Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Neocolonial Stupidity and Tribal Political Hypocrisy of Those Calling for US/UK Visa Bans on MC Olumo, FFK and Others

Neocolonial Stupidity and Tribal Political Hypocrisy of Those Calling for US/UK Visa Bans on MC Olumo, FFK and Others

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/577848-us-imposes-visa-ban-on-nigerians-who-disrupted-elections.html






Neocolonial stupidity is when the natives are still the puppets of their colonial masters.

Those calling on the governments of the United States of America and United Kingdom to place visa bans on those behind political violence during the 2023 elections in Nigeria need to read "The Wretched of the Earth" by Frantz Fanon.

Have we not witnessed political violence in America and Britain?
Have we not seen electoral malpractices in these so called developed Western countries?
Are they holier than us?

Which country has placed a visa ban on the immediate past President of America, Donald Trump who actually instigated the violent mob of his supporters to attack the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021?

The majority of those asking for visa bans on their fellow citizens of Nigeria are Igbos who accused certain political stalwarts of the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) of tribal bigotry against the Igbos in Lagos State, that became the Battleground of the 2023 presidential election and gubernatorial election. But the divisive political campaigns of demagoguery of the dominant Igbo presidential candidate, Peter Obi of the opposing Labour Party (LP) who exploited the angst of majority of Igbos against the Nigerian government caused the bitterness between the Igbos and Yorubas.
He deliberately stoked the embers of hatred against the APC by his call to action on his fellow Igbos in their largest locations in Lagos State to support and vote for him to win the presidential election on February 25, 2023. 
He also used the same political tactics in religious demagoguery for his fellow "Christians" to vote against the Muslim presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Muslim running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shettima Mustapha.
His divisive political campaigns provoked the APC and as they say: there's no smoke without fire.

The Igbos provoked the Yorubas to attack them in Lagos State during the elections.

The political hypocrisy of those asking for the visa bans is that they have ignored the fact that, the worst cases of violence during the elections occurred among their fellow Igbos in their own states in the south eastern region of Nigeria. But they have not included the name of any Igbo political stalwart or terrorist on their visa bans list.

All Igbos supporting the violent separatist groups attacking and killing people in the south eastern region of Nigeria are equally guilty of political violence against democracy. And they should be banned from entering the United States of America and the United Kingdom.


Saturday, March 18, 2023

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


Sunday, February 26, 2023

The Youngest Voter in the History of Democracy Discovered in Nigeria

The youngest voter in the history of democracy discovered in Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election on February 25. The Guinness Book of Records will like to celebrate him and interview him on CNN. 



Wow! He is so cute!

#Nigeria

#Democracy
#voters
#NigeriaDecides2023
#NigeriaDecides
#presidentialelection
#elections
#Nigerianelections
#politics
#CNN
#youngest
#Guinness
#book
#worldrecord


Thursday, October 27, 2022

Lagos in Motion: The Changing Landscape of Ikoyi

Lagos in Motion: The Changing Landscape of Ikoyi

Thursday afternoon on October 27, 2022.

On Alfred Rewane Road (formerly Kingsway Road) in Ikoyi on Lagos Island, Nigeria.



Microsoft office building is the new  skyscraper in the background. 

I have to include the changing landscape of Ikoyi in the final phase of my "Lagos in Motion" documentary film I started in 2016 with more than 40 hours footage so far. The old famous Ikoyi Hotel has been turned to a residential building beside the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel. 

I passed by my Alma Mater, the famous St. Gregory's College along St. Gregory's College Road to Awolowo Road to Falomo to Glover Road and saw how Ikoyi has changed since my childhood in Obalende. I went to famous Jazz Hole on Awolowo Road and sat down to chat with my old boy, Olakunle Tejuoso, the founder to discuss arts, literature, music and politics of the coming 2023 presidential election with Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and the political momentum of his "Obidients" movement and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olakunle Tejuoso's family owns the famous Glendora Bookshops in Nigeria where the first copies of my book, "Bye, Bye Mugabe" sold out in 2008 before I withdrew it, because of 21 typographical errors and threw the remaining hundreds of copies away. Olakunle is the author of

"Lagos - A City At Work (The Glendora Lagos Project) and the beautiful and colourful photo book, "ABEOKUTA". 

"You should do a new book on Lagos," I said. 


- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Screen Naija YouTube Channel

#Lagos

#Ikoyi

#hotels

#Abeokuta

#Nigeria

#travel

#tourism

#arts

#books

#movies

#music

#jazz

#Jazzhole

#Glendora

#documentary

#photography

#politics

#history

#Tinubu

#PeterObi

#Obidients

#presidentialelection

#2023presidentialelection

#leadership

#literature

Sunday, October 9, 2022

WHAT WOULD FELA DO?

 WHAT WOULD FELA DO?

Since the greatest Nigerian musician of all time, Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti passed on in 1997, the majority of Nigerians have become ass lickers and lap dogs of the  political ruling class and no single Nigerian musician or human rights activist has the balls and guts to dare them and call a spade a spade as Fela dared and faced the consequences without apologies and without regrets.

Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti was a revolutionary musician, both an awesome sociocultural and sociopolitical phenomenon.
No other musician in Nigeria and the rest of Africa and the world has been as awesome as Fela. And it is funny how young singers of the present generation who cannot read and write music are claiming to be great.Great in what sense?


Great in winning American and European music awards that Fela never bothered to compete for?

They cannot even have a small band compared to the Afrobeat music enssemle of Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti.
See

117 Ensemble Organization of the Band of Fela Anikulapo- by A Oikelome · 2017 · 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
aka "Orikinla Osinachi".






Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The North East and South East have challenges of widespread insecurity  caused by homegrown terrorists that will prevent majority of them from voting in the presidential election in 2023.

Many of the people shouting "Obidients" don't have and will not have PVCs on the date of the presidential election.

Both Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and his followers are politically ignorant of the fact that the presidential election will be won by political expediency and not by popularity on the internet.

I have already seen several opportunists who want to exploit this popularity in various sharp practices.

Peter Obi has never won any election on self recognizance, but by the tribal hegemony of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the South East region of the Igbos.

The majority of Igbos will most likely vote for him. But outside the region, the Labour Party cannot win any state for Peter Obi even if all the Igbos in these states vote for him. Majority of non-Igbos will not vote for him. And without their votes he cannot win the presidential election.

Majority of the so called "Obidients" on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp groups and Nairaland are ignorant of horrifying communal wars going on between the Igbos and other tribes. These hostilities will favour Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the incumbent national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

The fate of Nigeria in the general elections in 2023 will be decided by existential realities and not by emotional sentiments.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Eyewitness Account of the 2015 Presidential Election", "In the House of Dogs", "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.

#Nigeria
#PeterObi
#Obidients
#Tinubu
#Atiku
#APC
#PDP
#APGA
#LabourParty
#insecurity
#terrorists
#voters
#PVC
#politics
#elections
#2023elections
#2023presidentialelection

Monday, July 11, 2022

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.









Sunday, June 26, 2022

Speaking Out on #Nollywood: Majority of Yoruba Filmmakers Are Intellectual Illiterates

Speaking Out on #Nollywood: Majority of Yoruba Filmmakers Are Intellectual Illiterates

Majority of Yoruba filmmakers are intellectual illiterates and by their movies you shall know them.
They portray Yorubas as fetish and superstitious people with low IQ.
If you watch their movies, you will be scared of having relationship with Yorubas.
They are the largest producers of Juju movies in Africa.

They seem to have forgotten that Yorubas have produced great  intellectual minds; from the greatest Nigerian polymath of modern education, Bishop Samuel Ajai-Crowther to the first black Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka. And the most outstanding founders of tech startups that are among the Unicorns in Africa are Yorubas. But I have not seen Yoruba movies about outstanding Yoruba geniuses and technocrats of Arts, Sciences and Technology who have achieved success by their education and erudition. All I have seen in over 90 percent of Yoruba movies are fetish and superstitious people using Juju rituals to get rich quick and succeed in life.
Even some of the Yoruba movies and  series showing educated Yorubas in the modern Nigerian society have glaring shortcomings in the characterization and personification of the middle class and upper class Yorubas such as in the TV series of "Hush" of the Africa Magic channels on both DStv and GOtv.
The telenovela about romantic, economic and political lives of Bem and Arinola in fashion and politics. The personality of "Bem" acted by Richard Mofe-Damijo as one of Africa’s biggest fashion designers based in Lagos failed to show any expertise and lifestyle of a guru of the fashion industry. The producers should have studied the personalities of the leading male gurus of fashion in Africa and their knowledge of the fashion industry from Lagos to London to Paris to Milan to New York. They should have consulted Ohimai Atafo and Duro Olowu, two of the top Nigerian international fashion designers. Bem looked more like the owner of a club than owner of a top flight fashion house.
Then "Arinola" portrayed by Thelma Okoduwa as one of the state’s fastest rising politicians did not have the political knowledge and personality of any notable female politicians in south western Nigeria.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

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

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

#BishopAjaiCrowther #WoleSoyinka #Nobelprize
#nigeria #filmmakers #africa #technology #education #dstv #success #people #tech #gotv #startups #like #fashion #fashionindustry #london #paris #founders #society #designers #Africamagic #movies #series


Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

- By Micheal Nnaji 

According to John. C Maxwell,  a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. 

Dr. Chika Abazu clearly fits into this discription.

This is why among the motley of crowd jostling to represent Ideato North and South federal constituency in the House of Reps in the next political dispensation, opinion leaders, political leaders, the youths, market women, students etc agree he is the most prepared and focused.

Dr. Abazu raises above the fray and stands out on the pedestal of competence,reason a broad spectrum of people across the constituency are earnestly praying the All Progressives Congress, APC to do the right thing by giving him its ticket for the election.

Describing the last seven years of representation the constituency has had at the House of Reps as years eaten by locust, an APC chieftain from Umueshi, Ideato South,who craved anonymity said: "Ideato North and South has suffered the worst form of representation since 2015. 

