Can Freedom be free?

Can freedom be free, if yes what do you think can bring freedom to your door step. If not, what can we do to ensure freedom, peace and unity within ourselves?

Power and justice in negotiations

We can be in peace not only in our country but also with ourselves... We can bring to bear what it takes to be in one accord with our neighbours. "It is a win win situation". It is a price we can and have to pay... Let's make our country great and loveable, buy doing whatsoever it takes to be in unity with one another....

The bible say’s Make every effort to live in peace with all men Hebrews 12:14 , do your best to be at peace with all men. Nevertheless, I would advise you make use of negotiations when you meet with what seems to be a difficult situation. It is understandable and advisable to note that many see peace to be foolishness. But still you need to understand and discerned the intention and perception of a man before you take the next step..

“Negotiation” does not mean that the two sides sit down together on a basis of equality and talk through and resolve the differences that produced the conflict between them. Two facts must be remembered. First, in negotiations it is not the relative justice of the conflicting views and objectives that determines the content of a negotiated agreement. Second, the content of a negotiated agreement is largely determined by the power capacity of each side.

Several difficult questions must be considered. What can each side do at a later date to gain its objectives if the other side fails to come to an agreement at the negotiating table? What can each side do after an agreement is reached if the other side breaks its word and uses its available forces to seize its objectives despite the agreement?
A settlement is not reached in negotiations through an assessment of the rights and wrongs of the issues at stake. While those may be much discussed, the real results in negotiations come from an assessment of the absolute and relative power situations of the contending groups.

If an agreement comes, it is more likely the result of each side estimating how the power capacities of the two sides compare, and then calculating how an open struggle might end. Attention must also be given to what each side is willing to give up in order to reach agreement. In successful negotiations there is compromise, a splitting of differences. Each side gets part of what it wants and gives up part of its objectives.
Not everyone who uses the word “peace” wants peace with freedom and justice.
Hitler often called for peace, by which he meant submission to his will. A dictators’ peace is often no more than the peace of the prison or of the grave.

Strategy is concerned with whether, when, and how to fight, as well as how to achieve maximum effectiveness in struggling for certain ends. A strategy has been compared to the artist’s concept, while a strategic plan is the architect’s blueprint.

The oft quoted phrase “Freedom is not free” is true. No outside force is coming to give oppressed people the freedom they so much want and desire. People will have to learn how to take that freedom themselves.
If people can grasp what is required for their own liberation, they can chart courses of action which, can eventually bring them their freedom. Then, with diligence they can construct a new order and prepare for a better tomorrow.

I would like to conclude with the statement that was made recently by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ... “Nobody will help Africa, nobody can help Africa and that is the truth. If we expect others from outside to come and help us, it is a second class help.

God Bless Nigeria !!!

Please leave your comment!!

20-Yr-Old Nigerian Girl Who Bagged A Combined Masters Degree From Oxford

A Nigerian girl, Anne-Marie Imafidon, 20, has joined the league of youngest students to receive a Combined Masters Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the prestigious Oxford University.
Imafidon, an indigene of Edo State, bagged the Degree from Keble College.

“Education is such an important part of young people’s lives and I want to get the message out there to the youth that learning is such a vital element in their growth. I also want them to understand that mathematics is essentially a game of numbers,’’ she said in an interview with NAN in London.

“I’m proud of myself. I’m glad that this has been the result of years of hard work,” she added.
Also speaking to Barking and Dagenham Post, a UK publication, the young scholar put the formula for her success down to three main factors. “It’s my motivation, I have a supportive family and I worked out what I’m good at,” she said.

Anne Marie, who lives in the Docklands with her family,a first noticed her love for numbers at the age of eight. She recalled, “I had a maths teacher who was very encouraging. And it was quite obvious that I liked maths and maths liked me.”

She is also a mentor for VLP Excellence in Education – a programme in Thames Road, Barking that helps children from deprived areas in London with education and motivation. In addition, she gives free study guidance to students via her family website www.imafidon.com.



On her plans for the future, she said, “I’m continuing to work with the Excellence in Education programme and I would like to still be doing my mentoring and motivate children from Inner London and from similar backgrounds as mine. It’s very rewarding.”

