Convocation postponed in University of Lagos

          

The imbroglio between the Federal Government and the Senate of the University of Lagos took a dynamic turn with the recent memo in circulation among officials of the University that the Golden Jubilee Convocation Ceremonies slated for Thursday, Friday and Saturday; January 17th, 18th and 19th respectively will no longer be held due to the intransigence of the Jonathan-led administration. The administration reveals that unless the name is changed to MAULAG (Moshood Abiola University), there will be no signing of any convocation ceremony.

Mali and World Media Opinions

It is a natural phenomenon that opinions will be split on Mali. Many still fail to grapple with the sudden interest of France in the Malian affair. France stayed aloof for a long period of time but suddenly declared interest last week in ousting the Islamist rebels. From Russia to China down to the Middle East not excluding Europe, the Malian question continues to dominate discussions.

Though from Africa, views exist of the neo-colonial designs in most of all these military attacks and supports. Views I share in most cases but on Mali, I think differently. Ecowas slept off when the organisation was utmostly needed. Despite the go-ahead given by the UN, Ecowas was unable to amass troops to counter the fast growing insurgency in Mali.

The organisation said it will be ready by autumn but by then, the Islamists would have overun Bamako with the kind of firepower employed and the level of combat sophistication. The coming of France is a great relief and for the first time, I find myself supporting foreign intervention in Africa. The design of France is yet to be known but no matter what it is, her coming is timely. Read More

Royal Fashion and Pregnancy

The fashionable Kate Middleton who recently has been promoting fashion in the UK and worldwide is pregnant.

Fashion news have woven around her lately and more to come during this pregnant season. Her maternity gowns and wears will be closely monitored.

Palace officials say Prince William and the former Kate Middleton's first baby is due in July and that her condition is improving.

The Duchess of Cambridge had been hospitalized earlier in her pregnancy for acute morning sickness.

Officials said Monday she is feeling better. She made a rare public appearance last week and appeared to be healthy. The infant would be third in line for the British throne.

UN Security Council, Ecowas and Mali

UN Security Council and Ecowas to meet on Mali

France has called on the Security Council to hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Mali, where Paris intervened on Friday to help fight the Islamist insurgency there. The meeting will take place Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the French UN Mission Brieuc Pont, said in a tweet posted Sunday.

This comes as the French operation in its former African colony enters its third day. On Sunday, French fighter jets bombed strongholds in northern Mali, targeting airports as well as training camps, warehouses and buildings used by the Islamists controlling the area.  The militants are said to have links to al-Qaeda.

Ecowas on Monday made it known that the regional group will meet and discuss Mali. This comes after France, the erstwhile colonial master has taken up the challenge and lead to combat the Ansar Dine Islamists. The United Nations last year September gave Ecowas the green light to tackle the insurgency in Mali but the group decided to act in autumn giving the rebels more time to act and cover more tracks.

France has been heavily bombarding the rebels with heavy firepower but has met stiff and unflagging resistance from the islamists too. The rebels are reported to be in possession of heavy ammunitions with sophisticated trainings and military skills.

Nigeria, Boko Haram and Mali

Nigerian authorities arrested Mohammed Zangina , one of the ideologists of the terrorist group Boko Haram, accused of killing hundreds of people, CNN reports. The military spokesman was captured in the city of Maiduguru in the northeast of the country.

The terrorist group has killed more than 2,800 people, according to Human Rights Watch. Boko Haram has repeatedly attacked Nigerian villages and Christian churches in a campaign to impose strict Islamic law on Muslims in Nigeria.

The issue is not the arrests. Numerous have been reported including that of high profile politicians but nothing has come out of it. Everything we have successfully heard and witnessed are people walking freely in the so-called prisons and even in the society. Boko Haram suspects use mobile phones, eat perfectly well and still live like kings in the prisons.

None of them can be taken to court. When Boko Haram sneezes, Nigeria catches cold. Officials in government circles and among prison workers revealed that the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom for Nigeria and the Jonathan administration.