"We are like orphans in the midst of parents; in this new dispensation we want someone who is in touch with the people and with reality; we want a people oriented person who has the Ideato nation and its people at heart, a representative who has no baggage, who puts Ideato first. Irrespective of party, we want the best and in Dr. Chika Abazu, I find this representative." 

If elected into the House of Reps as the representative of Ideato people, Dr. Abazu, pledges, in his words, "Prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs"

His focuse, according to him will be social amenities and infrastructures, health care, quality education, economic empowerment, medium size agricultural and settlement  scheme akin to the Isreali Kitbzu system and social welfare for youths.

Dr. Abazu will leave no stone unturned to enhance the growth of Ideato North/South federal constituency in terms of:
°Legislative representation 
•Accountability 
•Education
•Youth and women economic emancipation programmes
•Road Infrastructure
•Power 
•Water
•Health
•Sports
•Social welfare
•Security 

°Sponsorship or co-sponsorship of at least two bills and two motions that would impact the Constituency every year; meaningful contribution in plenary and committee activities especially oversight function.

As a technocrat, Dr. Abazu will ensure prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs.

He is primed at building and equipping of modern school structures and making learning fun for children through learning aids; financial support to primary/secondary school students; facilitating university scholarship for exceptional students.

As a youth enthusiast and a bridge between the young and old, Dr. Abazu, if elected, will be committed to establushing a training hub for the training of youths and women in various vocations including ICT and Agriculture; giving of starter packs/seed grants to trained persons.

Erosion menance is one of the environmental problems facing Ideato and to tackle it headlong, if elected, Dr. Abazu will see to the  procurement of heavy construction vehicles like bulldozers, font loaders, grader, compactors, trenchers etc for all year round erosion control, road grading and maintenance.

To modernise Ideato and make it a liveable urban area, Dr. Abazu has pledged the following:

•Facilitation of the restoration of electricity to all communities in Ideato through procurement and  installation of transformers and other power installations; construction of solar street lights at designated areas

•Greater Ideato water scheme will be birthed for provision of basic water supply; procurement of motorized borehole drilling machines; all year round drilling of boreholes in designated and accessible areas within the community; provision of borehole drilling services at highly subsidized rate.

•Construction and equipping of primary health centres

And to curb youth restiveness, he will facilitate the construction of mini sports stadium for sports and recreation.

He will also strengthen local security networks so as to secure the lives and property of Ideato people.

Dr. Abazu is accessible and reachable and will at all times be avilable to his constituents

With his international connections and contacts, Dr. Abazu will ensure the mobilization of funds for various projects from donor agencies and development partners.

***

Nnaji writes from 
Osina,Ideato North.

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Dr. Chika Abazu and Ideato 2023: A Healer Cometh

Dr. Chika Abazu and Ideato 2023: A Healer Cometh

- By Michael Nnaji 

An Avatar is set to happen on Ideato North and South federal constituency of Imo state.Dr. Chika Abazu is an agent of redemption and has sprang forth from his comfort zone in the civil service to offer to fill a yawning void in political presentation of the constiency.

Round the clock care for patients is consistent with medical practice and as a medical doctor of many years standing, Dr. Abazu is emphatic that his mission in politics and desire to represent the Ideato nation is borne out of the urgent need to pull the federal constituency from the doldrums, to heal it of its myriad of ills.

World all over, medical doctors in politics, bringing to bear on governance and leadership, elements of the Hippocratic Oath they swore to, are known to have performed creditedly well in office.

History is indeed replete with an array of medical doctors who have been politicians and political leaders and offered quality leadership the same way they would give quality care to their patients.Some of the famous ones are the Latin American Revolutionary Leader, Che Guevara, Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi, Agostinho Neto of Angola, Salvador Allende of Chile, Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) of Haiti, Gor Harlem Brundtland, First Norwegian Female PM, Houphoet Boigny of Ivory Coast, Nain Ramgoolan, PM of Mauritius, as well as the great Mahathir Bin Mohammed of Malaysia, who before his voluntary retirement from politics.

Here in Nigeria Medical doctors who became state governors or occupied other political office in the recent past and showed their mettle include Prof Ambrose Alli, Peter Odili, Bukola Saraki, Chimaoroke Nnamani, Chris Ngige, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was also succeeded by another medical doctor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Olusegun Mimiko.

Also remarkable are former Secretaries to State Governments, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives such as Bisi Odejide, Dalhatu Tafida, Jubril Aminu, Martins Yellowe, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Aminu Safana, Wale Okediran among others, not to talk of Heads of Parastatals, Commissioners and Local Government officers.

From the foregoing, it is evident that medical doctors in politics have always left a trail of quality, people oriented and purposeful leadership.

There is no doubt that as the representative of Ideato people come next year, Dr Abazu will be following on the footsteps of these medical legends turned political icons.   

Sons and daughters of the the Ideato ancient kingdom who rue and grief over almost eight years of vapid representation at the House of Representatives in Abuja can now heave a sigh of relief  for Dr. Abazu is coming to right that which has been messed up and fix that which has been broken.

