Nigerian Times

Dear Orikinla, I wish you could be out on the trail with Hillary to see the energy and enthusiasm that is there for her every day. That enthusiasm, like your support, means so much to her in her historic run for the White House. The incredible energy every day in Texas and Ohio is something you should see for yourself. So I wanted to show you this video of two recent rallies in south Texas, to give you an idea of the kind of excitement Hillary gets to see every day. Take a look and show your support for Hillary: Something Exciting is Happening in Texas I know you share that crowd's enthusiasm for Hillary! I appreciate everything you're doing to help her win, and Hillary does too. Thank you, Ann F. Lewis Senior Adviser Hillary Clinton for President

29 Feb 2008 01:55 Africa/Lagos Department of the Army Official and Alabama-Based Private Contractor Sentenced in Public Corruption Case WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today that a Department of the Army official and an Alabama-based contractor were sentenced to federal prison in connection with charges arising from participation in an honest services wire fraud scheme and a related obstruction of justice. Jeffrey H. Stayton, 57, of Spotsylvania, Va., the former Chief of the Aviation Division for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey of the Northern District of Georgia, sitting by designation, to serve 63 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a fine of $61,071.75. William C. Childree, 69, of Enterprise, Ala., the sole owner and operator of Maverick Aviation, Inc. (Maverick), was sentenced by Judge Duffe...

William F. Buckley, Jr. 27 Feb 2008 20:46 Africa/Lagos Newt Gingrich Statement on the Passing of William F. Buckley, Jr . WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Before there was Goldwater or Reagan, there was Bill Buckley. From writing books, to creating, leading and sustaining National Review Magazine, to his 33-year run as the host of Firing Line on television, Bill Buckley became the indispensable intellectual advocate from whose energy, intelligence, wit, and enthusiasm the best of modern conservatism drew its inspiration and encouragement. It was not until William F. Buckley, Jr., founded National Review Magazine in 1955 that the tide began to slowly turn for conservatives. National Review was a lonely voice of conservatism in an overwhelmingly liberal establishment. Buckley began what led to Senator Barry Goldwater and his Conscience of a Conservative that led to the seizing of power by the conservatives from the moderate establishment within the Republican Party. From t...

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria I am posting this press release by the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for reference, since it was released before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, dismissed the suits of former military ruler, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and upheld the fraudulent election of "President" Umaru Yar'Adua in the April 2007 presidential poll . 23 Feb 2008 23:00 Africa/Lagos Atiku Abubakar: Africa's Fraudulent Elections: A Non-Violent Alternative Africa's Fraudulent Elections: A Non-Violent Alternative A statement by former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar In advance of a decision by a Nigerian tribunal on February 26 on whether the 2007 election of the President was legal, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar delivers a statement. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-...

Dear Orikinla, This is a hard-fought campaign. You and I both know it. And now the Obama campaign has upped the stakes again. In just 24 hours, you closed the $1.3 million advertising gap with Obama this week. In response, their campaign has bought another $1.9 million worth of airtime. For Hillary to win on March 4, we must close this gap -- and we have to do it quickly. We cannot let this race be decided by Obama's spending advantage on the air. Help Hillary make up the $1.9 million spending gap in 24 hours with your contribution today. The ads we put on the air matter. The number of phone calls we make matters. The rides we give to the polls matter. And most important of all, what you do right now matters. We have the best candidate with the best ideas -- and she's a fighter. She's knows that you are standing with her every step of the way. So let's show the Obama campaign that they can't win this race just by throwing more money at it. Let's match that $1.9 ...

Mr. Marc Cooper, Your article "Hillary's Ignominious Finale" is an irrational character analysis of Senator Hillary Clinton and a public exhibition of your political ignorance and intellectual naivety. If you think the Clinton Era is over, you are ignorant of the facts. You are ignorant of the long term goals of Senator Hillary Clinton, because the end of the current presidential campaign is not the end of her political career. Did Senator John McCain succeed in his previous presidential campaign before 2008? But today, John McCain is the frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination and now leads Barack Obama in the national poll for president. How old is he? Are you ignorant of the political history of America? The fact is, the prevailing political realities in Americaa do not favour Senator Hillary Clinton and the latest Bloomberg/Times poll shows that the majority of American voters are not ready to elect a female president, but 80 percent of them are ready...