With French involvement in Mali, more headache will be on for Nigeria because there could be a backlog of attacks. The insurgency can easily melt into Northern Nigeria and launch heinous attacks from there.

France in Somalia and Mali

A second French soldier has died from gunshot wounds after an attempt to rescue a French agent, Somalia's al Shabaab rebel group said Monday. The spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters that the group will display the bodies of the dead men.

French forces went into southern Somalia by helicopter on Saturday to try to free Denis Allex, held hostage since 2009. French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday the operation had failed despite the “sacrifice” of two soldiers. Musab claimed Allex was alive and his fate would be decided later.

David Cameron has reiterated that the United Kingdom will not drop boots on the ground in Mali. The UK has provided two C17 transport planes to aid the French effort. One is expected to leave France for Mali on Monday after having flown from the UK on Sunday. The aircraft is reported to have developed some mechanical faults.

The two missions have been surprises to France. Al Shabab proved to be very daring and dangerous. The fighting spirit, training, weapons and level of sophistication of the Ansar dine rebels in Mali is also alarming to France. France promised to leave Mali within weeks. The fear in West Africa should be the resultant effect it will have on insurgency in the region has Nigeria still battles Boko Haram.

WTO: In search of a Future

All things tremble in the world as American economy shakes. The latest is the World Trade Organisation, a third tier financial cum economic organisation backing the Brettonwood institutions. The organisation admitted China in 2001 and Russia in 2011. It has controlled the destiny of the economy of most countries especially developing ones mostly in Africa alongside the World Band and IMF. The organisation is now in search of a future. More.

France and Mali: A Different Ball Game

It looks as if the war in Mali is not the kind of war France had hoped for. The Islamists appear fully trained and well-equipped according to French officials. The Libyan war has successfully created a  powerful loophole and vacuum for rebels and Islamists in West Africa with Nigeria currently having her shares through Boko Haram. France recently lost  a rescue mission in Somalia and cannot afford to come out of Mali with another failed mission. More.

Messi and Ronaldo: Lesson from the Ballon D'or

Messi is a player that inspires. His acts both on and off the pitch are awe-inspiring. Ronaldo on his own part plays good football like Messi but does not learn the art and master the act of humility. Messi said: 'I do not think of whether I'm the best in the world or not, I just enjoy what I do.' Christiano Ronaldo carries his shoulder up everytime. He brags a lot. He even demanded that he is treated like Messi in Real Madrid or he quits. Despite being a Madrid fan, I enjoy Messi's act of humility which has earned him the title of the greatest footballer in the world of all times.

Messi was offered a blank check in Manchester City when Roberto Mancini came on board to steer the ship but he refused. Almost at the same time Cristiano Ronaldo flew down to Madrid from Manchester United at a whooping sum of 80 million euros. Messi's action showed he is grateful to Barcelona for making him who he is, from childhood care to adulthood and the greatest in the world. Ronaldo on his own part 'jetted' to Real Madrid with the aim of competing with Messi and making a name in the Ballon D'or once again. A feat that has been elusive since then.

The same act of humility is the winning point of Messi over Mikel Obi of Nigeria. Mikel was congratulated by Josef Seph Blatter in 2005 after Nigeria's under-20 came second. Blatter said Mikel will one day be great but the pontification of Mikel did not let the prediction come to pass. Messi is a man to look up to all the time in every aspect and sector of  life. Humility wins all wars no matter how esoteric and complex

Iran: War Game

Iran continues to test her military prowess in the Strait of Hormuz. The naval force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has held exercises to test new equipment and battle tactics in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Sunday. The new drills is to test the combat-readiness of the military, speed and accuracy in responding to natural disasters and familiarity with new weapons.

They were the fifth such tactical exercises held by the force and took place near Bandar Abbas, a Gulf port on Iran's southern coast, Fars said. It did not say when they took place.

Iran's regular navy, separate from the IRGC's naval branch, held drills in the Gulf in late December and early January meant to showcase the country's military capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports passes.