She is considering an academic career as well as deeper involvement in educational work with young people. “Professionally, I want to be at the top of my game with whatever comes my way,” Anne said.
Setting up an IT consultancy company is also on the cards for her.

Also speaking to NAN, Anne’s father, Mr. Chris Imafidon, said he was proud of his daughter adding that, “Every child can achieve a similar feat if given the enabling tools and environment.”

Anne is the sibling of the twins, Peter and Paula Imafidon, who set a new world record in mathematics and the Schools Admission Examination in the UK in 2009.
Dubbed the “Wonder Twins’’, the Imafidons broke records when they passed A/AS–level mathematics papers at the age of seven.


How Anne-Marie Became A World Record Breaker

At 10, she passed two high school diploma exams (GCSEs in Mathematics and Information Technology)

At 11 she became the youngest person ever to pass College (Advanced) level Computing

At 12, she received an Oxford scholarship after a programme at Jesus College and Hertford College of the University of Oxford, England

At 13, she won a UK government scholarship to study Mathematics at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA

At 14, she received offers from leading UK universities to start a Masters course in Computational Mathematics

At 15, she received an offer from the University of Oxford, Oxford, England

At 16, she received job offers from world leading financial institutions (from Wall Street, New York, USA and City of London, England) and blue chip companies

At 17, she received an offer to be consultant to leading banks, educational institutions and governments

Leave your comment:

DEEP HEART FELT REACTION to Dr Peter Odili's Book Serial titled..."Conscience and History – My Story"

According to Vangaurd publication on February 4TH 2013, as redard's Dr. Peter Odili's Book..
This is what i see as a DEEP HEART FELT REACTION by some Nigerians through their comments in response to Dr Peter Odili's Book Serial titled..."Conscience and History – My Story", Which of course, he gave a detailed analysis on how he was denied the presidency and the conspiracies that followed...

Below are the comments;

papred06 •
This is makes very interesting reading. It shows that, while Ribadu was serious about eradicating corruption, he misused some of his powers.


Nostory papred06 •
Do you believe what he wrote in his book?


omoluabideji Nostory •
Yes, I do. If you know how these people were operating in the villa then, you will have no reason to doubt what Gov. Odili went through. The governor is a fine and kind hearted man even before he became a governor. This is a man (Dr.) who will treat you first and you tell him you don't have money, he won't bother you. If Obasanjo is fighting you, it takes the grace of GOD to be delivered.


Fazona •
Peter Odili, the most crooked, corrupt and callous thief in the annals of Nigerian history, especially in Rivers State. A poor, wretched and struggling physician who was picked up by Marshal Harry and made Governor of Rivers State is today singing a song of holiness, competence and performance. An ingrate who bit the fingers that fed him.

Marshall Harry is rolling in his graves for his grave error. He paid the ultimate price for his monumental stupidity in making Odili the Governor for the sake of ethnic diversity.

Ken Sarowiwa did not wait too long for Abacha to join him in the netherworld to settle their scores. Marshall Harry is waiting his turn to settle his scores.

The cries of the young men in the creeks of Rivers State whose lives were snuffed out early because of Peter Odili will not go unanswered. The tears of the mothers of these young men who perished for no reason, are being heard in the high Heavens. Nothing is lost in the Akashik Records.

"The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred in their bones".......Shakespeare. We always reap what we sow.

OBJ himself is a corrupt crook but the best thing he did for Nigeria was to never allow a more corrupt, more crooked and more thieving individual in the guise of Odili to ever go near the Presidency of Nigeria. Odili would not only have stolen the commonwealth money but the bank itself.

Only a crook knows his fellow crook. Revising history can never hide the truth. For no matter how long it takes, the truth always shines into the open.

What a shame that only in Nigeria can Crooks, Thieves and Vagabonds walk freely and even rewrite history in vainglorious terms, that suit their egos. You can rewrite history but you can never rewrite the truth.

Marshall Harry is waiting for his pound of flesh in the netherworld. For life never dies. We only discard our physical paraphernalia and move into another world or dimension, but we always pay the price for our actions, if not here, there. It is the Law. Inviolable Cosmic Law.

