Statement by Binance Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Tigran’s Deteriorating Condition after 6 Months of Unjust Detention

 

PRESS RELEASE

Statement by Binance Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Tigran’s Deteriorating Condition after 6 Months of Unjust Detention

Despite his conditions, the Nigerian government has refused adequate medical care, including basic needs such as providing access to a wheelchair

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 29, 2024/ -- We are now at the six month mark of Tigran’s unjust detention. Tigran’s physical and mental conditions have deteriorated rapidly with his situation being more dire than ever. He is in severe pain and unable to walk due to a herniated disc. Despite his conditions, the Nigerian government has refused adequate medical care, including basic needs such as providing access to a wheelchair. Furthermore, they are refusing to provide access to his legal counsel, despite a trial commencing on 2 September, which we have been informed is unconstitutional in Nigeria. A court has demanded the government release Tigran’s medical records but after several months, they have still not complied. This week Tigran was denied access to his US consulate representative. These actions are inexplicable. I am deeply concerned about the long-term, potentially irreversible physical and mental impact this horrific episode is having on Tigran and I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had. Baseless Allegations Should Not be Used to Continue to Hold Tigran A reason that the Nigerian government has used for continuing to hold Tigran is because “(Binance) is operating virtually. The only thing we have to hold on to is this defendant (https://apo-opa.co/3yW0d1Q).”  This statement is far from the truth. There is no need to imprison an innocent employee to answer for any allegations against Binance. We have settled issues in countries around the world, including the US, Thailand, and most recently in Brazil (https://apo-opa.co/3MnjsEm) and India (https://apo-opa.co/3Xm3z7v), in a reasonable, collaborative and amicable manner with governments. All these were done without threat or harm inflicted to any of our employees. This is no good reason to hold an innocent employee to advance the discussion of outstanding issues. Another claim made by the Nigerian government was that Binance was responsible for its currency decline. To everyone paying attention, this is not backed up by facts. Between 2021 and the end of 2022, the Naira traded between a relatively narrow range of USD1: 380 to USD1: 440.  We have been offering P2P services as a value-added service for our users wishing to get exposure to crypto during that period of time. The end of the Naira’s currency peg by the Government in June 2023 caused the biggest fall in Naira’s history according to experts (https://apo-opa.co/4dY7P2y). It went from USD1: 460 in June 2023 to USD1: 900 by the end of 2023. The downward trend continued since. The Naira traded at a recent low of USD1: 1,660 on 31 July 2024, representing a 50% decline from the start of 2024. This downward trend continued despite Binance ceasing to offer P2P services in the country in February 2024. As economists have more elegantly explained, the movement of a country’s currency is attributable to various macroeconomic factors (https://apo-opa.co/3Mnk11h).  It is useful to point out that Nigeria has never been a big market for Binance. The Government has said that we made USD$26bn in revenue from Nigeria in 2023. That is not the case. The $21.6bn figure is the total transaction volume from 2023. To provide an understanding of transaction volume: if a person were to take $1000 and trade it 1000 times, that would represent $1m in transaction volume. Our actual revenue is based on charging a small percentage of transaction fee and we are proud to offer our users some of the lowest transaction fees of any exchange globally. Call to Action Tigran is a proud American who should not be subject to such unjust treatment. It is my sincere hope that the American government and political apparatus can exert its political will and muscle to bring Tigran home soon, so that he can get the adequate treatment and be reunited with his family and loved ones. The US administration and legislators have the power to designate Tigran as one of its “unlawfully detained” citizens overseas and there are substantial reasons to do so. Global citizens should add their voices and concerns, convincing the Nigerian government such unilateral action without strong basis will be detrimental to the long term economic development and well-being of a country. Key stakeholders in the government of Nigeria made the decision to unfairly and unlawfully detain Tigran and they can just as easily make the fair decision to allow Tigran, a former US federal agent, to go home. We appeal on humanitarian grounds to all decision makers in Nigeria to allow Tigran safe passage home to his wife and two young children. Once these issues are resolved, we hope to work with the Nigerian government to support development of the Web3 industry, create more opportunities for its young, talented workforce, and support the effort to attract more foreign direct investment. Further Reading From Richard Teng, Binance CEO: Tigran Gambaryan is Innocent and Must Be Released (https://apo-opa.co/4dZhiGU) Statement Regarding Tigran Gambaryan (https://apo-opa.co/3ABPp9p) Noah Perlman: Building a Culture of Compliance at Binance (https://apo-opa.co/4cNCSND) Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance. SOURCE Binance

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New Original Artworks and NFTs for Sale By Ekenyerengozi Michael China

End Bad Government Protests in Nigeria

The new month of August started with widespread #EndBadGovernance protests in different states in Nigeria.  Banks and other companies were shut and public transport services were suspended in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos, the commercial capital of the most populous country in Africa. Riots were reported in several locations in spite of the presence of both police and military patrols on the major roads and streets to prevent lawlessness and violence.

The majority of people are lamenting the economic challenges of survival caused by the administrative failures of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his oath of office on May 29, 2023. 

NIGERIA: The Problem and the Solution

 

Do you know that Nigerians in Nigeria have not known ten years of peace since the independence of the country from the colonial rule of the British Empire on October 1, 1960?

The political history of Nigeria is full of contradictions of modern democracy and governance caused by the recurrent incidents of the abuse of political power by the majority of the citizens since 1960 to date 

From the parliamentary government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria truncated by the military coups of 1966 that precipitated the country into a catastrophic internecine civil war between the military regime of Nigeria led by General Yakubu Gowon and the secessionist republic of Biafra led by  Lieutenant colonel Chukwuemeka Odinegwu Ojukwu from 1967 - 1970. 