Turkey, Iran and Russia: Silent Conflict

Turkey pitted herself against Iran and Russia with her heavy criticism of Assad. Turkey last year halted the advance of two  Syria-bound Russian aircrafts causing a major diplomatic row. She continues to give unflagging supports to the rebels in Syria. With all these imbroglio, she has decided to be energy independent.

Worried about dependence on pricier gas from Iran and Russia, Turkey is turning to its own coal. The country signed a deal with a United Arab Emirates company that will boost its coal-fired power capacity 67 percent. Turkey's largest supplier is Gazprom but long term supply is coming from Iran. The international sanctions is now playing a crucial role in Turkey's decision on Iran.

Oldest Woman Dies in Japan

World’s oldest woman dies at 115

A Japanese woman who became the oldest living female in the world last month died on Saturday. Koto Okubo, who was born on December 24, 1897, was living in a nursing home in the city of Kawasaki with her son. Both the world’s oldest living man and woman, whose age has been verified, are Japanese. Jiroemon Kimura, a man who was born seven months before Okubo, remains the world’s oldest living person.

Mali and France: On the Operation

As more French troops arrive in Mali, the rain of bombs continue on the Islamists. The Malian army is now emboldened as the heads of the troops is now fully covered by French troops. The only caveat in this attack is that major foreign powers have combated rebels in differtent countries without a long term solution. Mali could be same if no political calculation and solution is sought from the outset.

French fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels in Mali for a third day on Sunday as Paris poured more troops into the capital Bamako, awaiting the arrival of a West African force to dislodge al Qaeda-linked insurgents from the country's north.

The French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France's dramatic intervention on Friday to bomb a convoy of heavily armed Islamist fighters sweeping southwards had stopped them from seizing Mali's capital Bamako within days. The hope of West Africa lies in this operation most especially Nigeria, otherwise, Nigeria risk being a Pakistan to Mali's Afghanistan with Boko Haram.

Protest in Russia

Protesters in Russia have gathered in Moscow to protest against the recent adoption ban passed by the State Duma. The ban was a response to and retaliation for the Magnitsky law passed by Congress in the United States. The Magnitsky law freezes assets and places travel bans on Russians found guilty in the death of a right activist. The law was named after him. Russia replied by banning adoption in the country. Americans adopt more in Russia than ctizens of any other country. The Adoption Ban endangers the lives of many children with chronic health conditions in Russia.

US in Afghanistan: An untold Story

The United States army in one of the periods of heavy fighting entered into Nuristan to combat the Talibans. People in the village were surprised to see them and began asking if they were the Soviets. American soldiers took their time and patience to explain history. They made the people realised that the Soviet is no more and other little events of history. These people have never heard of World Trade Centre before in their entire life.

China: Cilmate is Asking

The worst smog in China in years occured during the weekends. The air is filled with fog and hazy. The city of Hebei was completely covered in flames. People in the province say the air smell like extremely burnt coal. Much of Northern China is now covered. People have been asked to stay indoors around Beijing and around the North. China and the US are two key countries with heavy greenhouse gas emissions.

Rape Again in India

Another rape occured in India on Friday and it was a gang rape. The woman was abducted and taken to a village in Punjab province before being raped. Policemen have arrested at least six suspects.

Egypt: Mubarak's Retrial: Where is Israel and the US?

Ousted  Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak who has been recently heavily sick has appealed the life sentence handed to him. Court in Egypt has accepted his appeal and he is to face trial again. Mubarak is accused of extreme brutality against protesters and in the killings of some protesters in a massive protest that ousted him in 2011.

Mubarak was a one time staunch and unrelenting ally of the United States and Israel. He neglected any Arab solidarity and concentrated on the the billions of dollars coming into the defence ministry. Israel with Mubarak had no headache and heartache over any of her actions in Gaza Strip. During the protest, Barack Obama was diplomatically silent while Hillary Clinton echoed that Egypt was a stable regime all because she supported Israel.

A stable regime without proper democracy and rule of law is good once it supports Israel and brutalizes its own people. Such happened in Yemen and is still ongoing in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia is also among the stable regimes, at least she has stayed off Israel's neck for years.

