Christmas' Apology

               

The popular music icon from South Korea who broke the record on Youtube of an all time 1 billion viewers and 7 million viewers per day apologised for his anti-American stance on Christmas Day at the White House. Psy said the annoyance of the American war in Iraq continues to influence his views of the United States.

Golf Returns to the Olympics

                                      

Golf is set to return to the olympics by 2016. Since the Summer Olympics of 1904, the 'game of men' has been absent from the sporting events. The International Olympics Committee has finally decided to re-introduce the sport in the Olympics.

The President of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Organizing Committee, Arthur Nuzman said: "As [the 2016 Games] marks the return of golf to the Olympic Games after over a century of absence, this course represents the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the sport. It will enable Rio to host important events in the international calendar and it will be an example of sustainability and preservation of an environmentally protected area. This course will be an excellent facility for the practice and development of golf and will inspire millions of youth across Brazil and the globe. We look forward to welcoming the athletes and spectators to the course in 2016."

Iran: Sounds from the War Drum

Iran's Deputy Agricultural Minister has stated that the Western sanctions has no genuine impact on her agricultural sector. This is more like saying the sanction are fruitless here. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted Iran's deputy agriculture minister as saying on Saturday: 'Iran's agricultural exports grew last year, with pistachio and saffron sales almost doubling, despite Western sanctions on trade with the country.'

Between March 21 and December 20, Iran's pistachio exports doubled to $587 million, making the nuts Iran's biggest agricultural export by value. Exports of saffron rose 87 percent to $213 million, Fars reported. Western nations continues to tighten sanctions on Iran to prevent banks from trading with the Islamic Republic in order to force her to halt her nuclear enrichment.

Iran's nuclear programme has attracted criticisms from Western nations largely centred on news coming out from Tel Aviv over the threat it posed to Israel; the only nuclear nation in the Middle East. Despite all the Western acts, Tehran continues to prove it is a rational international actor though domestically, the repression nauseates.

Silent Cold War

Vladimir Putin continues to send messages to the West that Russia is back in the game of direct confrontations. The erstwhile KGB 'guy' seems not to have forgotten and not ready to forget the power that USSR's greatness gave him and his fellows. Throughout the years of Dmitry Medvedev as Russian President, Russia had limited direct confrontations. They were years of reset.

The granting of citizenship to Gerard Depardieu is a message to France that Russia is no joke in the next five years. Tax in Russia compared to the US and France is better. Russia is 39%, the US is 45% while France is 75%. Depardieu expressed his thanks to his new compatriots in letter published in the media, in which he praised the cultural, social and political virtues of his new home and vowed to learn Russian.

Depardieu initially considered three countries to move to: Belgium, where he had just bought a house, Montenegro, where he has friends and some businesses, and Russia. 

French politicians mocked Depardieu’s plans as an unbelievably “foolish thing”.  The Prime Minster called Depardieu`s decision to leave France "pathetic".

Brewing Conflict in Asia

Japan sends jets to intercept Chinese plane over disputed islands

Tokyo has sent fighter jets to escort a Chinese plane that flew close to disputed islands, a Japanese Defence Ministry spokesman said. Japanese fighters were mobilized at 12:00 pm local time after a Chinese maritime aircraft ended up 120 kilometres north of the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyus.

The Y-12 twin-turboprop did not enter Japanese airspace over the islands, the ministry said. This was the first time this year that Japan sent its airforce to protect its interest over the islands in the East China Sea. Confrontations have become more tense since the dispute escalated in September last year.

African Economy: The Myth

A  lot has been said on African economy. Facts continue to emerge about economic growth and foreign investment but they are at conflict with reality. Leaders swim in reports that cannot be substantiated, revelling in the idea that the age and century of the lion is coming fast. Hogwash.

African indigenous economists are quick to follow reports from IMF and World Bank without a thorough indigenous introspection. Africa might just be basking in the euphoria of a dream that is not emerging or not going to emerge soonest. Read More

Benghazi: City of Attacks

Libya has become notorious for myriads of shootings and killings. The post-Gaddafi era has been tumultous for the North African State. A police officer was found shot dead on his Benghazi farm on Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks targeting police in the eastern Libyan city, a security official said.

The official said that Lt. Col. Nasser al-Maghrabi's body showed evidence of having been beaten before he was shot. Is this what freedom and democracy entails? NATO has dropped all its bombs and left. 