All he is asking for is to be given the All Progressives, APC House of Reps ticket and for the good people of Ideato to cast their votes for him in next year's election to enable him to usher in a dew of glory, the dawn of freshness and an exhilarating breathe of fresh air to the federal constituency.

If elected into the House of Reps as the representative of Ideato people, Dr. Abazu, pledges, in his words, "Prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs".

His focuse, according to him will be social amenities and infrastructures, health care, quality education, economic empowerment, medium size agricultural and settlement  scheme akin to the Isreali Kitbzu system and social welfare for youths.

Dr. Abazu, is clearly the most prepared and focused among the aspirants angling for the Ideato North and South federal constituency seat.

Here is a man imbued with excellent mental, physical and academic qualifications to mount the exalted seat. He is God-fearing, honest, hardworking, dedicated, focused, charismatic and with rare leadership qualities that are tailored towards societal development.

A Public Health Physician of over 22 years experience in Civil Service; Dr. Abazu has risen to the position of a Director at the Federal Civil Service and has served at various levels with merit and distinction.

A consummate professional whose passion is excellence in service delivery for the good of humanity, Dr. Abazu is an alumnus of Abia State University,  Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, West Virginia University Morgantown USA and Emory University Atlanta USA. He is happily married with Children.

***

Michael writes from
Osina, Ideato North, Imo State.


Monday, October 25, 2021

The Introduction To "Barack Obama, The American Dream and the American Nightmare"

The following is the introduction of my yet to be published book,
"Barack Obama, The American Dream and the American Nightmare"


For all my fellow bloggers in the blogosphere
From those croaking like frogs on the logs
To those barking and howling like dogs on their blogs
Who are not afraid to break the news
Like backbenchers screaming from the pews.


Introduction

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." ~ François Marie Arouet de Voltaire

"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat." ~Jean-Paul Sartre
–posted 02/10/2008 at 10:46:07 


Barack Obama has caused me to write a book I would not have written. His political audacity provoked me to write it. Barack Obama is like seeing the American Dream unfolding like the petals of a rose before our very eyes. I am not a true artist if I cannot depict what I see. Even a mirage forms an image we cannot deny. I will separate the fantasy from the reality of this American Dream.

Yet Barack Obama would not have become so dramatic without the ironic passion of his fanatics. Barack Obama may end up as a cosmic irony in the political history of America. May God save Barack Obama from the fates of these interesting times. 

–posted 02/10/2008 at 10:23:56 


I have seen the parade of ignorance
In the masquerade of arrogance.


I prefer to call this book political graffiti on the current affairs in American politics, some aspects of global politics, and other do-or-die affairs. Please read at your own risk. Most of the political notes are (1) comments I posted in my replies to various news reports and articles on the Huffington Post and (2) informed commentaries on my political blogs. The comments are regarding the principal presidential candidates of the Democratic Party in the course of their political campaigns for the presidential caucuses and primaries before the presidential election in 2008. The headings of the comments and commentaries are the titles of the specific news reports and articles on the Huffington Post and other sources; therefore, you can use the titles to trace the sources online. Reading the original reports, articles, and blogs will give you more details and make it clear why I made the comments or wrote the informed commentaries. 

It is also an important documentary on how Barack Obama emerged as the first black President of America in the most turbulent period since World War Two and will be of immense benefit to everyone who is interested in the intellectual and political consciousness of Obama in the study of his life and the history of American politics in the 21st century.

The notes and commentaries are testimonies of my cosmopolitan political inclinations. I enjoyed the excitement of participating in the discussions on the dialectics, ethics, and polemics of American democracy and the glaring contrasts with the contortions and distortions of democracy in Nigerian politics and of course on the madness of terrorism.

Mentally Disabled Women Used in Bombings

All suicide bombers are mentally retarded morons. We should ban any religion promoting terrorism. Lest we forget, rape is also terrorism. Honor killing is equally terrorism.

All terrorists should be arrested and deported to the moon where they actually belong since they are worshippers of the moon. No wonder madness is associated with the moon’s cycle.

We, the civilized ones, cannot be safe in a world where terrorists are on the rampage. We must get rid of them before they get rid of us. No need for Guantanamo Bay—just deport them to the moon. 

–posted 02/01/2008 at 14:24:47 

Mrs. Stassinopoulos Huffington is my humorous address for the irresistibly bold and beautiful Arianna Huffington, the celebrated publisher of the Huffington Post and author of many books. This book is meant for entertainment and enlightenment, so enjoy.

~ Ekeyerengozi Michael Chima
Orikinla Osinachi
January 14, 2008
Bonny Island, Nigeria



Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Ozigbo as Anambra's Breath of Fresh Air


Ozigbo as Anambra's Breath of Fresh Air

- By Peter Osakwe

Val Ozigbo stands out in the galaxy of candidates for November 7, 2021, Anambra gubernatorial election not because he is flying the flag of a popular party but because he is the knight in the shining armour for Anambrarians.
You need not be clairvoyant to tell that Anambra is in dire need of fresh breath after eight years of mindless suffocation. And who will bail the cat?
Here is Ozigbo. Young, energetic, urbane, cerebral and unassuming yet well wired. His robust academic resume, uncanny strides and exploits in the corporate world firmly project him as the breath of fresh air Anambra urgently needs.