Blow to the Internet: Aaron Swartz Dies

Internet activist and computer prodigy Aaron Swartz, who helped create an early version of the Web feed system RSS and was facing federal criminal charges in a controversial fraud case, has committed suicide at age 26, authorities said on Saturday. Read More

Tutu's Children: Building a New Africa

Africa could, through the activities of Desmond Tutu witness a renaissance. It took Martin Luther King Jnr all the efforts to speak out boldly against what was wrong with the American system. Although many had done that before him but he came somehow as the last prophet of equality. Aljazeera's Tutu Children is a programme meant to charge the African youths to become better leaders and not corrupt monsters as we have today.

The four special documentaries will follow the exploits of participants in the leadership programme 'Desmond Tutu leads,' which attempts to build a new network of African leaders who are together committed to tackling their countries’ most stubborn problems.

The legendary archbishop will pass the baton of moral leadership to these emerging leaders who are drawn from across Africa. Once they pledge themselves to Tutu’s mission, the participants are put through group tasks designed to bring out their true colours – from conducting a choir to cooking under pressure.

They are charged to re-examine their opinions in debates on the most controversial ‘African’ issues – racial hierarchy, corruption, privilege, and Western democracy. This experiment also pushes them out of their comfort zones emotionally, culturally and intellectually. Africa hopes to see better days if truly the participants and viewers who are youths will see the best in being charismatic leaders with visions and innovations.

Here comes the KGB 'guy'

Russia under Putin has always brought a good rememberance of the Cold War to the fore. Whoever does not witness the 'Hot Peace' can have a glimpse with the Presidency of Vladimir Putin. He is a staunch Soviet guy. Never is he going to take anything easy with the West. One singular mistake he is making just as it was during the 'Hot Peace' is the neglect of the economy. The US monitored her economy during the Cold War and synchronised it with the weapons manufactured but USSR was just producing the weapons at the expense of the economy. Russia today is to build two new nuclear Borei submarines. I ask: at what cost? Where is the diversified economy first? Read More about the Subs

Egypt and her Arab Voice

The actions of Morsi as regards his Arab neighbours is reminiscent of the actions of Egypt's Arab-voice founding father, Gamal Abdel Nasser. Nasser defied all Western advertures and rolled more with the East with the hope and aim of making Egypt a formidable Arab voice. This somewhat is exactly what Morsi  is trying to do. Though today, there are  many Arab 'powers' but Egypt will have a significant impact if she chooses  to be a formidable voice.

The invitation of Ahmadinejad to Egypt will definately not augur well with Tel Aviv and Washington but Morsi, since his Gaza visit, continues to show he can and will never jettison Arab solidarity for Israel or the United States. Egyptian foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr said the invitation was extended during the President's meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi.

Benghazi: Attacks Galore for the West

An Italian diplomat was again attacked in the city of Benghazi, Libya's second largest city. The diplomat escaped unhurt narrowly. Guido De Sanctis, the Italian consul in the city, was travelling in his bullet-proof car when unidentified gunmen opened fire. Benghazi in the post-Gaddafi era has seen numerous spate of attacks aimed Western diplomats and Libyan security forces. The most central was the killing of an American diplomat, Christopher Stevens on September 11, 2012 as well as the shooting of an important police chief weeks ago.

Kenya and WildLife Poaching

Countries  in East Africa unlike their West African counterparts are waking up to the protection of wildlife. Kenya has installed an alarm system that could prevent poaching by alerting the authorities (rangers) of any of such attempt. This is in wake of the killing of eleven elephants previously. Read More

Zambia and WildLife: The ban on Lions

Some weeks ago, news and reports came out on the disappearance and extinction of lions in Nigeria and West Africa. More. Such was gradually going on in East Africa but now the officials have woken up from their slumber. Zambia has banned the hunting of lions and other endangered wild cats such as leopards because it sees more value in tourism than blood sport, the country's tourism minister said. More.