The aftermath of the Western weapon supplies is the currrent massive weapons now circulating the continent; in use from Benghazi to Mali to the Centarl African Republic not excluding Democratic republic of Congo.

Religious Tolerance

Do not look down on me for I am also a creation of the ALMIGHTY. You have your own pattern of worship; I have got mine. The birds fly in the sky without touching each other; no disturbance whatsoever. Each has its way without the sky falling down; peacefully they live. In serenity they co-exist.

My belief system is my life, the way I rule it is mine; respect me. If you propagate your religion and I see no reason to accept; smile with me. Accept my verdict and try again later if you so wish; never force it on me.

The Noble Quran says: 'There should be no compulsion in religion.' Why the sword on my neck to convert? The Holy Bible says: 'Live peacefully with all men and let the glory of GOD shines in you.' Why the hate if your Christ is refused?

I am me for who I am: nothing changes that. The two organised religions continue to lacerate humanity yet they keep on telling us they are the way. What way? Way to bombs and steroetypical isolations!

Shooting Again in the US!!!

A gunman has killed three people inside a townhouse in Aurora, Colorado. The gunman has been shot dead by officers.

A SWAT team was called after gunshots were heard at the home around 3am local time, Police Sgt. Cassidee Carlson told KUSA-TV. 

The man was barricaded inside the house for six hours. Officers was said to have tried to negotiate with the man using a bullhorn. Several homes in the area were evacuated.

The Game of Love

 

Before becoming uncontrollably wild, most ladies or women were innocent, natural and amateurish till some men walked into their lives. With hellish sweet tongues, the flame was pulped out. The squirk was demystified for a convenient adventure... at least, everyone cossets love. Then, off the men went after the semens have been activated in the scenic hole. Men refused to apply the stoplock but women are later blamed. Is it a crime that they were initially innocent?

Global Economy

Global economy has seen different ups and downs. The major economies are really going through hard times but the most surprising is the relative unexpected survival and growth of lesser economies. Barclay's economist, Nigel Chalk says the Brics nations - Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will witness 'relatively weak' economy while growth is expected in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Foreign Policy in Africa

MAGIC IN FOREIGN POLICY

Every sane country existing on the globe fails not to marry its foreign policy and domestic policy. There is an overlap in foreign policy and domestic policy. There is a strong bond and connexion between the two policies. The interconnectedness is such that one can be problematic for another if not properly articulated and coordinated. Foreign policy is domestic policy extended. Domestic policy is foreign policy localised. The two add up to give nations unique bearings. The most common error in Africa is the neglect of foreign policy over the years. It has made her nothing but a puppet in both the domestic scene and international arena.

Foreign foreign according Charles Adenrele Alade is a coordinated strategy with which institutionally designated decision makers seek to manipulate the international environment in order to achieve certain national objectives. Foreign policy is an international translation of domestic. Siamese twins. The long neglect of these two conjoined children in Africa has continued to make the continent a beggar of ideas.

The US from inception weaves her international rapport with all countries around the promotion of democracy. Though she has many waiver especially during the Cold War and among countries who support Israel. In all these cases, she has cause(s) to back autocrats. Despite this, she continues to emphasize on democratic exportation as her foreign policy objective. From isolationism to internationalism and now interventionism, foreign policy is a constant in all her elections and domestic analysis. Russia is no exception. She transcends from Communism International (Comintern) to Communism in one nation and sphere of influence during the Soviet days. In all her elections, her rapport with the West is a recurrence which usually indicates what her foreign policy will look like. How about China? The principle of pure economic contacts with no political pressure underlays her international commitment and she never jettisons such.

Major and lesser powers like India, Japan, South Korea, Venezuela, Brasil, Canada, Singapore, Thailand among others all have domestic ideologies which they import to the foreign scene. The hidden treasure in foreign policy is that it gives domestic policy a plausible direction. If a nation really stands for a particular ideology on the foreign scene, hardly will she neglect the domestic path to greatness and viability. The lack of coherent foreign policies by African states is the bane of their clumsy and floppy domestic policies. They simply have almost nothing worth standing for and defending. Foreign policy comes with a kind of R2P (Responsibility to Protect). Foreign policy comes with commitment and integrity. With foreign policy, a country knows what and when to act in situations affecting it and not just follow others in a gullible fashion. African nations have been gullible followers.