Valentine Ozigbo is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship elections in Anambra State and I dare say that the party got it right in the choice of flagbearer.
For a man who connects seamlessly with the people he is seeking to govern with his well-articulated Ka Anambra Chawapu socio-economic and infrastructural module which is also his campaign slogan, Ozigbo wears the Anambra shoe and knows where it pinches the people.
"The Chawapu project is designed to touch the future by building social and economic systems that last”, he says.
Val, as he is affectionately called by admirers, is a hard-boiled business administrator and entrepreneur and has dedicated close to three decades of his life garnering and putting into work experiences in the corporate world.
He is a thinker who thinks outside the box, visionary and purpose-driven. Ozigbo rises above the fray to stamp competency and accomplishment.
Ozigbo is not your janu-faced everyday politician. He is a straight talker who speaks the language of service delivery. This candidate comes across as a man of unadulterated zeal for enduring positivity, one who is adequately prepared for the task of reinventing Anambra.
Grassroots' favourite, Ozigbo has become a movement in Anambra. His state-wide acceptability and popularity attest to the fact that his message of redemption for the Ndi Anambra positively resonates with them.

Come November 7, Anambrarians will be saddled with a simple choice: Choose as their next governor a compassionate, shrewd, urbane and cerebral manager of men and resources or a perpetuation of the dark, anachronistic politicking and voodoo governance Anambra has endured.
Ozigbo represents the former. In him, American author John C Maxwell's characterization of a leader takes flesh and blood. Maxwell: "A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way."

Starting as a young goal- getting financial manager, the PDP candidate have traversed the business and financial firmament leaving impactful and enduring imprimatur in all spheres- hospitality sector, banking, manufacturing, energy etc.
Until March 2020 when he quit to explore other areas of service to humanity, including the possibility of serving Ndi Anambra as governor, Ozigbo was at the driver's seat of Transactional Corporation of Nigeria, Transcorp, a top-flight business conglomerate with an interest in agriculture, banking, hospitality among others.

Appointed President and Chief Executive officer of the Corporation in 2011, Ozigbo brought his corporate wizardry to bear on the outfit resulting in its burgeoning success.

For example, while at Transcorp, Val developed five new projects worth over $500 million including two new hotels in Lagos and Port Harcourt as well as other retail facilities that catapulted the conglomerate to a global height.

Born on July 20, 1970, Valentino Ozigbo attended Christ the Redeemer College where he obtained his SSCE certificate.

He obtained a degree in accounting from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in 1994 and an MBA in Banking and Finance from the same University in 2000.

In 1998, he obtained a professional qualification in accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Taxation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in 2000.

In 2004, Val Ozigbo obtained an MSc in finance from Lancaster University, United Kingdom.

Val Ozigbo obtained a professional qualification in Credit Administration from the Institute of Credit Administration in 2015. 

Ozigbo's rise to the top of the corporate ladder was swift and meritorious. Before he was appointed the CEO of Transcorp, he had17 years of experience in the banking sector working with notable Nigerian banks including NAL Merchant Bank, Diamond Bank, Continental Trust Bank, FSB International Bank, Standard Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Bank PHB.

Between 1995 and 2000, he was the Head of Commercial Banking at Diamond Bank Plc. He proceeded to become the business manager at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2000.

In 2001, Ozigbo was Acting Regional Director of FSB International Bank but returned to pick up the position of Head of International Banking at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2004.

He left UBA for Keystone Bank as the Global Transaction operation in 2008.

Anambra is in for impactful, purposeful leadership as Ozigbo awaits coronation on November 7.

Congratulations to Ndi Anambra in advance.

***

Peter Osakwe wrote from Inland Town, Onitsha.


Saturday, August 28, 2021

Realistically Profiling President Muhammadu Buhari on National Security With Facts

Realistically Profiling President Muhammadu Buhari on National Security With Facts

Part 1


Political leaders all over the world prefer euphemisms to harsh  criticisms and don't often like political incorrectness in public. But flattery is the worst form of praise.
Saying the truth, whether bitter or sweet is the best in overcoming the challenges of the existential realities of life in the world.

Freedom of speech is fundamental to the establishment of true democracy and good governance in the political administraton of every federal government. But freedom of speech can be abused and misused. Freedom of speech must be based on facts and not falsehood. 

I have read some news reports on those who have been arrested and even convicted for the defamation of the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari. They insulted him and so they were arrested and jailed after being judged guilty.  But I have seen that those who have been prosecuted and convicted for the defamation of the personality of President Buhari were powerless poor people who could not afford the services of good human rights lawyers. Whereas, I have seen celebrated political activists and state governors of the opposition party lambasting the President with fury and vitriol in public and the law enforcement agents did not query or arrest them. Why?
The state governors have immunity? What of the political activists who insulted him and are still walking about freely from Lagos to Abuja.
Many have called him a criminal and a terrorist and other derogatory names on Nairaland and escaped prosecution and indictment.