Cyberattacks: Iran and the US

Experts in the United States have confirmed that Iran may not really be behind the wave of cyberattacks on US' banks. Much of the evidences available do not point to Tehran as a culprit. Iran for long has continued to deny any allegation she is involved in any cyberattack on the United States. The defence seems to be genuine.   Read More

New National Park in the US

The United States is having her newest National Park in California. The Pinnacles National Monument known has the Pinnacles National Park is the 59th National Park in the US. It has scenic features with splendid and spectacular rock formations, condors and beautiful spring wildflowers. Know More

Fear of Islamists: Key to Security Wisdom

French President has issued a red alert to security agents within France due to her ongoing  activities in Mali and the failed mission in Somalia. The stepping up of domestic security is in realisation of the fact that the Islamists in both countries might plan surprises package for France. To forestall any of such, Francois Hollande charged all security networks to be on high alert.

Somalia: Nightmare of the Horn of Africa

The botch rescue attempt of the French Commandos is a reminder of how Somalia has turned into a major nightmare for Africa. The failure is a reminder of the failed mission of the US Marines in the 1990s. France lost a soldier and one was missing while the Commandos killed 17 al Shaba militants. Some reports have it that the French Commandos 'mistakenly' killed some villagers, hence putting al Shabab on the alert of an impending danger.

Reliable sources in and around BuloMarer town in South Somalia where French commandos raided late last night, say that the French commandos first landed at a village called Daaydoog which is located at the seaside and three kilometers away from BulMarur where the French intelligence officer was held by Al Shabab militants. The Commandos left without the hostage. A complete facsimile of the US' mission. An incomplete mission.

India and Saudi: The Growing Contrast on Women

Saudi King Abdullah broke a great record on his appointment of women into his cabinet while India continues to retard in the protection of women. Read More on Saudi. From various rape cases to female infanticide, India has become notoriously unsafe for women and young girls. Read more on India.

France and Africa: The Flying Power

Nicholas Sarkozy was the French President in the 21st century to commit France militarily more to Africa. From Ivory Coast to Libya, France played a crucial role in deposing the leaders though that of Libya is to cover a shady deal. Read. It seems that tradition will continue under Francois Hollande who before now has tried to maintain an isolationist policy or a more international role under the United Nations like Barack Obama when he came newly into office. The attack in Somalia by French Commandos proves Hollande will continue with the Sarkozy tradition as it is been witnessed in Mali now. Read More

Obama and the Israeli Lobby: Challenging the Game

For years, Israel has always been the determinant of America's action in the Middle East. No President of the United States, the surviving Superpower, has successfully challenged Israel and her powerful lobby group, AIPAC (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee) but Barack Hussein Obama did. Publicly, in a joint news conference, he told Binyamin Netanyahu that the best and speedy solution to the Palestinian crisis will come if Israel reverts to the 1967 borderline. Again, the appointment of Chuck Hagel proves that the President knows what he is doing; never going to compromise the security of Israel but not going to genuflect for her or succumb to Israel's whims and caprices. Read More

The Drones: Reforming the Robots

Drones have generated hot debates around the world and have resulted into increased nightmares for many since they became President Obama's weapons of choice. The precision at which an attacking drone can target enemy combatants without civilian casualties must be looked into. On surveillance drone, it intrudes into the privacy of nations and has made a nonsense of and given total disregard to sovereignty. Time now for the drone debate and reform in the United States. Read More

Coming Victory for the Rebels in Syria?

The Syrian rebels have been resolute; short of major weapons but tried all to manufacture theirs. Armed will locally made crude weapons, they continue to face the heavy firepower from government forces. Their resilience looks like it is yielding positively with the recent capture of the Taftanaz airbase, the largest in Northern Syria in the Idlib Province. This will shore up their fighting clout due to the capture of some major weapons.