The founding fathers of Africa all had foreign policy acts as part of their daily domestic policy analysis. The need to relate with the outside world and prove that the states they led are not proteges to anybody or nation. This was dominant and crucial to them, hence, foreign policy was a constant. Through their domestic policies, the club in which they belong on the foreign scene can easily be known especially during the Cold War. Julius Nyerere's Ujamaa in Tanzania reinforced the socialist ideology of Africa as well as Kwame Nkrumah's African Socialism. The organisation of their contries then was in line with the professed ideologies. They chose friends and foes on the basis of this. Jomo Kenyatta's Kenya was more of an African Socialist state too. Gamel Abdel Nasser led Egypt as an Arab Giant. The foreign policy of Egypt as at then was to be the foremost Islamic and Arab voice. A model for the Middle East. Ironically, Egypt lost track. Kemal Attarturk of Turkey took Turkey through the tumultous road and sojourn with a secular domestic policy which gave and continues to give Turkey a direction in foreign policy.

Foreign policy protects domestic policy. It is of note that foreign policy gives life to domestic policy. The case of Turkey proves how foreign policy serves as the custodian of a coherent domestic policy. Each time Turkey takes a step against secularism, she is being reminded by many on the foreign scene of her international clout as a model for the Arab World. The focused foreign policy led her to NATO. This is so because foreign policy ensures a nation chooses priorities and aligns with those nations who can make her achieve her aspirations. Most African nations chose non-alignment immediately after independence and this served as the platform with which they relate with the world. Foreign policy is a prism. Nigeria in her early years stood on the platform of Africa as the centre-piece of her foreign policy, hence everything that concerned Africa was her exclusive interest. As inconsistent as she was in implementing this, she at least had a focus. It was only Murtala Mohammed that gave life to the policy.

Today, African states are almost no longer holding any force on the foreign scene because they are directionless. Both the West and East manipulate and controls the continent at will. They give Africa crumbs and use one country against another as well as leaders against their people. The African continent has become so brittle and extremely powerless. Africa is the only continent that has not planned her way out of the Cold war. The lack of foreign policy posture by African states is the major rationale why Africa became the hotbed of war in the Post-Cold war era. Africa simply did not get herself. Conformity seems to be the only watchword Africa knows. If China is the wave today, Africa will follow. If it is Brasil tomorrow, Africa will yield to her demands. If it is Iran that comes later, Africa is always ready to put her hands at the back and trail.

Africa is the only continent where foreign troops dock with little or no regard for possible rejections. Other nations come to Africa when they feel like without anyone talking. In fact, there will not be any debate as to the consequences of any nefarious action taken in Africa by other nations across the atlantic. From Congo to Somalia, to Ivory Coast down to Libya and back to Congo, Africa has always been the playground of Western nations. The lack of foreign policy makes African countries the only countries on the globe that rush to respect international law. This is in no way a campaign for international anarchy but a clarion call for African nations to be weary of laws that entrench the principle of 'might is right'. Africa is the continent that cannot separate the designs of Western countries in making her succumb to their whims and caprices from acts of real of international obligations. Africa must marry foreign policy with domestic aspirations if truly she wants to be relevant on the globe.

Africa: Disease and Resistance

One wonders why drugs are taken and the sickness assumes a superficial dimension of attack rather than subside. Many bacteria have become 'supermen' in the infection game. They have developed powerful resistance to drugs used against them. Tuberculosis has, especially, grown resistance to both orthodox and traditional antibiotics in Africa. Good news has emerged. A new study from Japan and Switzerland has discovered the powerbase of the resistance. Read more

Football Pride

                  
   Balotelli and Mancini                      Mikel and Mourinho

These two are same in early acts. On coming to Stamford Bridge, Mikel Obi had numerous issues with his coach Jose mourinho. He was always raising up his shoulders to the extent that his dad told his coach to whip him. Now, Mario Balotelli is doing exactly the same. While Mourinho was very understanding and capable, Roberto Mancini is rash and harsh.

Pride let Mikel down. He was a favourite after the under 20 World Cup in 2005 to the extent that FIFA President, Josef Seph Blatter remarked that he would one day be great. Blatter never said so to Messi but humility brought Messi to limelight. Balotelli is an adopted child. After his birth, he was taken by an Italian named Mario who gave him the name.