The horrifying incidents of kidnappings and killings in different states have provoked the worst criticisms of President Buhari and blamed for the failures of the state governors in internal security.  And majority of the citizens have also blamed him in ignorance of the separation of powers of the government administraton of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Majority of Nigerians are the underprivileged masses of poorly educated low income workers who are ruled by gullibility and the herd mentality of their religious beliefs of Christianity and Islam. And majority of them are also suffering from political amnesia, because they quickly forget the political history of Nigeria and the different political administrations and because they don't read, they often rely on hearsays, gossip and rumours for their assumptions and then jumping into ambiguous and erroneous conclusions on both the past and present current affairs in the country since the Independence of Nigeria on October 1, 1960 to date.

Whatever remarkable progress reports on the achievements and milestones in the administraton of President Buhari have been overlooked in the raging storms of insecurity ravaging the country. But the amnesia and ignorance of the majority of Nigerians would have been addressed by the Ministry of Information and Culture and not abandoned for Mr. Femi Adesina, the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and his colleague, Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant Adviser on Media and Publicity of President Buhari. 

I have read a lot about the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) that recommended community policing to assist in complementing the efforts of the federal government in combating home grown terrorism which actually is the best recommendation, because community policing will be more effective in the identification of the causes of the grievances for communal clashes between herders and farmers, inter-tribal conflicts and banditry.
Community policing will end communal clashes, kidnappings and killings in different states. And the state governors should be responsible for that and not always crying wolf and calling for the head of President Buhari for their failures to secure lives and properties in the various communities in their states.

Cases studies in the peaceful community relations and conflict resolutions among herders and farmers in other countries in Africa will help to end the recurrent horrifying incidents of communal clashes, kidnappings and killings in Nigeria. 


- By Ekeyerengozi Michael China,
Publisher/Editor,


Friday, July 30, 2021

NEW BOOK: "Barack Obama and the American Dream"

 #barackobama

#books

#uspresident

#politics

#democracy

#blacklivesmatter

#elections

#presidentialelection

@barackobama

@michelleobama

@penguinrandomhouse

@penguinbooks

@simonandschuster

@macmillanusa

@potus

@usinnigeria

@statedept

@Harvard

"Barack Obama and the American Dream" on the election of the first African American President of the United States of America is the first book by a non American citizen on the historic presidential campaign, nomination and election of Senator Barack Obama on November 4, 2008 as the 44th President of the United States.

The book will be released soon after over 10 years homework on the selections of the thousands of comments and replies to news reports, debates and arguments on the Huffington Post, my blog on the Des Moines Register of Iowa and other news media during the presidential horse race between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

It is a very important book on the  contemporary political history of democracy in America in the 21st century.

Author:

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


PS: 

Thanks to Almighty God for the abundance of His Grace. And two thumbs up to my editor, 

Pamela Guerrieri

Senior Editor/Projects Coordinator

Proofed to Perfection

Phone: #919-732-8565

Fax: #919-732-5204

pamg@proofedtoperfection.com

www.ProofedToPerfection.com

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Juliet Ibrahim in "African Bodyguard" Action Movie



Juliet Ibrahim in "African Bodyguard" Action Movie


 African Bodyguard

Synopsis:
Pangea is a small but wealthy country between Mauritania and the Sahara Desert. When the First Lady of Pangea does the unthinkable, the bodyguards at the Presidential Palace become vulnerable. Discover what happens when their head of state takes charge of the dilemma that threatens to destroy lives and damage his reputation.

Directors
J Leo Uche
Starring
Juliette Ibrahim, Akin Lewis
Genres
Action, Romance
Subtitles
English [CC]
Audio languages
English

Friday, April 2, 2021

The North is the Problem of Nigeria

When they say Nigeria is poor and underdeveloped, northern Nigeria is actually the basis for this conclusion from the demographics of the country.

All the indices of the deficits in sustainable human development in Nigeria used for the analysis of poverty and underdevelopment are more pronounced in the northern region of the most populous country in Africa. 

The collapse of security in northern Nigeria is beyond the economics and politics of the North-South Dichotomy.  The northern region is the problem of Nigeria.

The north has the largest population of illiterates.

The largest population of poor people.

The largest population of underprivileged children out of school.

The largest population of criminals, including the bandits and terrorists who have been terrorising people for decades.

The largest population of the most intolerant fanatics of the Islamic religion; the breeding ground of Islamic terrorism.

The chickens have come home to roost in northern Nigeria; the consequences of decades of maladministration of governance by corrupt and incompetent public administrators from the local government to the state government. 

The political elites of the ruling class and political opportunists of different social backgrounds have misruled their people and exploited the intellectual ignorance of the most underprivileged and deprived masses since the independence of Nigeria on October 1, 1960. 

The northern bourgeoisie cannot escape from the wages of their sins. 