Influenza in the US

Influenza is becoming a major headache in the United States. The disease has reached an alarming rate and gradually becoming a national disaster. Read More

France and Mali: The Operation Begins

Malian soldiers have captured the key town of Konna from Islamists rebels in a major offensive backed by the French Army. The French President has said the aim of the French Army is to give life and hope to the government of Traore in Mali and this seems to be yielding positive results. Read More

Central African Republic and the Rebellion

If the agreement reached between the rebels and the government of the Central African Republic is anything to go by, then the country could be on her way out of the current fiasco. The United Nations has offered to engage more forcefully, politically, financially and diplomatically with the country and the rebels. Read More

Africa: The Angles to the stories

While South Africa is battling with various strikes, brutality and an unknown future, Kenya is brewing up in tribal conflicts in preparation for election and having sleepless nights over al Shabab in Somalia. Rwanda on her own has rejected the deployment of drones to Congo in a war she is accused of supporting the M23 rebels. Central African Republic is facing a hot contest from the rebels hell-bent on deposing the President. Nigeria has Boko Haram to deal with. Mali has become a country of bombs and land of destructions. Read More

Kenya and Technology

Kenya continues to add more medals to its giant technological stride in Africa. Safaricom finally has the iPhone 5 in stock. Unlocked (free to use on any network) 16 GB versions of the phone are now available in Safaricom shops at KSh. 109,999. CIO East Africa announced in September last year that Safaricom had plans to stock the device.

Nigeria and the Lions: Death of Tourism

                                Photo Courtesy: allafrica.com

Report released in London indicated that various species of lions in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa face increasing decline and are most probably on the verge of extinction in few years if nothing is done to redress the ugly trend.

While countries in East Africa are waking up everyday to the benefits of  tourism and making all attempts to stop the extinction of lions and other wildlife animals.

West Africa is completely sleeping. Nigeria's tourism can earn her billions of naira in foreign exchange  but the easy oil cash which encourages corruption is preventing all investments in the sector.

 The Yankari Games Reserve is almost dead. With the Islamists in Mali now and Boko Haram in Nigeria, one wonders if any tourist sector will survive in West Africa because all the regions that these two operate in are the best for wildlife and tourism; Northern Nigeria and Northern Mali

Growing up in Africa

The elections of both Sierra Leone and Ghana show a brighter side for Africa. The two countries are models to copy from. Despite all the catastrophes in Nigeria, Somalia, Mali, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Egypt not excluding the building political turmoil in Kenya, Africa with these two can boast of better days ahead. Read More

US and Afghanistan: A Future Ready

The United States' President, Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai have discussed the kind of future that is possible for Afghanistan. The US troops as known will not totally withdraw in full as more needs to be done on the Afghan security forces.A good percentage of US troops will remain in Afghanistan for training and advisory purposes. Read More

France and Mali: State of Emergency Declared

The government of Mali has declared a state of emergency to allow the French troops perform perfectly in the country. The Islamists linked to al Qaeda has been destroying the historical artefacts and monuments in Mali. The UN has already given ECOWAS the go-ahead to combat the rebels but no action has been taken. The coming of France is a relief to Traore and his regime. Read More

From Israel to Palestine

Palestinian youths discuss their ordeal and treatment in Israeli jails. Read More

Aljazeera and US

For a long period of time, Aljazeera has tried all its best to break into the media outfit of the United States. She continues to display the demand in her online news centre calling for citizens to demand Aljazeera in the United States. Despite being a land of media freedom, the US is averse to Aljazeera. Why? The history of Aljazeera is that of Western antagonism but along the line, she dropped this aspect and became kind of objective on Western actions especially that of the United States. Now, it has a breakthrough into the US news market. Read More

Palestinian shot dead by Israel

A Palestinian farmer has been shot dead in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources say.

A health ministry official said the 22-year-old man was hit by Israeli army fire near Jabaliya refugee camp, in the north of the coastal territory.

US and Afghanistan: Discussing a Future

President Barack Hussein Obama has welcomed his counterpart from Afghanistan, Hamid Kazai to the White House to discuss the future of Afghanistan. The United States has until 2014 as her deadline to stay in the country. There would be bilateral arrangement and agreement on security, peace talks with the Taliban, Afghan elections and other allied matters because the current level of Afghan combat readiness and control of insurgency is still not fully recommendable. Read More

Freedom: Shaking up the Shura in Saudi Arabia

The agitation for freedom around the world is beginning to yield dividends. Women are crucial to the development of  a nation and any attempt to subvert their freedom is creating a loophole for doom. The realisation of this has made King Abdullah move to a revolutionary stance by appointing women into his cabinet.