27 Feb 2008 04:24 Africa/Lagos Democratic Candidates Miss Key Health Issue in Debate Candidates Are Ignoring the Fight Against Cancer CLEVELAND, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took the stage for a final debate before the March 4 primaries. The candidates addressed many troubling matters important to the American public but fell short on a critical health issue -- breast cancer. Breast cancer is an issue identified by 62 percent of Americans as the key health issue facing women today. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO) "Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gave us a wide-ranging and informative discussion of issues important to all Americans," said Diane Balma, head of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance. "But we are disappointed that breast cancer, which takes the lives of almost 2,000 women in Ohio each year, was not even mentioned during the debate. In fact, Ohio ranks four...

27 Feb 2008 09:00 Africa/Lagos Surge, Hailed by Cheney Today in Texas, is Not a 'Change In Direction' But Justification of Failed Occupation Policy NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the five-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion draws near, a new PR offensive by the White House is attempting to frame the recent troop "surge" as a strategic and military turnaround. But a growing chorus of experts warn that such claims merely mask the Administration's long-standing policy to ensure a protracted American occupation of the oil-rich nation. They warn that the occupation will not result in an end to the violence that has enveloped Iraq and so far claimed nearly 4,000 American lives. Speaking at Ft. Hood on Tuesday, Vice President Dick Cheney told Texas troops, "It was time for a new strategy, backed up by a surge of forces... and you did in fact turn things around." And at a town hall meeting in Ohio on Monday, Senator John McCain, the lik...

Alhaji Umaru Yar' Adua Gen. Muhammadu Buhari The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, Tuesday, dismissed the petition of former military ruler, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, because he could not prove his case against the election of "President" Umaru Yar'Adua in the April 2007 presidential poll in Nigeria. Observers expect the same tribual to pass a similar judgment on the petition of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has already vowed to accept the ruling of the tribunal. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal may have the brains to pass judgment on the petitions against the disputed election of "President" Umaru Yar’Adua, but will not have the balls to annul the election. The fact cannot be denied, that the April polls in 2007 were not free and fair . Therefore, the electios should be nullified . If the local election petitions tribunals, because of electoral irregularities and fraud, have annulle...

Chinua Achebe smiling The literary world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" . Many articles and features are celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Things Fall Apart" .. No other African novel has been so highly glorified as Chinua Achebe ’s classic "Things Fall Apart" . It is the most popular African novel in English and in over 30 translations since the publication in 1958. The first time I read "Things Fall Apart" . was in 1975 and loved it. I read the other novels Achebe wrote after "Things Fall Apart" , and I regard "Arrow of God" as the best so far. But the popularity of "Things Fall Apart" has overshadowed the importance and significance of "Arrow of God". The eaglet that was learning how to fly in "Things Fall Apart" , soared as an eagle in "Arrow of God" and the novel won ...

The most popular American presidential candidates, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on political bribery. Christine Escobar's "Obama, Clinton Fill Superdelegates' Wallets" is all the proof I need to confirm that American politicians are corrupt. Even, the so called "Mr. Change" Senator Barack Obama, who is boasting to change the corrupt political tactics of Washington has been bribing the Super Delegates to endorse him! The following politicians are on a long list of the Super Delegates Barack Obama bribed. 1. Rep. Bruce Braley of Iowa - $16,000. 2. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa - $10,000. Rep. Melissa Bean (IL) - $19,000 Others included, Rep. Leonard Boswell (IA), Rep. Joe Baca (CA), Rep. Dennis Cardoza (CA), and Rep. Tim Mahoney (FL). Some received $18,826 and $19,000 each. Hillary Clinton also bribed many Super Delegates. Let me spell it out to you in CAPS. POLITICAL BRIBERY IS BRIBERY. See P...

OBAMA'S LIMO SEX & DRUG PARTY By larrysinclair0926 Mr. Obama has continued to lie about his past in regards to his use and sale of drugs and his sex with a gay male in 1999. Views: 549,086 Barack Obama's Stole Content From Jesse Jackson's Website By mmille732003 . I feel sad rather than offended that Barack Obama did not show up at the State of the Black Union Address. I am happy that Hillary did, votes or no votes. It shows the continuing respect that Hillary Clinton has for the African-American community. Barack Obama is so busy to meet with the people who are voting their hearts out for him. Jesse Jackson would not have behaved in such fashion. African Americans need to examine Barack closely and I fear that is one of the reasons that he is not keen to get too close to blacks because they will discover some truths and realise 'that all that glitters is not gold' where Barack is concerned. African-Americans, and it seems like the whole of America is seeing Ba...