OpenJusticeOrg Fazona •
Peter Odili was once the deputy governor of rivers state. So how was he wretched, "picked up...and made Governor for the sake of ethnic diversity by one person? Was he no longer elected? Calling someone a crook and making unsubstantiated and probably libellous allegations may be an unhelpful way of stating your case.

Fazona OpenJusticeOrg • a day ago
OpenJusticeOrg, Marshall Harry Picked up Odili from his poverty and Wretchedness and placed him in a position to be what he is today, a very rich man. Nigerian Politicians, especially Governors become filthy rich in office.

Now, Marshall Harry is half Igbo and after the horrendous experience during the Biafra war, he wanted to reconcile the Ijaws and the Igbos so that the former East and Midwest could move forward in the treacherous Nigeria under OBJ.

Marshall Harry was the chairman of the SS PDP and hence, he did not feel comfortable that the Governor of Rivers State should also come from the Riverine area. Hence, his choosing Odili instead of the candidate from the Creeks.

Marshall Harry regretted this decision later because Odili had a different agenda from Marshall Harry's ---- unifying the peoples of Rivers State, and later the SS and SE. Both of them had a fallout and Marshall Harry also had a fallout with OBJ because of how OBJ was marginalizing the Niger Delta.

OBJ made Yar 'Adua President and Jonathan vice President. OBJ also ensured that Odili never smelt the Vice Presidency. One man, OBJ has had more impact on Nigeria than any other person. Hence, one man can be powerful enough to select a Politician and put him in office. This is Nigeria.

Marshall Harry is dead. He was murdered violently for political expedience and there is still no culprit for his murder, just like Bola Ige.

I grew up with Marshall Harry and I met him last in 1995. He wanted to unify the Igbos and Ijaws so that they can have a common front to face the rest of Nigeria. He died because of the selfish ambitions of others.

There was no scintilla of development in Rivers State under Peter Odili despite the billions of dollars in the coffers of Rivers State during his Administration. There is still no development in Rivers State today despite the noise Amaechi himself is making?

So, where did all the billions of dollars go when there was no development in Rivers State during Odili's Administration and there is still no development today?

All we hear about is Greater Port Harcourt, the phantom Dubai. 419 Dubai. Port Harcourt is just one town and seaport out of many towns and seaports in Rivers State. Even Port Harcourt is still undeveloped, not to talk of the rest of Rivers State. So, where are the billions of dollars that accrued to Rivers State?

Nigeria is just a country of crooks, thieves and vagabonds including Peter Odili. The British Prime Minister asked Jonathan's Government what happened to the $100 billion oil and gas revenue for Nigeria in 2012. There is no answer and there will be no answer.

If you know Peter Odili, tell him to keep a low profile and stop making noise so as not to bring back memories because a lot of Rivers Indigenes, especially in the Riverine communities are still mad as hell with him, and some would like to get their pound of flesh.

If you doubt this, tell him to visit the creeks in the Riverine areas of Rivers State.

I now give closure to this and I sincerely hope that Odili is not that foolish to rewrite history with the intent of coming back into Politics.

For we always reap what we sow.

OpenJusticeOrg Fazona •
Thanks for your explanation. I was aware of the Marshall Harry story and I once actually read a newspaper interview where Marshal Harry stated that he installed Odili as governor but was only rewarded with mere N8million street lighting contract given to his daughter. That was years ago. He did not strike me in that interview as having a higher principle than all the other thieves and vagabonds.

I don't know Odili as such but I know enough of the story to be able to contest your assertion that he "picked up Odili from his poverty and wretchedness... .."

With respect to Ibo-Ijaw reconciliation,
that was a noble goal but one that is unnecessary and ultimately pointless. Ibos have already survived over 4 decades Nigerian neo-fascist policies including seizure of their homes, bank accounts etc. During that period, over US$500 billion of oil money was taken from the former eastern Nigeria to western and northern Nigeria and even abroad with Ijaw acquiescence.

Right now, ALL the oil well/blocks in the Niger-delta have been shared by Northerners and Yorubas like Danjuma, Bayero, Obasanjo, Alakija, Babangida, Dangote, Abacha etc. with Ijaw acquiescence and Ibos are still breathing.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing to be gained by any such belated reconciliation. All what is needed now is for all nations to go their separate ways in the manner of the mantra: to your tents oh Israel.
Thank you my friend.