Unfortunately for the north,  the worst is yet to come in every state and the Caliphate will not be spared. Because the home of the Caliphate, Sokoto State is also the home of the poorest people in Nigeria and poverty is the hotbed of crimes of indignation and rebellion.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied", "In the House of Dogs" and other books.

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


 



 

Monday, March 15, 2021

Nations Are Not Built On Political Titles

Nations are not built on political titles.

Nations are built on principles.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "In the House of Dogs" , "The Prophet Lied", "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and The Nigerian Dream", "Diary of the Memory Keeper", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books.

Nigeria is in sociopolitical crisis, because the country is ruled by political title chasers and political title chasers are not nation builders.
So, public office holders who are obsessed with their political office titles don't care about principles of visionary leadership. And until they realise their follies of selfish pursuits of political titles and greed for Machiavellian power over others, they will continue to fail in nation building from the local government to the Office of the President.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Prof. Wole Soyinka's Most Anticipated New Novel, "Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth"

WeREAD💕💋 NEW BOOK OF THE MONTH

"Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth" by Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first black winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

https://bookshop.org/shop/Weread

The Book

The novel tells the story of a pact and an alliance formed between four friends, to make an impactful change in their nation. Now in the late stages of adulthood, against an evolving political landscape and a change of government, they drift apart, reunite, navigate complex familial relationships, and increasingly gain recognition in their professions — all the while, their paths interweave with those of prominent religious, community and government leaders, and the tide begins to turn against them, with dire consequences.

It is a dramatic and engaging read, laced with humour and extraordinary characters. The read also provides a realistic perspective on the state of affairs in Nigeria, with a depth of commentary. In Soyinka’s expert hands, the apparently disparate strands are woven together with a master story-teller’s aplomb. 

CHRONICLES OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH, is a great and unputdownable read from start to finish.

Book Size: 6.1 inches x 9.2 inches (15.5 x 23.5cm)

Number of pages: 524 pages.




Tuesday, September 13, 2011

World Events Lead to Dramatic Swings in Hotel Prices



Political and Natural Events Strongly Impact Room Rates in First Half of 2011, Says new Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®)




LONDON, September 13/PRNewswire/ — Hotel prices have experienced pronounced volatility as a result of political turmoil and natural disasters in the first half of 2011, according to the latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®).

The average price of a room around the world rose by just 3% in the first six months of the year but this masked some steep rises and falls in regions affected by the historic events.

Other factors such as currency strength and supply of rooms also impacted average room prices across the world, although the report shows that overall these were just 6% higher than when the HPI was launched in 2004, representing outstanding value for travellers.

Prices fell 6% in Asia Pacific year-on-year but rose in all other areas: 4% in North America, 2% in Europe and Latin America and 1% in the Caribbean.
Counting the Cost of the Arab Spring

The uprisings which occurred in North Africa and the Middle East triggered substantial reductions in hotel prices across the region as tourists and business travellers stayed away not only from countries directly hit by the civil unrest but also from those which escaped political protest.

However, the fall in consumer confidence was good news for destinations in southern Europe as travellers returned to more traditional havens. The rising demand pushed up prices in some Spanish sunshine destinations and the overall HPI for Europe rose 2% compared with the first half of last year.

Ireland was also helped by the high-profile visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama which triggered a slight market recovery in hotel prices by attracting visitors and boosting demand.
Japanese Earthquake Hits Prices in Asia Pacific

Average prices for hotel rooms across Asia Pacific fell by 6% over the period. The Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis at Fukushima led to reduced occupancy and falling demand in the country and also had a knock-on effect in other parts of the region as the Japanese chose to stay close to home.

However, despite the downward price pressures, there were also some marked rises in the region, especially in strong economies such as Australia where corporate travel continued strongly and the Australian Dollar remained high.
Travellers from Economic Powerhouses Enjoy Lower Hotel Rates

This factor was also evident in other countries with strong currencies and economies and meant citizens from nations such as Brazil, Sweden and Switzerland benefited from lower prices in many destinations, particularly the US and UK where the US Dollar and Pound Sterling struggled to hold their ground.

David Roche, President of Hotels.com, comments: "This year, for the first time, dramatic political and natural world events, such as the Japanese earthquake and Arab Spring, have caused the most pronounced level of hotel price volatility since we began this report in 2004.

"However, despite some exceptional price movements, it is important to highlight that overall the picture has been one of gradual recovery with many room rates still on a par with what they were seven years ago, representing great value for the traveller.

"Of course, other factors such foreign exchange fluctuations, one-off political sporting, cultural or trade events and discounting by hoteliers can also influence prices but it's important to underline the general health of the sector so far this year.

"This can be seen by the growth in the supply of rooms all over the world with nearly 6,000* hotel projects in development. This increase in accommodation also acts as a brake on prices and, once again, is good news for the consumer."

The Hotels.com HPI is based on bookings made on Hotels.com sites around the world and tracks the real prices paid per hotel room (rather than advertised rates) for about 125,000 properties across more than 19,000 locations. The latest HPI looks at prices in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period last year.