The details of the cause and consequences of the coups and civil war are common facts of the political history of Nigeria.

The civilization administration from 1979 to 1983 was truncated by military coup and counter-coup by young military officers and another coup terminated the next attempt of another civilian administration after the ill-fated 1993 presidential election of which the election of winner, Chief M. K. O. Abiola was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda and provoked the widespread violent June 12 crisis.

Read the details on Nigerians Report Online: June 12 and The Mandate of MKO Abiola

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2017/06/june-12-and-mandate-of-mko-abiola.html

The Problem

The maladministration of the Nigerian government is caused by corruption that is caused by greediness, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, administrative incompetence, rebellion and stupidity of both the political ruling class along with their beneficiaries and majority of the citizens who have no principles of accountability, dignity, integrity and nobility in the Nigerian society.

Read

Nigerians Report Online: The Cause of the Widespread Violence Destroying Thousands of People in Nigeria

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-cause-of-widespread-violence.html

We have seen the gradual destruction of the foundation of Nigeria by corruption for decades by kleptomaniacs in the corridors of power; from every local government to every state government and the federal government and partners in crime in the private sector.

We have seen the decadence of governance from the street to the Office of the President.

The legislators who are the so-called lawmakers are also the lawbreakers of Nigeria. Corrupt and incompetent public office holders without accountability and integrity in public office are plundering the government in gross misappropriations of allocations of revenues. These political title chasers are not nation builders, because they are political opportunists and political jobbers who are not patriots.

The Solution

Read 

Nigerians Report Online: Nigeria Does Not Need Any Sovereign National Conference

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2012/04/nigeria-does-not-need-any-sovereign.html

There is no need for any political election in Nigeria, but a political revolution for the eradication of corruption from the local government to the Office of the President.

We must destroy corruption in order to begin the national orientation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

By

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chma,

Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", 'The Prophet Lied"and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

ORAH is the Opening Film of the 12th Annual Africa International Film Festival in Nigeria

Announcing the Opening Film: ORAH Opens AFRIFF 2023🎥

AFRIFF to open 12th Edition with Lonzo Nzekwe’s Powerful Crime Thriller ORAH  in keeping with the Festival’s Theme on “Indigenous 2.0 Global

October 26, 2023

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has announced its 12th edition, happening from the 5th to the 11th of 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria. In keeping with the festival's tradition, AFRIFF’s Founder and Festival Director, Chioma Ude, has announced the film ORAH as its opening night movie, a bold step to drive home its theme for the 2023 edition of Indigenous 2.0 Global before the participating Nigerian and international movie enthusiasts who will grace the festival’s annual opening gala night.

ORAH is written and directed by acclaimed Nigerian/Canadian filmmaker Lonzo Nzekwe (Anchor Baby). Produced by Nzekwe, Floyd Kane (Diggstown), and Amos Adetuyi (The Boathouse), the film was shot in Canada and the Federal Republic of Nigeria in late 2022. Speaking in anticipation of the Festival,  Chioma Ude said,

“Filmmaking is evolving rapidly in Africa, with Nigeria at the forefront of the renaissance, and this year’s edition is designed to continue to reiterate the opportunities for African films and storytelling to reflect ‘global’ perspectives for the sustained success of more local films globally. We intend to continue to empower our storytellers to explore ideologies and techniques that connect with a larger global audience. ORAH is positioned as the open-night movie to drive this expectation.” 

A character-driven crime thriller, Orah showcases the story of a female taxi driver in Toronto embarking on a revenge tour to avenge the death of her son, who is brutally murdered by a high-profile Nigerian criminal in a drug trafficking operation. Starring Oyin Oladejo as Orah Madukaku (Star Trek: Discovery), additional cast members include Lucky Onyekachi Ejim (Kim’s Convenience) as Bami Hazar; Agape Mngomezulu as Tariq Hazar (The Parker Andersons); Morgan Bedard (Hard Rock Medical) as Eli Pope; Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama (Titans) as Lace; Oris Erhuero (We Were Once) as Agent Garuba; O.C. Ukeje (Brotherhood) as Agent Uche Odi; Femi Lawson (Because We Are) as Jimoh Sholola; and Christopher Seivright (Take Note) as Vincent Bailey.

Developed over the course of 11 years, director and screenwriter Lonzo Nzekwe was “very grateful to finally begin shooting with the talented cast and crew assembled and honoured to be able to shoot part of the film in Nigeria, which plays such a key role,” he shared during principal photography. In Nzekwe’s words, I set out to create a tragically gripping and gratifying crime thriller with a gritty look that gives the audience a visceral, authentic experience of the life of our hero and her journey to avenge the death of her son. The exceptional talent of the actors cast in each role truly brings the story to life.

Not only does the script offer a strong and smart female role model in the lead role, but the supporting characters are well-rounded with traits of real, everyday people drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds and walks of life. I hope that ORAH’s themes of justice versus revenge, redemption, freedom, corruption, and family separation will have a lasting impact on its viewers and inspire them in a positive way. As a Nigerian-born Canadian filmmaker, I felt I was uniquely qualified to tell this story of an illegal immigrant who was smuggled into Canada and sold into sex trafficking at age 15 by her uncle.

The film was shot in and around Sudbury, Ontario, in the fall of 2022, with additional principal photography taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, in December 2022. With cinematography for ORAH by Ricardo Diaz (Subjects of Desire), production design by Mark Kowalsky (Frat Pack), costume design by Chantel Bedward (Stupid For You), editing by Marc Roussel (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities), and music by Felipe Téllez (Tomorrow).