Fazona OpenJusticeOrg •
I knew quite a bit about Peter Odili when he was just a struggling Physician. I knew Marshall Harry from childhood. Odili was a very poor man when Marshall Harry gave him the opportunity, which he exploited for his personal benefit, while decimating the lives of young men in the Riverine areas of Rivers State.

OpenJusticeorg says,

"During that period, over US$500 billion of oil money was taken from the former eastern Nigeria to western and northern Nigeria and even abroad with Ijaw acquiescence.

Right now, ALL the oil well/blocks in the Niger-delta have been shared by Northerners and Yorubas like Danjuma, Bayero, Obasanjo, Alakija, Babangida, Dangote, Abacha etc. with Ijaw acquiescence and Ibos are still breathing".
....OpenJusticeorg

Wow!! You mean the wretched Niger Deltans especially Ijaw masses, wallowing in immense squalor in the Creeks of the Niger Delta gave out their oil blocks to Western and Northern Nigerians because they love poverty. You also mean the struggling Niger Deltans, especially Ijaw masses in the Creeks, looking for food to eat to survive, gave acquiescence for Niger Delta oil/gas blocks to be appropriated by Northerners and Yorubas like Danjuma, Bayero, Obasanjo, Alakija, Babangida, Dangote, Abacha etc.

This is great news to me and I am sure to many others. I did not know that Niger Deltans, especially Ijaws were that stupid to intentionally be poor and wretched so that others can be rich. Fascinating.

So, Andy Uba who was the right hand man of OBJ did whatever he did on behalf of Igbos. So, Pius Anyim is doing the bidding of Igbos today in Nigeria. Quite interesting.

Furthermore, you think Niger Deltans especially Ijaws put Jonathan as President of Nigeria and they are happy with him? If you think so, you are totally mistaken. Niger Deltans, especially Ijaws are fuming about Jonathan and his antics.

Now, let's not bring up what happened in the former Eastern Nigeria before Biafra, during Biafra and after Biafra. They are painful memories, not of 40+ years but 60+ years, and the so-called Minorities paid a heavy price under Igbos.

Finally, Adaka Boro declared Niger Delta Republic long before Ojukwu declared Biafra Republic because of same quest for freedom from oppression. Aguiyi Ironsi condemned Adaka Boro to death, for this. We are now all back to square one.

The Amalgamation of the fraud called Nigeria ends at midnight, December 31, 2013. Let's see what happens next.

Ayekoto •
Between Odili and MKO Abiola.

* Ex-President OBJ, Nuhu Ribadu and the PDP owe Nigerians, explanation on why ex-Gov Peter Odili was stopped from vying for Nigerian Presidency in 2007.
"The evil that men do, lives after them" - Shakespeare

Every Nigerian like me, was a bit surprised, when It was announced that ex-Gov Peter Odili had withdrawn from PDP party primaries and consequently from the presidential race of 2007, considering the overwhelming supports that welcomed his presidential campaigns, almost everywhere, he went, both in the core-North and core-South of Nigeria.

There was no doubt that with the overwhelming supports his candidacy was received prior the PDP party primaries, he, Peter Odili was not going to win, both the PDP Presidential primaries and goes further to win, the presidency. But for evils that most Nigerians are made and known of, they did all they could to stop Peter Odili in achieving his dream, and consequently in becoming the president of Nigeria.

Stopping Odili presidency is 'Nigerian', that is, that is our typical behaviour, it is in our blood, it is our way of life, our culture, our tradition and our custom, and more precisely, our creation. It has always been a culture of jealousy, hatred and envies among others. But Peter Odili should thank his star, he must have been extremely lucky, yes, extremely lucky, as there were many, that were not such lucky, that if they had been offered such 'soft landing' option, would have accepted it, not only by voluntarily withdrawn from the race, but will even say "Thank you" with joy and pageantry, and as well, celebrate it.

