Tinubu, whose Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, filed the suit at the Supreme Court, has expectedly hailed the judgement. But Chief James Ibori, former Governor of Delta State, said the judgement that granted financial autonomy to local government councils dealt a severe setback…
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By the grace of God and with the prevailing situation now surrounding Local Government funding and Financial Allocation, Imo State will be electing Twenty-Seven (27) Executive Chairmen in the Twenty-Seven Local Government Areas of the State. This is happening seven years after a former Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, conducted a sham Local Government election just months before leaving office after spending two terms of eight years in governorship. The only time Imo citizens witnessed real Council Elections were during the eras of Governor Achike Udenwa between 1999 to 2007 and Governor Ikedi Ohakim from 2007 to 2011.…
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The Imo East senatorial zone, also known as the Owerri zone, has long faced political marginalization in the power dynamics of Imo State. This imbalance has created a pressing need for a clear and fair system to manage diversity and ensure equitable power distribution among the state’s zones. As we approach the 2027 governorship election, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of an Owerri zone governorship to restore balance and uphold the principles of equity, fairness, and justice. As Imo State prepares for the 2027 governorship election, the necessity for a power shift to Owerri zone cannot be overstated.…
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The Supreme Court declared on Thursday that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations. The seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds independently. The apex court held that the power of the government is divided into three arms: the federal, the state, and the local government. The court further declared that a state government has no power to elect a caretaker committee and that a local government council is only recognizable with a democratically elected government.…
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The China-Europe Freight Train service, a cornerstone of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has transformed intercontinental trade in just over a decade. On July 1, 2024, Beijing launched its first train to Moscow for the year, marking the initial journey between the capitals of China and Russia in 2024, as reported by the China Railway Beijing Bureau Group Co., Ltd. Following the first trial train in March of the previous year, further improvements have been made, and the service is running at least once a month. On May 25, China launched its 90,000th freight train from Xi’an, Shaanxi…
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Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a fierce ultra-conservative critic of Pope Francis, has been found guilty of schism and excommunicated, the Vatican’s doctrinal office said. Vigano, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011-2016, went into hiding in 2018 after alleging that the pope knew for years about sexual misconduct by U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and did nothing about it. He had said the pope should resign and subsequently branded him a “false prophet” and a “servant of Satan”. The Vatican rejected Vigano’s accusations of a cover-up of sexual misconduct and last month summoned him to answer charges of schism and…
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In Nigeria, as history has shown and contemporarily too, power is sought for and protected for one singular purpose which is self-interest and any other consideration simply masks the true essence of seeking power. The character of the Nigerian political milieu is not different from the rest of the developing world where enlightened self-interest is the dominant purpose for seeking political power not of any pretentious altruistic consideration. In Nigeria, as history has shown and contemporarily too, power is sought for and protected for one singular purpose which is self-interest and any other consideration simply masks the true essence of…
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