ORAH is produced by Circle Blue Entertainment and Freddie Films in association with IronFlix Inc., with the participation of Telefilm Canada, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), and ONCreates Film Fund. Level Film is the Canadian distributor.

Signed

Latasha Ngwube

Director PR & Media

for AFRIFF 2023

ABOUT AFRIFF

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an international film showcase in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos. It presents a complete immersion into the world of filmmaking with participation from all over Africa and the Diaspora. Founded in 2010 by Ms Chioma Ude, an ardent film lover and entrepreneur, the festival is positioned to be the biggest annual appointment for African filmmakers in the region, celebrating the best African films and stories.

Our programming is themed around African films, filmmakers and African cinematic impulses making the rounds in the international film circuit in categories such as feature, shorts, student shorts, documentary and animation.

Letter To Nollywood

I received good replies from intelligent and wise people who read the firrst important and timely letter I wrote to NOLLYWOOD. The following is an updated version of it 

As written in 

◄ Proverbs 11:14 ►

"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."

The wisdom of the world is nothing to the Wisdom of God.

It is important to accept wise counsel.

I have updated this message, because a big insurance company told me last week that when the company wanted to support Nollywood, the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) of over a decade ago and the leadership of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) antagonized each other and refused to cooperate on the program. So, the company left and never wanted to support Nollywood again.

When I recommended that AMP should be changed to the appropriate Producers Guild of Nigeria (PGN), it is for the best interests of the Nigerian film industry. 

Intrigues and shenanigans are childish and foolish in professional bodies.

Unprofessional practices have actually caused the untimely demise of several actors and producers in Nollywood without any insurance policy.

The good news is: I have attracted another multinational company in the entertainment industry and I have already recommended a thorough seasoned professional in Nollywood to them. Because, she is above aboard; a woman of substance; a woman of dignity, integrity and nobility of over 40 years professional experience in the Nigerian film industry; from the cradle of Nollywood, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where I also started my career and was paying my monthly tax from the age of 17, when I was earning N400 monthly for four years before going on to work for the John Hopkins University''s Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) at 21 as a public health illustrator and later as a translator (through which I paid, the Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo to do translation of English into Igbo for the family planning methods booklets fully illustrated by me for the whole Nigeria. I met him at the Radio Nigeria office in Ikoyi, Lagos).

Finally, from a dialogue in my "Once Upon a Time in Nollywood":

Even if you are driving a stolen car in Nollywood since 2010 to date, do your best to drive it well and maintain it, so that people will not even know the truth. I will even enjoy the jolly ride with you and your passengers 😀.  

PS: 

For those who are good enough for the production of documentary films, funding is available for you.

I don't know if anyone applied for the Sundance Documentary Fund I mentioned before the closing date. If you did not apply, you can apply for the 2024 round closing in April.

https://apply.sundance.org/res/p/2023dfpfaq

The Sundance Institute was funded by the MacArthur Foundation.

If you have a film festival with a film institute or foundation, you can apply for the establishment.

We need a Nollywood Museum for the Nigerian film industry from the making of the first feature, "Palaver" of 1926 to date.

See details on The MacArthur Foundation grants.

100&Change, our competition for a single $100 million grant, is open to any proposed solution to any critical problem of our time. Nonprofit and qualifying for-profit organizations may apply. The competition cycle repeats every three years.

https://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/

PS:

Please, don't apply for funds to misappropriate the money to enrich yourselves. If you do so, I will also report the misappropriations of the funds which I have done before as a national Program Consultant for the UNICEF in Nigeria for NGOs.

We cannot point accusing fingers at the government for corruption when we are not innocent of corruption. 

Corruption is corruption; from the closet to the Office of the President; from the bedroom to the boardroom.

I have seen greedy filmmakers in Nollywood who misappropriated hundreds of thousands to millions of naira given to them for film and TV productions. And the funders have been disappointed and discouraged from supporting Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,.

The  Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013. Distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Ban "Barbie" in Nigeria - Ahmed Muktari

Barbie: How Did An American Cult Movie Promoting Homosexuality Get Approval For Theatrical Release in Nigeria By The National Film and Video Censors Board?

- Ahmed Muktari

In Lebanon, Mohammad Mortada, the Minister of Culture has convinced the Lebanese government to ban the film "Barbie" from cinemas on Wednesday, saying it "promotes homosexuality" and contradicts religious values.

"Barbie" has been banned in 

Kuwait to protect "public ethics and social traditions", the state news agency reported. Other anti-gay countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa are most likely going to do so.

The National Film and Video Censors' Board (NFVCB) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have questions to answer for the release of "Barbie" in Nigeria.

Homosexuality carries a 10-year jail term in Nigeria.

The act of aiding and abetting anyone in homosexuality is also a crime like aiding and abetting anyone in robbery and other crimes.

Did the NFVCB watch the film before approval or they have compromised their official duties and responsibilities to censor movies violating the ethics and laws of the constitutional policy of the agency and the laws of Nigeria?

OUR POLICY – NFVCB | National Film And Video Censors Board:

The detail of the Guidelines is contained in the following pages. But it is right to set out here the general underlying grounds on which the Board exercises the broad discretion conferred on it. There are four main considerations:

is the film or video work in conflict with the law?

that adults should be free to choose their entertainment, within the law.

is the film or video classified for a particular age group likely to be harmful?

is the material, at the age group concerned, clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion?

https://www.nfvcb.gov.ng/our-policy/

The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which banned gay relationships and entrenched intolerance of sexual minorities in Nigerian society, was signed by Goodluck Jonathan, then president, in January 2014.

Nigeria is a country of almost equal populations of Christians and Muslims who are against homosexuality condemned by both religions of Christianity and Islam. And the minority of traditionalists also condemn homosexuality as demonic and against the native customs and traditions of the tribes in Nigeria.