For a full copy of the HPI report, graphics and video interview with Hotels.com President David Roche go to:
http://press.hotels.com/en-gb/


Alternatively, email pressoffice@hotels.com or call:
Lizann Peppard on +44-20-7019-2265
Zoe Chan on +852-3607-5719
Alison Couper on + 44-20-7019-2360

* July 2011 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report

About Hotels.com

As part of the Expedia group which operates in all major markets, Hotels.com offers almost 140,000 quality hotels, B&Bs and serviced apartments worldwide. The company currently operates more than 85 Hotels.com sites around the world and travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres.


The hotels.com Biannual Hotel Price Index Shows a 3 Percent Global Price Increase and Gradual Recovery

Report also Finds Americans Paid 11 Percent More for European Hotels; Japanese Travelers Spent the Most on Travel Abroad

DALLAS – September 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Today, hotels.com®, the leading provider of lodging worldwide, released its biannual Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®), revealing a 3 percent global price increase and a gradual recovery despite major natural catastrophes and world events affecting travel during the first half of the year. Room rates are still lower than their peak in mid-2007, indicating to travelers that good deals and value are within reach for consumers.

The hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI) is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world. The HPI is based on bookings made on hotels.com and prices shown are those actually paid by customers (rather than advertised rates) for the first half of 2011. The report largely compares prices paid in 2010 with prices paid in 2011. The key findings of the Hotel Price Index:

Influential Factors in American Travel at Home and Abroad

Americans continued to see a weak U.S. dollar compared to other currencies, meaning travel outside the country’s borders was more costly than anticipated. Americans paid an increase of 11 percent at European hotels in 2011 compared to 2010; a 5 percent increase in North America; a 4 percent increase in the Caribbean; and a 1 percent increase in Asia. In addition to the weak currency, 2011 was a year of major natural disasters which greatly affected travel, including major flooding in Nashville, and devastating tornadoes that caused major damage to Minneapolis and Joplin, Missouri. Despite the natural disaster, Joplin’s year-over-year average daily rate increased 3 percent, but time will tell if that will remain constant for the rest of the year. Joplin is the tenth least expensive city in the U.S. according to this year’s HPI.

After the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March, travel to the country dropped, even in capital city Tokyo, located 250 miles south of the disaster. Reykjavik, Iceland and Christchurch, New Zealand were also subject to the extraordinary forces of Mother Nature. Massive volcanic ash clouds in Reykjavik and the aftermath of two 6.0+ magnitude earthquakes in Christchurch may have been factors in the 44 percent and 38 percent price rises in each city, respectively. These rises counter the typical trend of lower prices after a natural disaster.

Where are Americans Traveling Internationally?
There has been little change when it comes to the top three most frequented international destinations traveled to by Americans. London, Paris and Rome remain the most popular despite an 11 percent increase in the average daily rate for Americans paying for a hotel in Europe. Our neighbors to the North, Toronto and Vancouver, came in fourth and fifth place. Aside from the top three, European travel from the U.S. continues to centralize around Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, and Venice. Each city moved up one to three spots in the hearts of American tourists.

From Monte Carlo, Monaco to Vieques, Puerto Rico, the top ten most expensive destinations’ daily rates rose, on average, 22 percent year-over-year. Each city on the list cost American travelers more than $350 dollars a night. The city that topped the list, Bora Bora (located in the French Polynesian islands), costs more than double that amount, claiming over $800 a night from American vacationers.

Which Regions Are Growing In Popularity for Americans?
The HPI reveals that Asia is the most up-and-coming region for American travelers. Even though the region experienced a minimal room rate hike of 1 percent, Asian cities have been moving up on the list of the top 50 cities for American travelers.

Beijing moved up 12 spots from 2010 to #20. Bangkok (up 16 spots to #17) and Seoul (up 15 spots to #30) also rapidly gained popularity among U.S. travelers this year.

Hong Kong ranked as the eighth most visited city by Americans in 2011, while other Asian cities including Bangkok (17), Shanghai (18), Beijing (20), Dubai (21) and Singapore(24) ranked in the top 25 most visited international destinations by Americans.

On the other side of the world, Americans paid an average daily rate of $207 in the Caribbean after a four percent increase. Latin American hotel rooms rose two percent in 2011 with rooms costing an average daily rate of $153.

Who are the World’s Biggest Spenders?
Japanese travelers are the new top spenders when traveling abroad, paying an average of $176 per room when they head overseas. Second in line are travelers from Switzerland and Australia, who respectively spend $175 and $172 in other countries. While U.S. travelers have dropped into fourth place, spending an average of $171 per night on hotels overseas, this is still an increase from last year’s average of $160 per night. Americans are more thrifty when booking hotels in the U.S., spending $119 per night. The biggest domestic spenders are from Switzerland, paying an average of $220 in their local hotels. Travelers from India continue to be the lowest domestic spenders, with an average of $92 per room spent on hotels within their borders.


Press Contacts:

Helen Ames
Ruder Finn for hotels.com
Phone: (212) 715-1646
Email: amesh@ruderfinn.com

Taylor L. Cole, APR
hotels.com North America
Phone: (469) 335-8442
Email: taycole@hotels.com


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