Nigerian Senate President, David Mark, has been sacked by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State in Nigeria. The tribunal annulled the April 21, 2007 election of David Mark on Saturday, February 23, 2008. More details . The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was abused and misused by the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the local and national elections held in April, 2007. Many voters were disenfranchised as the PDP employed thugs to intimidate the supporters of the opposition parties and over 700 people were killed in the political clashes of the tragic April polls. I have refused to accept the presidential election of President Umaru Yar' Adua, because it has no electoral legitimacy. President Umaru Yar'Adua has commenced electoral reforms without any judicial inquiry into the death of those who were killed during the last elections in April 2007, and without any legal Review Commission. The disgraced Senate President, D...

I received the following press release last Friday, and I have decided to post it for the benefit of those who have no knowledge of it. 22 Feb 2008 21:31 Africa/Lagos SMU Chosen as Site of Bush Presidential Library DALLAS, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The George W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation today announced that SMU in Dallas has been chosen as the site of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, consisting of a library, museum and institute. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070713/LOGO ) President Bush said in a letter to SMU President R. Gerald Turner: "I look forward to the day when both the general public and scholars come and explore the important and challenging issues our nation has faced during my presidency--from economic and homeland security to fighting terrorism and promoting freedom and democracy." Meeting Feb. 22 in Dallas, the SMU Board of Trustees unanimously approved an agreement with the Foundation to locate the Center at SM...

22 Feb 2008 21:00 Africa/Lagos Celebrity Index: U.S. Consumers Find Obama More Appealing, Trustworthy Than Clinton, McCain DALLAS, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. consumers rate Barack Obama as more appealing, trustworthy, and influential than other presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton and John McCain, according to data released today by the Davie Brown Celebrity Index (DBI). According to the DBI, an independent index typically used by brand marketers to determine a celebrity's ability to influence consumer purchase intent, Obama's scores in "appeal" are 15 points higher than those of Clinton and 12 points higher than McCain. The Illinois Senator also scored 12 points better in the DBI's "trust" attribute than Clinton and McCain. "In terms of appeal and trust, in the minds of U.S. consumers, comparing Obama to Clinton is like comparing Tom Hanks to Martha Stewart," said Jeff Chown, president of Davie Brown Talent, a Dallas-bas...

In the last presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Barack Obama said an American rifle platoon was supposed to have 39 soldiers. But that was an erroneous statement, because a platoon does not have to consist of 39, but can have between 30 and 50 soldiers. A lieutenant commands a platoon and not a captain as Barack Obama claimed. Barack Obama said the rifle platoon in Afghanistan did not have enough soldiers or weapons and had to resort to using the weapons captured from the Taliban. That was also a lie, because there were no shortages of soldiers or weapons in this case. "You know, I've heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon — supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq," Barack Obama said. "And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough Humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was...

Senator Barack Obama Letter from Obama on Marriage and Gay Rights 2004-02-11 As an African-American man, a child of an interracial marriage, a committed scholar, attorney and activist who works to protect the Bill of Rights, I am sensitive to the struggle for civil rights. As a state Senator, I have taken on the issue of civil rights for the LGBT community as if they were my own struggle because I believe strongly that the infringement of rights for any one group eventually endangers the rights enjoyed under law by the entire population. Since 1996, I have been the sponsor or a chief co-sponsor of measures to expand civil liberties for the LGBT community including hate-crimes legislation, adoption rights and the extension of basic civil rights to protect LGBT persons from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment and credit. Today, I am a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Unlike any of my opponents, I have a legislative track record. No one has to guess about what I wi...

Clergy Email Implores Democratic Super Delegates to Vote on Principle February 21, 2008 The Brody File has received an email circulating among progressive religious leaders and their congregations imploring people of faith (and delegates especially) to vote their principles in this closely contested Democratic Primary. Read part of the letter below. Pay particular attention to the last paragraph. Dear friends, fellow clergy and people of faith: We are people of faith from all traditions and backgrounds, all genders and races and all regions across our great nation. We are Americans who look to God and the holy texts for our moral compass in our private decisions and civic duties. We are concerned about the direction the current Presidential race is taking, and we feel we must bring attention, as clergy and faith leaders, to our concern. How will we, as Americans, come together in this moment to overcome past and current divisions and move forward as one in the best interest of our nati...