We must not permit the corruption of our society and the violations of our laws by Western import of homosexuality.

- Ahmed Muktari,

Lagos,Nigeria.

PS:

"Barbie' is a 2023 American fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay she wrote with her partner Noah Baumbach. Based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, it is the first live-action Barbie film after numerous computer-animated films and specials. 

It is currently the highest grossing movie so far in 2023.

The views of the author of the article are not the opinions of Nigerians Report Online.

Rejoinders will be published.

Why Corruption Cannot Stop in Nigeria

Majority of Nigerians don't mind if their government is corrupt as long the President, governors and other public officials share the loot.
They call it You Chop, I Chop.

That is why corruption cannot stop in Nigeria.

Incorruptible people are the most endangered species in Nigeria.

Read my book, "In the House of Dogs" to see how corruption became the popular lifestyle of majority of Nigerians.

It is distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Peter Obi and the Rulers of Nigeria

Dear Peter Obi,

When you joined the former national ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), you were politically initiated into the cult of political Mafia of the rulers of Nigeria since 1970. They wanted you to become the Vice President to President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,GCON, another Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme; GCON (21 October 1932 – 19 November 2017) the Vice President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Second Nigerian Republic serving under President Shehu Shagari as a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). But when you left the PDP to join the Labour Party (LP) , you altered their political master plan.

They will never allow an Igbo man to be President of Nigeria.

President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be sworn in as the new democratically elected President of Nigeria.

Nigeria is ruled by political corruption. So, the presidential election was just political camouflage. 

The political ignorance and stupidity of majority of Igbos is the fact that they don't realize that the Hausas, Yorubas and allied tribes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not ready to let anyone of those who wanted to separate from the sovereignty become the President of Nigeria.

Majority of the suppprters of Peter Obi are Igbos who are also supporting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) fighting for the restoration of Biafra.

The political cabal of northern Nigeria will not hand over the reins of power to an Igbo political leader to become the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.  That can be dangerous for the national security of the federation, because majority of the Igbos in the military can now be fully equipped to take over the country. They will now achieve their dream of Biafra.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOKS

The Political Hysteria of the 2023 Elections in Nigeria

The Political Hysteria of the 2023 Elections in Nigeria

The 2023 elections in Nigeria are becoming great stuff for historical epics on the political history of Nigeria; with the  good, the bad and ugly scenarios of human frailties and depravities.

Nigeria is what Nigerian are.

Majority of them are as dirty as their dirty politics of tribal bigotry, religious buffoonery and Machiavellian demagoguery.  

No Nigerian politician is a saint.

No Nigerian politician is incorruptible.

Everyone of them is either corrupt or a beneficiary of political corruption.

The 2011 elections were the worst in electoral malpractices and violence since 1999 to date.

The 2015 elections were also bad and bloody with "Rivers of Blood" in Rivers State.

I included the live reports sent to me by SMS in my book, "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Eyewitness Account of the 2015 Presidential Election" printed in Raleigh, NC, USA and distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.

#NigeriaDecides2023

#presidentialelection

#gubernatorialelection

#Nigerianelections

#2023elections

#corruption

#politics

#history

#Nigeria

#Nigerians

#book

#Amazon

#Rivers

Ban Immoral Songs and Music Videos on TV in Nigeria

I am a well known person in the creative industry, especially in Nollywood and I am also into music production with my first single produced in Hollywood when I was 21 and a copy is in the Library of Congress in Washington DC  My second single was produced in Lagos, Nigeria and gave me an hour interview on the BBC Radio in 2003. But I never released the singles.

I am working on three singles that I will release on my music label.

My father played violin and my elder sister danced for the enigmatic Fela Kuti and his band in the 1970s.  And I wanted to be a rock musician, but my father discouraged me.

I love music and I am a good singer and dancer. But I don't like pornographic songs and music videos which majority of Nigerian Afrobeats and Hip Hop singers are addicted to and they are corrupting our impressionable and vulnerable innocent young children who have been caught indulging in sexual activities. 

They are doing the immoral things in the immoral music videos of Burna Boy, Asake, Wizkid, Davido and Uncle Don Jazzy who use girls and young women as sex objects showing them half naked in simulations of sex orgies. 

Only stupid girls will allow themselves to be used as sex objects.

It is idiotic for women to be half naked and dancing for men who are wearing clothes.

It is even baffling that Uncle Don Jazzy who is the owner of Mavin Records and should promote good behavior is using his music platform to promote artistes singing psychedelic songs in pornographic music videos.

There are widespread cases of rape and sexscapades by teenage boys and girls in secondary schools and many are posting and sharing sex tapes on the internet.

Millions of them are now on hard drugs for sex orgies with thousands of cases of unwanted pregnancies.

If we fail to stop these immoral songs and music videos, they will completely destroy the moral values of our society.

They should be banned, because they promote self-destructive behavior among the majority of the youths.

Peter Obi: Facts Don't Lie

Peter Obi: The Acclaimed "Messiah" Without The Credentials - Politics - Nigeria

- By TonyeBarcanista

Since the commencement of the 2023 electioneering season, the term 'Obidient' is a slogan that has dominated the media airwaves, especially on social media. Subscribers to the Obidient slogans are Nigerians that are advocates of Chief Peter Gregory Obi the presidential candidate of Labour Party. Majority of his supporters are driven by rare display of patriotism coupled with the popular yearning for political change in Nigeria, a handful of his advocates have taken to the extreme of portraying him as an infallible mortal that is at par or a little lower than a sacred deity. To this set of people, it is abominable to criticise, question or express displeasure in Obi's credentials or candidacy.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State who until May 23, 2022 was a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party and Presidential hopeful on the Party's platform, is portrayed by his promoters as the long-awaited messiah to deliver the country from the calamity brought upon the country by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration. He is marketed as one with a "frugal" personality in terms of spending (perhaps a miser) who will not allow waste of public resources as President, and will ensure that Nigeria has enough in its reserves like Anambra had under Obi's administration as governor of the state like he (Obi) claimed - though this claim is disputed by his successor, Chief Willie Obiano - but that is a discussion fot another day. Aside his supposed frugality, Obi is portrayed as an incorruptible public officer that has never engaged in financial misconduct while in office. We'll see how true this claim is!