On the main fact, Balotelli should, if not for humility, remember her but everywhere he goes now, he is always having scandals. He impregnated a lady but refused to accept and take responsibility. Scandal. A child who was taken out of orphanage home ought to be humble. He needs to learn from Mikel who has realised his foolery and has become as calm as the sleeping sea.

Aftermath of the Gun Shootings

         
 Sandy Hook and Theatre 16

The two shootings that shook the United States are being gradually forgotten but with mixed feelings. While the pupils of Sandy Hook are very happy going back to school, some of their parents are in doubt. The children waved goodbye to parents amid smiles. On the other handle of the court, Americans  especially the relations of the victims of the Theatre 16 shooting are outraged upon the theatre's re-opening. Many felt it is just too early.

Minister's Press Statement

Friday, January 4, 2013

N60 billion to be spent on cellphones for farmers not true - Minister of Agriculture

                              Press statement from the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina

My attention has been drawn to the issue of 60 Billion Naira to be spent on phones for farmers, reported in some media sites and papers. The information is absolutely incorrect. My Permanent Secretary was totally misquoted out of context. There is no 60 Billion Naira for phones anywhere. As a responsible Minister, who takes public accountability and probity very seriously, there is absolutely no way in the world that I will even contemplate or approve such an expenditure. All our focus as Government is on creating jobs in Nigeria, not exporting jobs elsewhere.

Let me clarify and explain our policy.
Reaching farmers through phones:
The policy the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is promoting is to get mobile phones to farmers, as part of its agricultural transformation agenda, to connect farmers to information, expand their access to markets, improve their access to savings and loans, and help them adapt to climate change dynamics that affect them and their livelihoods. We are also rapidly modernizing agriculture, and have moved away from agriculture as a development program to agriculture as a business, so we must modernize and use new tools to reach our farmers.

The Power of information:
Agriculture today is more knowledge-intensive and we will modernize the sector, and get younger (graduate) entrepreneurs into the sector, and we will arm them with modern information systems. Whether small, medium or large farmers they all need information and communication systems. Connecting to supermarkets and international markets require that farmers know and meet stringent consumer-driven grades and standards. In today’s supply chains, the flow of information from buyers to farmers must be instant, to meet rapidly changing demands. Unless farmers have information at their finger tips, they will lose out on market opportunities.
Our goal is to empower every farmer. No farmer will be left behind. We will reach them in their local languages and use mobile phones to trigger an information revolution which will drive an agricultural revolution.

Why cell phones?
Nigeria has 110 million cellphones, the largest in Africa. But there is a huge divide: the bulk of the phones are in urban areas. The rural areas are heavily excluded. For agriculture, which employs 70% of the population, that means the farmers are excluded and marginalized. In today’s world, the most powerful tool is a mobile phone. As Minister of Agriculture, I want the entire rural space of Nigeria, and farmers, to be included, not excluded, from advantages of mobile phone revolution.

Below are some of them:
Access to inputs:
First, the mobile phones will be used to scale up the access of farmers to improved seeds and fertilizers to millions of farmers, directly. The federal government succeeded in 2012 in getting seeds and fertilizers to farmers, via the Growth Enhancement Support (GES), which used mobile phones to reach farmers with subsidized inputs. The system ended 40 years of corruption on fertilizers and cut off rent seekers and middlemen who – for decades – have entrenched massive corruption of the fertilizer sector. Government succeeded. The GES system reached over 1.2 million farmers in 120 days in 2012.

We succeeded because we used mobile phones to reach farmers directly and cut off the middle men and those who have cheated farmers for decades. We empowered the poor farmers, with many getting subsidized seeds and fertilizers from government for the first time ever. We brought transparency into what was perhaps the most corrupt system in Nigeria. We ended fertilizer corruption of four decades, in 90 days, because of mobile phone tools we deployed.

Revolutionary tool:
This is a revolution. Nigeria is the first country in Africa to develop such a system. The system has garnered international acclaim. Other African countries now want to learn from Nigeria. Major donors, including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, DFID of the UK Government, USAID, World Bank, IFAD and the Africa Development Bank, want to scale up the GES system to other countries.