For the first time, Saudi Arabian women will advise the king on policy and legislation. King Abdullah appointed 30 female advisors to the all-male Consultative Council. They will have a separate entrance to the chamber and sit apart from the men. Read More

Noises from Nigeria

The recent interview granted the erstwhile President of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo by CNN and the uproar it generated within the government circle is nothing but mere noises as usual. Obasanjo's outburst of the endemic corruption in the Jonathan administration is not untrue but the basis of that outburst can be questioned likewise that of the government handling of the Boko Haram menace. Obasanjo traveled to Britain to launch a foundation for African children, one wonders how many African countries he visited before going to Britain. Is his action not a kind of writing his own continent off?

Besides, the whole saga between the strong man of Owu and the Otu-oke don revolves around 2015; who gets what, when and how. Abati, the media spokesman of the President, Goodluck Jonathan  is the worst of all. He came out publicly to say his boss needs no lecture from anybody on how to tackle insurgency. One begins to wonder if the United States' counter-terrorists experts requested for by his boss are coming just to sleep with no advise and ways of actions. Saying his boss has the best way to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency is confirming his own stupidity and the regime's ineptitude.

Education and Africa: What Future?

The government of Mali has ordered the closure of schools around Bamako due to the attacks of the Islamists. Mali is not the only one in this quagmire. In Northern Nigeria, Boko Haram has made education so uninteresting in a region in diehard need of learning and enlightenment. The activities of the Boko Haram sect has turned schools into fearful environmernts. DR Congo is having sleepless nights. Despite the unilateral ceasefire of the M23 rebels, no one knows what to come next.

Joseph Kony continues to recruit child soldiers, thereby creating a bleak and militarised future for these young ones in Uganda. Central African Republic is having lots of nightmares due to rebels' activities which, just like Mali, could soon totally affect education. Somalia for decades have no functioning educational system. Though Kenya is recording giant strides in learning and innovation but with the various tribal wars, it is just a matter of time before the deja vu of 2008 is witnessed and youths result  into weapons handling.

Africa lost out in the heinous slave trade, became retarded with colonialism, got stagnant with neo-colonialism and now destroying itself with leadership greed in the globalisation age. Without the education of its youths, Africa can never meet up with the global pace. The leaders are not in any way interested in this.

 Their main concern and issue is how to perpetuate themselves in power and keep on embezzling as if the 'thrones' are their families' properties. It is high time African youths stood up and fight this dieing future wholeheartedly otherwise we will be snail when the world becomes an eagle tomorrow. They have succeeded in infesting our minds with tribalism and carry out the divisive religious campaigns with great dexterity so our voice will never be one and united. Ours is the future and the time is now.

France and Mali

French President, Francois Hollande has made known the intention of his government to support the government of Traore militarily in mali if the Islamist Rebels did not halt their advance.Hollande said the 'Islamists are trying to deliver a fatal blow to the very existence of this country'. He also said France will only work within the authorisation of the United Nations. Long before now, the United Nations has given the regional body, ECOWAS, a green light to stem the tide and advance of the rebels but so far, no cogent action has been taken.

Afghanistan: Lesson of Foreign Wars

                            Afghan President: Hamed karzai
Photo Courtesy: Google Images

The Pentagon and White House are stylishly speeding up withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. The United States has always made the noise of not negotiating with terrorists. An idea she has rammed into the throats of many who never knew how indirectly desperate she has been to talk to the Taliban. Now, the meeting of Panetta and Karzai proves that Washington is wearied. From Vietnam to USSR's Afghanistan down to Somalia, back to Iraq and US' Afghanistan today, no major power has successfully won any foreign interventionist war outrightly. Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Army should have been an everlasting lesson but Washington is drunk in the euphoria of being the only superpower. Iran should be off her table.

The Dilemma in Syria

                                Photo Courtesy: Google Images

The headache in Syria happens to be double now. The first surrounds Assad's usage of chemical weapons if the regime is about to completely fall and no alternative exists. Another is the hysteria about the post-Assad era. Who will get hold of the chemical weapons? In the event that the weapons fall into wrong hands, how can they be tamed? That will definately be a death trap for any foreign troops just like Somalia. It seems the best open alternative now is to talk Assad out of power.

Israel and the United States

Israel and the United States

Who controls who?

                   Photo Courtesy: Google Images

The unfolding drama over the appointment of Chuck Hagel and John Brennan is playing out like an Hollywood 24 Hours movie staring Jack Bauer. Chuck Hagel has been confirmed from all quarters as more than qualified but it seems some people will not get over the 'daymare' of Barack Obama winning the presidency. From the protest letter of secession to fiscalcliff now to Chuck Hagel and his purported anti-Israeli stance, America is telling the world that all is well and really well too only if a white 'guy' is in the White House for white reasons.

It is totally open that the fear of Israel is the beginning of wisdom for America. The revered erstwhile Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon has opined before that Americans themselves know that Israel controls their country. The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has bought the hearts and minds of Americans. It is never against human rights if Israel kills Palestinians, blocks funds, occupy lands illegally and build settlements at will. It is never against human rights to kill harmless Palestinian protesters at Israel's leisure. Israel has every right to defend itself by killing innocent Palestinians with flimsy excuses of Hamas' human shield but it is an act of aggression if Iran sends US' drone away from her airspace.

Chuck Hagel is a Vietnam veteran. A pentagon foot soldier who still carries shrapnel wounds around. Chuck and his brother Tom were the first two brothers to serve in the same unit in the army. Chuck rescued his brother when he was almost killed by a landmine. His own convoy was later hit causing him severe injuries. He is a realist alongside John Brennan not a pacifist who genuflects for Israel. His statement about 'Jewish lobby' is the only thing that disqualifies him in a country he spends his life to defend. Who really owns the US? Americans or Israel? Hagel and Brennan are averse to the use of unnecessary military power. This qualifies them more to Obama.

Alon Pinkus, former Israeli consul to New York gave Chuck a thousand and one pass-marks on the job. He declared that the noise against Hagel is to get at Obama and that those manoeuvering around Israel wants the issue public and create sort of scandal with it. In this, they are succeeding. Publicly, in a joint interview and discussion, President Barack Obama in 2011 calmly and diplomatically informed the rash and harsh Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who has been confirmed to be a renowned liar by both Obama and Sarkozy, that the best method to end the Palestinian debacle is for Israel to revert to the 1967 borders and renounce all lands it is illegally occupying. Netanyahu openly, publicly blatantly rebuffed this, calling it an indefensible border. Indefensible indeed to the only nuclear power in the Middle East.

In presenting the duo, Barack Obama said: 'Chuck knows war is not an abstraction. He understands that sending American troops to fight and bleed...is something we have to do when it's ABSOLUTELY necessary. (Emphasis mine). This of course does not and cannot go down well with Binyamin and his American apologists who as at now are impatient to see the first bomb land on Iranian soil. It is in this 'daymare' that a UK-based Iranian foreign policy expert, Mohamed Ali Shabari, who shuttles Tehran and Britain confirmed that officials in Tehran believe the US cannot afford a war now and are less worried. They even hold on to the notion that the least credible thing to occur is an Israeli attack.

Hagel has been labeled 'enemy of Israel, friend to Iran'. Is it a crime to be rational on war in the United States when it comes to Israel? Obama is an anti-war President. An end-war leader. Hagel is a military personnel who understands the agony of war. A real human-soldier not monster-soldier. Israel continues to drag and push America into wars she can avoid. Once Israeli leaders ratchet up rhetoric against a potential enemy in the Middle East, the war drum immediately begins to sound in Pentagon and reverberates in the White House. When Israel sneezes, United States catches cold.