While I agree with the Obi promoters that Nigeria needs a new political leadership that will rescue the country from its current woes and entrench a working system for sustained improvement of the lives of Nigeria citizens, I disagree with them on the choice of Obi as the ideal pilot to lead Nigeria to greatness. Here is an individual that relies in his personal abilities for leadership. Obi has not made mention of any team that he assembled to work with whether while as governor of Anambra state. Even as the candidate of Labour Party, he has no known campaign team (structure) aside Chief Doyin Okupe. Whenever he speaks, he is always about self. The implication here is that as President he will the typical 'Mister Know-it-all' leader, which will be counterproductive to the expectations of Nigerians. But that is not my biggest concern about Obi.

While most citizens are demanding for devolution of power to the grassroot through restructuring of the Nigeria political system, Obi does not come across as a political leader that believe in power devolution. His record as Anambra State governor shows a man that does not believe in the third tier of government; which is supposed to be the closest to the grassroot. While the Constitution of Nigeria empowers State Governments through their State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to conduct council elections for this tier of government, Obi who became Anambra State governor in March 2006, wilfully elected to run the local government through appointees under the nomenclature of Caretaker Committee in flangrance disobedience to the Constitution. Obi's refusal to conduct council elections drew the anger of stakeholders within and outside Anambra state, including the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that he was not just a member but the Vice Chairman. The NGF in its report on Peer Review Mechanism that was released on March 18, 2013 (Obi 7th year in office) decried the action of Obi as undemocratic. Mr. Afeikhema Jerome, who was the National Coordinator of the State Peer Review Mechanism NGF, went further to appeal to Anambra Government under Obi “to urgently set the machinery in motion and conduct credible local government elections”.

(please find Premium Times report on the story here: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/127070-ngf-scolds-anambra-ekiti-16-others-over-non-conduct-of-council-polls.html).

inspite the scolding by NGF, Obi still refused to conduct Council election. He waited until 2 months to the expiration of his tenure (ten months after release of NGF report) to eventually conduct it. Specifically, the election was conducted on 11 January, 2014. In other words, Anambra State had no functional governments at the local government level for 7 years and 10 months out of the 8 years of Obi's reign. Many believed that the council election was hurriedly conducted by Obi so as to get necessary structures on ground to mobilize for votes for Chief Willie Obiano, his anointed candidate for the 2014 gubernatorial election of the State.

(See PT publication on NGF report: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/127070-ngf-scolds-anambra-ekiti-16-others-over-non-conduct-of-council-polls.html). 

If Obi as Governor stifled the local government system in his state, what magic will he bequeath Nigeria as a whole with respect to power devolution?

Nigeria is plagued with insecurity, terrorism, banditory and insurgency that citizens cannot live their lives freely due to fear of the men of the underworld. The country is in dire need of a leader that will change the tide; but is Obi competent enough to handle such burden? Let's see how he handled similar issue in Anambra State.

As Governor, Obi faced the Biafra agitators under the banner of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and led by Mr. Ralph Uwazuruike. Obi's solution to address the MASSOB agitation was a declaration of an undemocratic "Shoot-at-sight" order on MASSOB members. The order, which which drew condemnation by many, was issued in June 2006 (3 months into his government), and also extended to members of NARD and "other hoodlums" in the State. As a consequence of the order, security forces combed Onitsha, Nnewi, Oba, Ihiala and environs and were alleged to have shot, killed, and maimed anyone suspected to be member of MASSOB. On 20th January 2013, residents woke up to discover over 40 floating corpses in Ezu River located in Amansea, Awka, Anambra State. Following the discovery, MASSOB through its spokesman, Mr Uchenna Madu (now factional leader of MASSOB), released a statement on 10 February 2013, identified the corpses as that of its members that were arrested by DSS and handed over to Police on November 9, 2012 but disappeared afterwards. He identified some of the bodies as; Basil Ogbu, Michael Ogwa, Sunday Omogo, Philip Nwankpa, Eze Ndubisi, Ebuka Eze, Obinna Ofor, Joseph Udoh and Uchechukwu Ejiofor. Excerpt of the statement reads;

“MASSOB with deep sense of grief and sorrow wishes to inform Mr. Ban Ki Moon (UN Secretary General), President Goodluck Jonathan, US President Barack Obama, United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and Amnesty International about the gruesome murder of MASSOB members by the Special Anti Robbery Squared SARS, of Nigeria Police Force, Awkuzu Anambra State. Some of our disguised members and family relations of the detained members were denied access to them. Efforts by our counsel to secure their bail from the police were futile. Our demands for their arraignment before a competent court of law were frustrated by SARS officers. We got information from an insider at SARS headquarters, Awkuzu that armless MASSOB members detained at SARS were secretly killed alongside other robbery suspects. Our lawyers, who confidently waited for their arraignment in January 2013 did not believe that such barbaric, primitive and wicked act could happen because, according to them, a comprehensive police reform on Human Rights was being carried out by the new Inspector General of Police.”