Odili, should take heart, for it is well! Yes, it is well, as you are alive to tell the stories yourself, and not someone telling it, while you must have gone to the world, beyond, while somebody would be speculating and making money from it at your expense among others.
It is well, Peter Odili was here himself, to tell it all, in its original form, all, from scene to scene, and even lucky to possibly going to make some money, from his own work, book/publication, without it, been written by 2nd-hand writer, or authored as another "Tales by Moonlight" of Chinua Achebe likes, a writer/author, who reads other people's books and publications, only to sit at a corner of his two-room apartment in the US, to 'Rank-Xerox' other's people's work or writings, and later presents them, as its own work, thereby committing intellectual fraud, which is criminal under international Book/Art work piracy law.

Achebe is lucky to be living self-exile, in the US, where he had been hiding to commit series of acts of piracy, copying other people's work, which he cannot do and gets away freely, elsewhere. He had been lucky to be getting away by his acts of piracy because most of the writers or authors of books or work of arts, he pirates are either dead or not bold to confront him, or not financially strong to take him, to court. Achebe, who never participated in the Nigerian-Biafran war, out of hunger, heavy debt or avoiding bankruptcy, wittily after reading books and publications written by principal actors of the Nigerian-Biafran war such as, Late Obafemi Awolowo, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Yakubu Gowon and other participants, victims and observers of the war, only to sit at the corner of his two-room apartment in the US, to write "memoir" on a war, he never participated. Unfortunately, none of his children, who he secretly sent to acquire first class education in world best schools and universities all over the globe, could not tell their father, that piracy is criminal.

Peter Odili should celebrate his being alive to tell it all, and still goes around to meet and associates with his haters and "Pontius Pilate" ex-President OBJ, as many others, such as MKO Abiola, Funsho Williams, Dipo Dina and many others were not denied such option or "soft landing", but had their lives forcefully taken from them. Surely, if any of them, had been offered option of stepping down as Peter Odili had, they will surely have surrendered their ambitions for their lives, but the evils in man had been discovered to be greater than ones in Lucifer.

In all, our people say, "Destiny can only be delayed, but can never be changed". An adage says, "Let my enemies be alive, to see what I shall be in future".
Luckily, all the EFCC officials and those using them, are all alive today, including Nuhu Ribadu, the then EFCC Boss and his "Boys" and even the ex-President OBJ himself. They must react to all that Peter Odili wrote in his book, including his complaints and numerous accusations and allegations. This is a challenge to an open debate from Peter Odili to all mentioned and concerned. It is a public issue, on why a man, a qualified Nigerian, who is qualified to be president of Nigeria, should be denied his attempt to serve the people of Nigeria, his fatherland.

Today, this Peter Odili voluntary service that NUHU RIBADU and his EFCC "boys" denied the Nigerian people, had continued to hunt and hurt the country, as those who denied us, his service, did not provide us, with better men and women, who would have delivered Nigerians from general insecurity, hunger, bad economy, high unemployment, and lots of hopelessness. Unfortunately, they themselves are not better off, and surely they owe the people of Nigeria, an explanation.

Nuhu Ribadu must tell the Nigerian people, why he used his office and position to stop Peter Odili presidential ambition, and why he should not be held responsible for planting on the country, a man with deteriorated health condition and an inept, incompetent and grossly naive V-President, who now plunged the country into sorry state of general insecurity, high unemployment, economy ruin and hopeless future.

Time will tell...

DEM_MBA Ayekoto •
You deserve to be flogged, by using a brother's same out cry like Achebe's to speak against the Prof instead of vindicating him. Dr Odili's story here vindicates Prof Achebe's position on institutionalized wickedness and inpunitous crimes of the past especially by Chief Awolowo and Mr Obasanjo. Look stop further attack, henceforth!

Nostory Ayekoto •
We shall hear the truth when other people write their own books,

sam d •
If any Nigerian thinks Ribadu is a saint as he claim then you are just fooling yourself.