Dear Orikinla, You've probably seen some of the news about the delegates it will take to win the Democratic nomination, including discussions about pledged delegates and automatic delegates, or so-called "super delegates." There are a number of misconceptions about the role that delegates will play in this election, so we've launched a new website, the Delegate Hub , to help you cut through all the myths about the race for delegates. The three most important things to remember are: 1) A candidate needs 2208 delegate votes to secure the nomination with Florida and Michigan included. 2) After weeks of voting, the race is a virtual tie, with Hillary and Senator Obama now separated by little over 2% of all the delegates to the Democratic Convention. 3) Both Hillary and Senator Obama will need automatic (super) delegates to win the nomination. Senator Obama has aggressively courted automatic delegates, while his campaign has simultaneously tried to discount their role in t...

Fidel Castro, the Lion of Cuba Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz retired as the President and Commander-in-Chief of Cuba on Monday February 18, 2008, after 49 years in power. Fidel Castro is the most lionized foreign leader in Africa and highly esteemed as one of the heroes of the liberation struggles in South African nations. Fidel Castro sent Cuban troops to Angola on November 4, 1975, to join the forces of the marxist MPLA-ruled government in the war against the racist South African-backed UNITA rebels. One of the survivors, Claude Grace Uushona can still remember how she survived the massacre in the refugee camp in Cassinga, in southern Angola and was rescued and brought to Cuba when she was only 16. "It was a camp for women and children refugees located 250 km from the border with Namibia. On May 4, 1978, South African forces bombed us with military helicopters and planes," she recalled. Cuban and Angolan troops helped the guerrilla freedom fighters of the Southwest African Pe...

Senator Barack Obama won the Wisconsin primary, Tuesday, to score his ninth straight victory over Hillary Clinton and consolidating his lead in delegates. Obama is already projected to win the majority of the 20 delegates at stake in the Hawaii caucuses held yesterday.

19 Feb 2008 09:28 Africa/Lagos Remarks by President Bush on Kosovo WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush. Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 7:24 A.M. (L) THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Sunday, the people of Kosovo declared their independence. They have asked the United States for diplomatic recognition, and yesterday the United States formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent nation. In its declaration of independence Kosovo committed itself to the highest standards of democracy, including freedom and tolerance and justice for citizens of all ethnic backgrounds. These are principles that honor human dignity, they are values America looks for in a friend, and soon we will establish full diplomatic relations with the new nation of Kosovo. We will work with the leaders of Kosovo to carry out a smooth and peaceful transition to independence. America welcomes Kosovo's pledges...

Kosovo Albanians celebrating the declaration of Independence last Sunday . Kosovo declared its Independence from Serbia on Sunday, February 17, 2008. But Boris Tadic, the President of Serbia told Ban Ki-moon , the Secretary General of the United Nations , that Kosovo's declaration of independence is a violation of international law and unacceptable. Vojislav Kostunica , the Prime Minister of Serbia, said, Kosovo is a “false state" and Russia is supporting Serbia. The United States of America and most members of the European Union have already accepted the Independence of Kosovo, but not all the members of NATO have agreed to recognize Kosovo. To avoid another civil war, the United Nations must address the disagreement between Serbia and Kosovo.

Senator Hillary Clinton From what I have been reading on the American presidential campaign so far, I am afraid to say that the traumatic political administration of President George W. Bush has done great damage to the political psyche of most Americans. The Democrats are more confused than the Republicans. In fact, President George W. Bush is having a good rapport with the Democrats in Congress and still calling the shots on the prosecution of the war in Iraq. The Democrats in Congress are as guilty as the Republicans for the failures of the political administration of President George W. Bush. President George W. Bush Forget the political campaign promises of Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, because they are only bragging that they will bring the American Troops home from Iraq within a year. Only General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq, can tell how and when to withdraw American Troops from Iraq and not the smooth talking Senator Barack Obama or the tough...

17 Feb 2008 23:57 Africa/Lagos No Longer A Maverick, John McCain Continues to Pander to the Right Wing by Offering A Third Bush Term WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, John McCain ducked questions about whether he has sacrificed his principles to pander to the right wing of his party and showed once again that in an attempt to get elected, he is offering nothing more than a third Bush term on everything from the war in Iraq to the failed economy, not the change Americans are looking for. John McCain proved he wasn't kidding when he said he "doesn't really understand economics." Even as he acknowledged that our economy is headed towards a recession, McCain offered no answers about how to rebuild the economy, address concerns hard working Americans face or the mortgage crisis. Instead, McCain promised to make the President's tax cuts for the wealthy permanent, pledged not to raise any new ta...