(Ref YNaija: https://ynaija.com/bodies-floating-in-river-are-our-members-secretly-killed-by-security-agents-massob-graphic-image/)

Mr. Uchenna Madu again in November 2013 indicted Governor Peter Obi as being responsible for the killing of MASSOB members through his "Shoot-on-sight" order and even vowed to arrest him afer his gubernatorial tenure. In his own words: “We hold Peter Obi responsible for the killings. This reminds us about the 2006 shoot-on-sight order by Governor Peter Obi who massacred about 2,000 MASSOB members. We shall arrest him and pay him back in his own coin in our own way immediately he steps down as the governor because his recent action of killing MASSOB members will heavily affect APGA chances of winning this election.” Madu spoke on November 14, 2013 while reacting to killing of MASSOB members by security forces the previous day.

(ref: https://www.cknnigeria.com/2013/11/we-ll-arrest-peter-obi-after-leaving.html?m=1)

On April 12, 2014, Mazi Chris Mocha, the Deputy Publicity Secretary of MASSOB released a statement on behalf of Uwazuruike fingering Obi alongside Chief Achike Udenwa (former Imo state governor 1999-2007) and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of ordering killings of MASSOB members extrajudicially. An excerpt of the statement reads; “Mr. Peter Obi and former Imo State governor, Dr. Achike Udenwa, had ordered the killing of MASSOB members between 2003 and 2006 and would be tried in court in due course. Obi had on May 11, 2006 under the Presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo deployed over 200 federal troops most of who were of Hausa and Fulani tribes to Onitsha and issued a shoot-at-sight order to them. Thousands of our members were killed, including a pregnant woman and 65 others still missing,”

Read the complete report on Nairaland

https://www.nairaland.com/7261280/peter-obi-acclaimed-messiah-without

The Facts Peter Obi is Hiding from Ignorant Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for the 2023 general elections has secrets he is hiding from Nigerians and others in the world.

#PeterObi

#Peter

#Obi

#Labourparty

#Nigeria

#Nigerians

#elections

#presidentialelections

#2023

Nigeria in the Vicious Circle of Anomie

"Great nations have not been built by building houses and skyscrapers, but by building lives and leaders."

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "In the House Dogs" and other books.

When you do a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria and degradation of the government by corruption, you will see the genesis of the Nigerian crisis and the consequences which are now the worst fears and nightmares of widespread intellectual ignorance and violence.
It is unfortunate that while the educational institutions are collapsing, the federal government is celebrating pyramids of bags of rice and state governors are celebrating building flyovers while the drainage systems have collapsed.
The local governments cannot even clean up their streets with nauseating filthy environment of dirty inhabitants.

There cannot be good governance in the state of Intellectual ignorance and incompetence.
There is an epidemic of gullibility, irrationality and stupidity in every sphere of the dog eat dog Nigerian society.

The terrible predicament of intellectual ignorance is that the ignorant don't realize their ignorance. Living in denial of the truth is a common lifestyle among them. It is an oddity to be honest and straight.
The youths and elders are equally living in conceit and deceit.
Fathers and mothers have become pimps of their daughters.
The religious leaders are partners in crime of the rogue politicians and their rogue contractors in the private sector.

The country is full whited sepulchres
of rotten people with empty lives. And they don't even realize that they are empty in the vicious circle of their anomie.

-  By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "In the House Dogs" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.

Where Dogs Eat Dogs

Dog eat dog in capitalism.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

#Dogs
#capitalism
#society
#NIgeria
#success #art #communication #network #university #amazon #africa #writing #military #corruption #publichealth #television

I had early success becoming a
well paid professional TV scriptwriter at 18, the youngest in Africa writing for the weekly puppet drama on Channel 10 of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the largest TV network on the continent: a public health illustrator for the John's Hopkins University's Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) at 21; Art/Features Editor for the Kiddies World magazine at 24 and a national program consultant for the UNICEF in Nigeria at 25.

I was fully informed on both the legitimate and illegitimate businesses in Corporate Nigeria during the military administrations in Nigeria. But since the transition to civilian administrations from 1999 to date, I have seen that Nigeria has gone to the dogs caused by the insecurities of Machiavellian politicians and their beneficiaries without any dignity, integrity and nobility. The worst humans in any society are those without conscience and without shame. Their dog eat dog attitudes    made me to write "In the House of Dogs" distributed by Amazon.

The widespread corrupt practices and all forms violence destroying lives in Nigeria have been caused by the insecurities of majority of Nigerians. Insecurities manifest in various forms of human behaviours: from emotional insecurities to intellectual insecurities which can be seen in the irrationality and stupidity of majority of Nigerians.
Lack of intellectual comprehension can destroy a nation.

Re: What Has Atiku Achieved? - Prof Akin Omoz-Oarhe

 A DAMNING WRITE-UP ON ATIKU

�� A County Ruled By Semi-illiterates Over The Years. As Permutations For 2023 Continues_

Still on Atiku Abubakar !!!

Prof Akin Omoz-Oarhe writes:

A fair comment.

1. He is far more educated than PMB. I do not mean possession of college certificate but having a broader outlook of life. So he would certainly have been less nepotistic and would not have inflicted this level of disunity on us.

2. But he was NOT a nice guy OBJ made us to know that. He was a crook from his mothers womb:

�Just imagine in those days when forgery was alien to us into the 1960s, he 'wangled' his way into Police College without the requisite WAEC qualifications. Certificate checks found him out. He failed Mathematics and was sacked.

�He went for training as a Sanitary Inspector. He became one but stole a litre of 'Izal' and got sacked.

�"Somehow he became a Tax Collector. It was found that with appropriate gratification, he halved the taxes due some people. He got kicked out.