Ribadu, listen you can fool some people sometime but cant fool all the people all the time

obamajack2 sam d •
So you have exonerated Odilil of any sharp practice while in office? if it was political motivated then, why did EFCC continue harassing his govt after the emergency of Yaradua/Goodluck ticket?, why did Odili went court to stop EFCC from investigating his govt if he is a saint?. Ibori said that EFCC case against him was political motivated & Nigerian court exonerated him of any wrong doing. Today Ibori is in jail for the same crime EFCC accused him of.

disqus_GWEqQOshPP •
Every objective person in Rivers State knew how Odili dealt with the state. Looted state funds, blowing false trumpets. Odili started this whole militancy thing in the Niger Delta. Grooming and paying boys heavily to intimidate political opponents. The boys became too big to be controlled and turned against him. He knows the story about late Sobomabo. He should just live quietly if he was outsmarted by other potilicians. This is a case of evil that men do chasing them, sleepless nights. He is a master skimmer. Not surprised if he has arranged for the positive comments in this website. He wants to regain relevance by attracting pity - not possible. Anybody that lived in Rivers State know the true Odili - never to be trusted.

aaron ogunbodede •
But why would Nuhu Ribadu be attending the PDP convention whilst he was to be apolitical being civil servant as head of EFFC. Odili mentioned him as one of PDP elders.

Swissbased •
Politics in Nigeria is akin to "Mafiarism" Politicians see leadership as a business venture. Nigerian politics is too dirty, period!

Nostory •
Odili is a thief and is from the tribe (Igbo) of traitors;so he can not be trusted with post of president and the Aso rock job is not for the Ibos and they will not get the post of president at all because Yoruba and Hausa will not vote for Ibo as president of our great nation.

OpenJusticeOrg Nostory •
Behold Mr Pubic Nuisance has spoken. Nothing so
tragic than an irresponsible drunk taking himself a bit too seriously. Sad.

OpenJusticeOrg •
Odili is no more corrupt than all the buffoons who are prancing around in Nigeria today, including Obasanjo. His error was to trust Obasanjo, a two-headed snake whose duplicity cost Odili dearly. He failed to learn from the experience of Ibos in their dealing with the likes of Obasanjo and his tribe of sophisticated tricksters and he has only himself to blame.

I was once in Port Harcourt when the entire city was brought to a halt because Obasanjo was attending the wedding of Odili's daughter. Unfortunately for Odili, he taught the "if the east secedes the west will follow suit" deceit was a kind of joke and he failed to bring a long spoon the wedding dinner and to watch his back.

Obasanjo was attending the wedding of Odili's daughter, winning and dinning with Odili and his family while secretly plotting Odili' political downfall through the instrumentality of the so-called EFCC. Under Ribadu, that became a tool for political vendetta and witch-hunting.


moribund9ja •
Odili this story is tragically belated. You guys made Obasanjo a carnivour that he's today. It won't be long he'll devour Jonathan except something is urgently done to permanently disarm him.


Nostory moribund9ja •
Nothing will happen to great OBJ,he is untouchable.When OBJ helped them to become governor and president,you forget about that;let anyone of them who is bold enough try any silly thing against OBJ,that person will blame himself or herself. No load carrier can carry OLUMO rock on the head;he will continue to move around the rock endlessly.


OpenJusticeOrg Nostory •
There is actually nothing more
tragic than an irresponsible drunk and public nuisance taking himself a bit too seriously.
Sad case indeed.


Man_Enough •
Was anybody expecting the man to say he is a thief? Hear this; One of the deadliest criminals in US history was known as Two Gun Crowley. He would kill at the drop of a feather. In a letter, Crowley once said, “Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one-one that would do nobody any harm”.


Ednakemi •
At least the man has something tangible to point to Nigerians and to world as part of what he accomplished during his tenure. How many looters of his caliber can do same? After all, come to think of it, if all our billion looters were doing their best to deliver or leave something behind for Nigerians, things wouldn't be as bad as they are now in the country. Besides, I still believe that if Dr. Peter Odili were chosen as President Umaru Yar'Adua running mate, today he would have been far a better president and Nigeria would have been better for it.
The crux of the matter was that (if going by what I read in the papers during the period of their convention is true) the PDP caucus was afraid of Dr. Odili's candidacy as Vice President, as they referred to him as a person of strong character. At a time when the presence Abubakar Atiku as Vice President in OBJ Govt. was causing distraction and great dissatisfaction among the ranks and file of the Govt.


Alexander •
Odili is a thief,as usual in Nigerian all thief that has been fingered always said it is political,especially the big thieves,this Man Odili just wants to muddle the water especially for those with feeble minds, this shows that 2015 is drawing near to them thou is not to us they have been oppressing you will get to hear more of such criminals surfacing claiming innocents like Ibori did until he meet his water loo outside our shores.


Omega85 •
Me will sit down and read all this shit on a Monday morning, you're not serious Odili!


dennis Omega85 •
You just read it my dear


Emma Okah Omega85 • 2 days ago
Contradiction galore! You have read it already otherwise you would not pass a comment about it, no matter what your views are. Be bold and put your true name so that those who know can guide lazy heads on the power of reading the "shit" so that they can offer the view that is not the "shit".


BlackieUmukoro •
That is his story. Any counter story from those accused, would balance the story, and help us to form an objective opinion


Arthur Igwe BlackieUmukoro
I was indeed sad to read how Odili was unjustly denied his constitutional right to contest for the top-most job

From the aforesaid, what is your take in this.... What do you have to say....

OBJ - Speaking his mind on national issues

The mind not to shy away from controversy or say how he feels on national issues, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is one who has persistently remained a thorn in the flesh of the current administration as he has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of mismanaging the security issues engulfing the country.
Obasanjo expressed this view in an exclusive interview published in the February issue of the pan-African magazine, New African. Obasanjo also laid the blame for the deteriorating situation caused by the insurgent Boko Haram at the foot of President Jonathan.

“If the President is the chief security officer of the country and there is a security problem, where do you go for the solution? And if that solution is not coming from the chief security officer, who else inside and outside will get a solution? He has the responsibility to solve the problem, and nobody else should be blamed but him.”

In the same interview, the Ota farmer also challenged claims made by Nigerian literary giant, Chinua Achebe, regarding the country’s civil war in the 1960s. Obasanjo refuted claims that successive Nigerian administrations have marginalized the Igbo ethnic group within the country.

“Maybe he is making those remarks because he is not living in Nigeria. If he was living in Nigeria, when I was the president of this country, an Igbo lady was my Minister of Finance, and Igbo man was the Governor of the Central Bank; an Igbo man was one of the military service chiefs. The permanent representative to the UN was also an Igbo person. What more do you want? For someone to say the civil war has not ended, 40 years after its conclusion, that person is living in the past.”

Aprt from what OBJ has said, for me i fill that the greif, pain and lost of the civil war are still part of an average Igbo man's expression. That ultimately affect their response to national issues.

What do you think people, we need your comments and contributions...
And what do you think can/will remedy this challenge..

The True Meaning Of Jihad

JIHAD is a Term often misunderstood and associated with radical militants. The arabic word is wrongly misinterpretated as “Holy War”, although there is no such thing in islam. Holy war is something undertaken to forcibly subject others to certain religious doctrines, which is forbidden in Islam.

The arabic word “Jihad” means a struggle or striving and applies to any great effort on the personal and social level. It is striving to do good and remove injustice and evil from oneself and the society. This exertion of effort can be spiritual, economic, social or political. For example, one of the highest level of Jihad is to stand before a tyrant and speak a word of truth. Restraining oneself from wrongdoing is also a form of Jihad. It is a broad concept that includes opposing evil inclinations within oneself, opposing injustice through peaceful means, efforts to improve the quality of life in a society as well as the striving by military forces on a battlefield in defence of the community or oppressed people.

Jihad is not synonymus with war and it certainly does not involve terrorism. Armed Jihad is not an option for muslim individuals or groups and can only be declared by the muslim head of state. Moreover it must never be fought for wordly gain, conquest or revenge. Muslims may only engage in battle to protect people’s lives, properties and freedom.

Jihad has conditions of restraint that distinguishes it from any other kind of warfare. They can be summarised as follows.
** Muslims must not begin hostilities. They must strive for peace as much as possible.
** All treaties and agreements must be observed as long as the enemy observes them.
** Muslims must fight only those who fight against them; non-combatants are not to be harmed.
** Weapons of mass destruction must never be used and collective punishment is strictly prohibited.
** Self-defense is not considered jihad if muslims are striking back in revenge.
** Hostilities should be ended as soon as the other party is inclined to peace.
By information Nigeria...

What do you think about the aforesaid... Comment please..

Letter From A Former Slave to His Old Master

 Letter From A Former Slave to His Old Master

A

fter slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865, Colonel P.H. Anderson asked his former slave Jourdan Anderson to come back to Tennessee and work for him again. In his eloquent and ironic reply, Jourdan Anderson draws comparisons between his life as a free man and as a slave. As a free man, he receives payment for his work, is treated kindly, and his children go to school. As Colonel Anderson’s slave, he received no wages, was shot at, and his children had no education.

To my old Master, Colonel P. H. Anderson,

Big Spring, Tennessee.

SIR: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable.

Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

I want to know particularly what the good chance is, you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, 'Them colored people were slaves' down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future.

I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

From your old servant,

Jourdon Anderson

   In conclusion, I dare say, that those who have there kernel’s cracked for them should not laugh and take advantage of others who are not that fortunate. This is because things can change for the better at any time, and the then oppressed will now be the ones to dictate the pace. Like William Shakespare said;

“Some are born great; some have greatness trust upon them, why some achieve greatness….”

That’s to say greatness will surely come one day………..

   So therefore, I say to the depressed, be patience your day of greatness is closer, do not give up not now and not ever…………

The greatest good you can do for others, is not just to share to him your own riches but to reveal to him his own............. Stephen

“This is dedicated to the oppressed and dejected all over the world”

By. Idahosa Stephen


Feel free to leave your comment...

Get a button!

Governor Adams Oshiomhole VICTORY in The Supreme Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State in last year’s election, Charles Airhiavbere, yesterday lost the legal battle challenging the educational qualification of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The Supreme Court barred him from challenging the governor’s educational qualification and set aside part of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin, which ordered fresh hearing of Airhiavbere’s petition.

The appellate court had allowed Airhiavbere to include in his notice of appeal ground to challenge Oshiomhole’s educational qualification. This was against the ruling of the tribunal which ruled that the ground was not contained in Airhiavbere’s petition.

Dissatisfied, Oshiomhole through his legal team of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Ricky Tarfa (SAN), Niyi Akintola (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) approached the Supreme Court.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour who delivered the judgment declared that the trial tribunal was right in stopping Airhiavbere.

“The issue of non-qualification is not clearly before the court. It amounts to injustice for the court to look for other ground for the petitioner,” Justice Rhodes-Vivour said.

“The tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the non-qualification since it is not contained in the ground of appeal.”

The apex court however said Airhiavbere could still challenge the validity of the election in 51 units in five Local Government.

Justices Mahumd Mohammed, John Fabiyi, Mary Peter-Odili, Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Bayang Akaahs and Stanley Allagoa agreed with the judgment.

Adopting his written address, Olanipekun had told the apex court that Airhiavbere lost the opportunity to challenge Oshiomhole’s qualification because it was not contained in his ground of petition.

Since he did not specifically plead the issue, Olanipekun said the apex court should not allow Airhiavbere to ambush his client by raising the issue in his argument.

Besides, Olanipekun said there was no basis for the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

According to him, the petitioner grounded his petition on corrupt practice and non- compliance with the Electoral Act 2010, but not on Oshiomhole‘s non-qualification.

He berated the Petitioner/Respondent for asking the Tribunal to declare him as the winner of the election after claiming that the election was invalid.

He wondered why Airhiavbere wanted to benefit from an exercise he claimed was fraudulent.

Olanipekun pointed out that the Respondent is challenging results in only five of the 18 local governments.

“The petitioner makes no presence he was referring to the Electoral Act 2010. There is need for us to discourage this kind of petition: a petition that challenges five out of 18 Local Governments.”

Responding, counsel to Airhiavbere, Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, asked the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

He said that the tribunal did not say that there was no ground to sustain the allegation that Oshiomhole lacked the minimum educational qualification to run for governor.

Asked by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour to read the ground of the petition, Akpofure agreed that he lumped the ground challenging the validity of the election with that against Oshomhole’s qualification.

He, however added that the fact that non qualification was not made a separate ground was not a basis to hold that there was no ground in the pleadings to sustain the allegation that Oshiomhole was not qualified.

He urged the Supreme Court to read the whole petition as a whole.

Replying on point of law, Olanipekun urged the court to discountenance Akpofure’s argument, adding that the authorities cited by him did not help his case.

Get a button!