How we will operate:
From 2013, government intends to distribute 10 million phones, so we can reach more millions of farmers with the GES scheme for subsidized inputs. We expect to reach at least 5 million farmers in 2013 with GES for access to subsidized inputs. So, farmers who get mobile phones will be registered and we will use their biometric information to reach them with electronic vouchers for seeds and fertilizers.

Second, mobile phones will allow farmers to have financial inclusion, as financial institutions such as commercial banks and microfinance banks will be able to reach them with affordable savings and loans products. The phones will make the financial inclusion of the CBN in rural areas possible.
Third, the phones will make market price information available to farmers nationwide. Farmers lose a lot in marketing their produce. Middle men make all the profits. Farmers end up selling their products at very poor prices. This is because farmers do not have access to market price information. There is asymmetry of market price information. For many farmers their only sources of market price information are the middlemen. Mobile phones will allow us to get market price information to farmers, improve market access and empower farmers. This will allow farmers to have countervailing power in the market place.

Fourth, we will use mobile phones to provide extension information to farmers, as part of our total overhaul of the extension system in the country. With a “Farmer Help Line” it will be possible to connect extension workers, colleges of agriculture, faculties of agriculture, and other experts to provide free extension services to farmers by interactive voice mail. This will include when to plant, what to plant, agronomic practices etc. At the dial of a number, the wealth of knowlege of experts will be connected to the farmers, anywhere they are in Nigeria – free of charge. Such a “Farmer Help Line” system is already in use in Kenya by poor farmers, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Fifth, the phones will allow the dissemination of real time weather information to farmers. It will be possible to alert farmers on drought or floods and reduce vulnerabilities to shocks. In case of the floods we witnessed last year, simple alerts over mobile phones would have saved many lives and helped farmers to know what to do.

Finally, the expanded number of phones in rural areas will support the expansion of rural telephony. Presently, the rural areas are not being served well by mobile operators, and are marginalized. With the expansion of mobile phones to millions of farmers, mobile phone operators will expand the number of base stations they have in rural areas. This will reduce the digital and communications exclusion of rural areas, where agriculture is the main source of income and jobs. The cost of calls in rural areas will also decline.

How will this be financed?
The distribution of the phones will be supported through an MoU signed between the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Communications Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the Ministry of Women Affairs. Out of the 10 million phones, 5 million will go to women. The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), which supports expansion of mobile operators into rural areas, through a tax, will support this initiative, in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. We intend to work with existing mobile operators in Nigeria through a public-private partnership.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

Skyfall

James Bond, code-name 007's newest movie 'Skyfall' is all time unique, hitting a $1billion mark. The movie also has the second highest records of mistakes in 2012. Mistakes like 007 falling inside a pool of water and coming out without being drenched. The movie is preparing to be set in China. This will boost its mark also.

Uniting Korea

Jong Tae Se, the North Korean-born football guru has decided to move to South Korea. He is to join Suwon Bluewings from Germany's Koln. He is the Fourth North Korean to make sure move. They all have the same motive; a message to Pyongyang that they need unity but at whose authority? North or South?

Kogi Again!!!

 
           The speaker, Rt.Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal at a plenary session

Kogi State speaker, Rt. Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal was involved in a fatal auto crash. The speaker had the crash while travelling along Okene-Lokoja road. One of the policemen attached to the speaker's convoy, a constable, Akeem Lamidi driving a Toyota died on the scene.

A truck ran into the convoy of the speaker. The event occured on New Year Day just a week after the Governor of the State, Idris Wada had a colossal auto crash too. Now, the rich also cry. Maybe and still under maybe, they will fix the roads.

Environment Matters Not

In the race to make profits and more profits, the West has lost all respect for the environment and humanity at large. Africa continues to bear the larger of the brunt. The aftermath of their disrespect for the environment affects the continent greatly yet Africa learns not. Africa in her characteristic gullible manner follows all policies meant to satisfy the developed nations alone hook, line and sinker. Environmentalists world-over are against fracking but Africa is accepting it with the usual open arms that will destroy her land again.

This obnoxious oil exploration style is being accepted by the heionous African leaders and myopic policy makers. The West has effective and effervescent crisis management methods. How many African countries can deal with Fukushima? None. Not even South Africa can boast of the fastracked emergency, environmental and technological response. Will Nigeria get out of Sandy within two weeks? They know they are destroying the environment and are working tirelessly to reduce the aftermath in their countries while African leaders continue to jettison citizens' lives. Read more