�No record that he ever repeated his WAEC but he got a place in ABU to study for a Diploma in Sharia Law.

�Recruitment Agents wanted some people in the Custom. They found that he was once a Tax Collector and was a student in Police College. Good combination. He got the Custom job. He rose fast.

�One day, while on duty heading a Unit, a beautiful Yoruba girl, Atinuke, had crossed Seme Border to Republic of Benin (then Dahomey) and smuggled in some 'ankara' materials. On her return she was caught by the Customs and dragged to their boss Atiku. WAO! Atiku loved what he saw. He decided to give the law a human face. He asked his boys what the Customs charges would have been if not smuggled. They computered it and gave him the figure. He paid on her behalf and 3 months later married her as his first wife. Two of a type.

�Atiku continued to rise in the Customs. He moved to a Unit where it was their duty to open all containers that were imported into Nigeria as to ascertain what were inside and charged appropriately. It was lucrative. He made friends and money. How? He would open a container and find a car inside that could attract some millions of naira. He would declare that the container contained panadol, that attracted no duty. The owner would share the gain with Atiku. One of the beneficiary was an Italian. They became good friends via partnership in crime.

�Atiku soon recommended that the job in the Unit was beyond the staffing and that there was need for conducting firm to be engaged to carry out that duty on behalf of the government. The government accepted the recommendation. Very quickly, Atiku and his Italian friend set up Intel. Yes the famous Intel.

�Soon Atiku thievery became too much and the Government of IBB decided to sack him. Someone pleaded on his behalf. IBB gave him the option to retire. That's why Atiku got out of Custom as an Assistant Contoller of Custom.

�He got into politics. We know the rest of how he became the Vice President to OBJ.

�His problem with OBJ was because he had already engaged a marabout who tells him what political moves to make. In spite of having won the governorship of Adamawa, the marabout told him he would not rule as a governor. Something bigger was coming which he must take because that would lead him to be President of Nigeria. Soon OBJ offered him the position of Presidential running mate in the 1999 Presidential election. The marabout had already told him to accept the position. So he jettisoned the governorship position and ran with OBJ and won.

�His trouble with OBJ started because the marabout told him that he would from that position become a President. He did not care to ask when. So immediately he became the Vice President, he guessed that OBJ would do one term. So he immediately started working on replacing OBJ in 2003. OBJ got to know all about the marabout and then swore that Atiku would never get there.

�Lest we forget, once Atiku became the VP, in 2001, changed Intel contract to 20 years.

�Atiku was a devout muslim. The Muslim has a right to have up to 4 wives if the means is there. It was for Atiku. In those years as he struggled to be a state governor of Adamawa State, it became expedient to expand his connection. So he married the daughter of the Emir of Adamawa as his third wife. Then later a 4th.

�As a Vice President, Atiku met an Igbo lady in NTA who came to interview him. He liked the girl because she was sharp.

� Atiku expanded his business to the US. He was now collecting money from businessmen promising to open business opportunities for them in Nigeria. He needed someone to handle the US front. He remembered her Igbo TV friend. He pulled her out of the NTA and sent her to handle his US business.

�The two did so much together and were later both banned from entering the US.

�Atiku continued his struggle to be President. He already had one Yoruba wife and 3 Northern wives. He needed Igbo votes too so as to tell Nigerians that he is total Nigerian. He needed an Igbo wife for this. But he already had 4 wives. So he sacked the second wife to create a space for the Onitsha girl!!!

�1971, he secretly married Titilayo Albert, in Lagos, because her family was initially opposed to the union. His children from her include: Fatima, Adamu, Halima and Aminu.

�In 1979, he married Ladi Yakubu as his second wife. He has six children with Ladi: Abba, Atiku, Zainab, Ummi-Hauwa, Maryam and Rukaiyatu.

�In 1983, he married his third wife, Princess Rukaiyatu, daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Aliyu Mustafa.

�Abubakar later divorced Ladi, allowing him to marry a fourth wife Jennifer Iwenjiora Douglas.

However it was Ladi the second wife he divorced not Rukayatu

Atiku has 5 wives and 26 children!!!

My Take: Nigeria is being ruled by bunch of criminals! I have always said it that none of the people that have ruled Nigeria democratically, should have been the Head of State/President if education and knowledge of the job, (like the case of civilized countries) was a prerequisite. Just imagine the CV of Atiku. A con man par excellence!!! This country has gone to the dogs for too long, and she needs a surgical operation.

*******

Thinking Nigeria, But...

God Does Not Author Confusion.

A 14 year-old cannot be admitted into university to study, but a 13 year-old can be married.

A school certificate holder cannot become a director in the civil service, but a school certificate holder can become President and commander-in-chief of the entire country.

The country is among the major oil producing countries in the world, but it imports the fuel it consume.

The country has the highest number of foreign doctors in the UK and America, but its leaders travel abroad for their medical needs.

The country shoots armless protesters, but hold peace parleys *with bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists *.

The country rehabilitates terrorists, but their victims languish in refugee camps.

God did not create any country. He located human beings in different territories and gave them all empowerments to survive.

Whatever they turn out to be is entirely their choices and decisions.

UAE and Qatar are deserts converted to paradise.

Nigeria is paradise converted to hell.

Nigeria is epitome of confusion, and God is not the author of confusion.

Yet, we can right the wrong. It's our difficult but surmountable task. Yes, We Can...

Corruption in Nollywood?

Corruption in Nollywood?
From the Distribution To the Exhibition of NIgerian Movies in Cinemas

When one #Nollywood movie has more screens than other Nollywood #movies, it becomes the highest grossing movie; not on merit, but on favouritism by the film distributors and exhibitors with more cinemas in Nigeria.

Some of the best new movies by NIgerian filmmakers released in 2022 have been relegated with less than 40 cinemas whereas the movies or teleplays  by the filmmakers with bottom power or long legs in Nollywood have been given over 51 cinemas to become highest grossing NIgerian movies since 2016 to date. 

Is this how it works?

Did the filmmakers given more screens pay for them by rental or what?

The manipulation of the box office in NIgeria is another form corruption in the film industry that is not different from the endemic political corruption caused by the maladministration of the NIgerian government by the corrupt and incompetent public officials and their partners in crime; the contractors in the private sector.

When topocracy overrides meritocracy, mediocrity becomes the order of the day.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.

Who is Qualified To Be the Next President of NIgeria?

Who is Qualified To Be the Next President of NIgeria?

I have more than 30 years experience in working for the presidential campaigns of top presidential aspirants in the political ruling class of NIgeria.
I was a special aide in the Publicity Department of the Presidential Campaign of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, CON for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990-1992. He later became the President of the Africa Business Roundtable in 2012 and was National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.
I was one of the brains behind the social media campaign of the Transform NIgeria Network for former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR in 2014.

I have done a comprehensive political evaluation of all the potential presidential aspirants for the 2023 presidential election, and the only presidential aspirant who can tackle the widespread insecurity in NIgeria is former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON.

Only a fearless strong Commander-in- Chief can command the Nigerian Armed Forces to guarantee the national security of NIgerians.
Boko Haram and ISWAP are on rampage in the country, because President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to be a competent Commander-in-Chief and he is overwhelmed by the failures of the NIgerian military to defeat the bandits and terrorists who have killed over 300, 000 people with over 2, 000, 000 people left homeless and abandoned in the IDPs' camps in the worst humanitarian crisis since the first NIgerian civil war of 1967-1970.

The other presidential aspirants don't have the political pragmatism of visionary leadership and competence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was the Vice President of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for eight years and they subdued every threat of terrorism and secured the lives and properties of NIgerians in every state of the federation.

I don't have to mention the shortcomings of the other presidential aspirants, because they are not capable of the political leadership of NIgeria in such a critical period of political crisis and national insecurity. They are too weak to be a powerful Commander-in-Chief.

Rigging gubernatorial elections to become state governors and turning the Treasury of the State to your ATM machine does not make you a competent presidential candidate when you should actually be in jail for corruption without any plea bargain.
What we need is a powerful Commander-in-Chief and not a wonderful thief of public funds from the revenues of your state.

President Buhari is Not As Competent and Efficient As Former President Obasanjo

Chief Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ , GCFR remains the best and greatest Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces of all the Heads of State in the history of Nigeria. Nigerians were safer under his military administration from 1976-1979 and under his civilian administration from 1999-2007. The failures of his successors in national security have been caused by administrative incompetence and political corruption since 2007 to date.

As the former Presidents Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan failed in the national security of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has also failed woefully in national security.

Do you know that hundreds of thousands of the millions of Hausa Fulani people in Nigeria are from Mali and the Republic of Niger and not bona fide citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The most dangerous reality is, majority of them have access to arms that majority of Nigerians don't have. And President Buhari has failed to disarm them.
The military can disarm them within 100 days and end the widespread violent attacks by their  fellow Hausa Fulani bandits, terrorists and unknown gunmen. The so called gunmen killing people can be called "Unknown Soldiers" whose identities are well known by the Nigerian military and security intelligence agencies.

Former President Ọbásanjọ́ was not a saint, but he was a very competent and efficient President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces .President Buhari has failed to prove that he is a competent and efficient Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. And unfortunately, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo does not have the calibre of a leader of political pragmatism for the fearless political leadership of Nigeria to secure the future of Nigerians in the most populous country in Africa.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima, author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied" and other books. The new book, "The Political Phenomenon of President Muhammadu Buhari" will be released on Amazon.

Nigeria: An African Nation Ruled and Ruined by Corruption

#Nigeria

#abbakyari
#hushpuppi
#nigerians
#corruption
#Zamfara
#Bandits
#terrorists
#extortionists
#extortion
#bribe
#bribery
#Terrorism
#moneyheist
#moneylaundering
#cbn
#centralbank
#gold
#goldstocks
#goldprice
#goldmine

Nigeria is an African nation ruled and ruined by corruption.
Nigerian government is corrupt, because majority of Nigerians are corrupt. They don't have conscience and they don't have shame as I documented in my book, "In the House of Dogs" published by Amazon .  Dogs eat dogs in Nigeria without apologies and without regrets. 

We cannot quantify the magnitude of the collateral damage that corruption has done to the commonwealth of Nigeria from the colonial government before the political independence of the country on October 1, 1960 to post colonial or neocolonial administrations under the camouflage of the pseudo democratic civilian rule and military rule of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the 2020s. 

Political corruption is the most critical reason why Nigerians have never seen ten years of peace in the country since 1950 to date. 

There has never been any free and fair election in Nigeria. What we have in Nigeria is not #democracy , but political idiocy. So, the case of the indicted senior police officer, Abba Kyari , the poster boy of the Nigerian police is not shocking to me.
The only public official who is not corrupt in Nigeria is the one who has not been caught. 

From the local government to the Office of the President, elections have been rigged since the 1950s to date.

How can anyone expect democracy and good governance in a country ruled by corrupt and incompetent politicians who engaged in electoral malpractices to win elections into public office? 

Can you make an omelette from rotten eggs?

What do you expect from lawmakers who have been lawbreakers during their political campaigns and elections?

There will always be disorder where corrupt and incompetent political leaders are in power.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi