Nigerian Times

The Real Heroes of the 2011 Elections in Nigeria The incumbent and reelected President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)) have been receiving accolades for the overall conduct of the 2011 elections in spite of the terrifying and horrifying post election violence caused by the allegations of electoral malpractices and recurrent acts of terrorism propelled by Islamic fundamentalism. But those who truly deserve the accolades are not Mr. Jonathan or Prof. Jega, but the patriotic Nigerian voters who thronged the polling booths to cast their votes regardless of the weather, risks of being attacked by unpatriotic political opportunists and their hired thugs. These millions of patriotic Nigerian voters in every state of the federation are the real heroes of the 2011 elections and the standard bearers of democracy and governance in Nigeria. “ Ultimately, it was the judgment on the fairness of the e...

29 Apr 2011 16:34 Africa/Lagos Most Americans Not Willing to Pay to Read News Content Online Even fewer than said they would pay 15 months ago PR Newswire NEW YORK, April 29, 2011 NEW YORK, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As businesses explore best practices for success in the changing landscape created by the Internet, some companies have discussed charging for access to online content that was previously free. Some media outlets have discussed doing this, and The New York Times recently began charging online readers who view over 20 articles per month. But there may be trouble ahead as a recent Adweek/Harris Poll found that a large majority said they would be willing to pay "nothing" per month to read a daily newspaper's content online (80%). Of the one in five who would pay, 14% said they would pay between $1 and $10 per month while very few said that they would be willing to pay between $11 and $20 (4%) or more than $20 per month (2%). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswi...

President Barack Obama named CIA Director Leon Panetta as his nominee to succeed Robert Gates at the Pentagon, with Gen. David Petraeus chosen to succeed Panetta at the CIA. Jon Decker reports. © 2011 Reuters President Barack Obama and his security chiefs. The San Francisco Chronicle provoked the White House after the paper posted an unauthorized video of a protest at a San Francisco fundraiser for President Obama last week. This could be connected to reshuffling of the security team since coverage of events at the White House is within the purview of national security. In such matters, the White House cannot be queried if national security is at risk. And posting an unauthorized video of such an event could be inappropriate. No reporter should be allowed to compromise or violate the security procedures of the White House as stated by Office of the Press Secretary on August 18, 2010.

Islamic Terrorism Or Lunatic Muslims On Rampage? If there is anything the repressive Arab regimes of the middle east and north Africa and the traditional institutions in parts of northern Nigeria share, it is the deliberate misinterpretation of Islam to hold on to power while abusing human rights and dignity. There is often a convenient convergence of culture and the clergy to perpetuate this fraud on the people. In Saudi Arabia, less than 1,000 princes and members of the royal family control a country that earns about $1 billion every day when oil prices climb above 100 dollars a barrel. ~ By Salisu Suleiman April 29, 2011 01:18AMT Islamic Terrorism is is defined by Wikipedia as "a term for acts of terrorism committed by extremist Muslims for the purpose of achieving varying political and/or religious ends." The history of Islamic Terrorism is as old as the religion of Islam and trying to separate the sheep from the goats as Mr. Suleiman has attempted is not as simple as AB...

The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton on Friday April 29, 2011. Prince William greets Kate Middleton as she arrives at the alter with her father Michael Middleton, prior to their marriage in London's Westminster Abbey, Friday April 29 2011. (AP / Dominic Lipinsk)

Philips Livable Cities Award: Left to right: Harry Hendriks, CEO of Philips Electronics, Sabrina Faber, Overall Winner and Richard Florida, Chair of Supervisory Panel. 28 Apr 2011 11:19 Africa/Lagos Innovative Thinkers From Across the Globe Awarded Grants to Address Significant Challenges Faced by City Living AMSTERDAM, April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- - Philips Awards EUR125,000 to Help Make Cities More Livable Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has today announced the winners of the Philips Livable Cities Award, a global initiative designed to generate innovative, meaningful and achievable ideas to improve the health and well-being of city-dwellers across the world. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110428/452767 ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110428/452767-b ) The overall winner of the Award, announced at a gala ceremony held at the world famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, was named as Sabrina Faber from Sana'a, Yemen, for her idea 'Rainw...

InMobi infographic summarizing results: 35% choose Mobile as No.1 digital shopping tool in US. (PRNewsFoto/InMobi) 27 Apr 2011 14:00 Africa/Lagos Shopping From Mobile Device More Popular Than PC 35% choose Mobile as No.1 digital shopping tool in US PR Newswire SAN MATEO, Calif., April 27, 2011 SAN MATEO, Calif., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, InMobi, the world's largest independent mobile ad network, revealed that shoppers prefer browsing and buying goods and services from their mobile over their PC. The study*, conducted among consumers using the mobile Internet, found that half of shoppers still prefer hitting the stores (49%) but over a third are now comfortable with shopping from their pocket (35%) and only 16% prefer shopping from their PC or laptop, highlighting the clear shift to 'shopping on the move.' (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110427/SF90349) Results from the study support data showing the mobile shopping market doubled in revenue from ...

This is an itinerant nomadic Fulani woman who is a native herbalist hawking on the streets of Lagos in Nigeria. I met with her in front of my office on Thursday April 28, 2011. She allowed me to photograph her and she is just one of the numerous nomadic Hausa Fulani women who have been hawking medicinal herbs for decades. About the Hausa Fulani people : rimary language: Fulfulde (90% speakers) Second language: Hausa Third language: Tamajaq Identity/Location People Name: Fulani Primary Language: Fulfulde Ethnologue Code: FUE Dialects: Kano-Katsina-Bororro (Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria), Bagirmi, Sokoto The Fulani people of West Africa are the largest nomadic group in the world. Total People: 15 million Fulani with 100,000 Wodaabe Urban Percent: 10% Fulani Countries: Niger 1 million; Mali 1 million; Cameroon 700,000; Burkina Faso 500,000; Benin 230,000; Sudan 100,000; Togo 50,000; Central African Republic 25,000; Ghana 5,000; Nigeria 11 million. (Wodaabe: more than 40,000 in Niger and about ...

DG of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema Onyema calls for Market Transparency as PanAfrican Capital Plc sponsors 2011 Nigerian- South African Chamber of commerce breakfast forum By Ingram Osigwe The Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday April 20 held its April 2011 Breakfast Forum. The Speaker at this edition was Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Oscar Onyema, spoke on his vision for the capital market to include transparency, Innovation and liquidity. Speaking at the breakfast forum, Sponsored by PanAfrican Capital Plc, Onyema explained that his intension was to position the Nigerian capital market not only as a gateway to African frontier market but also a leading exchange for capital formation. The NSE boss assured that his management would deploy such drivers of success at the exchange as organizational efficiency and fair level playing field for all participants in order to restore confidence in the market. The DG of NSE with some membe...

Chevron Scrubs Lawsuit to Block Ecuador Award ~ By Adam Klasfeld MANHATTAN (CN) April 22 - With little fanfare, Chevron dropped a charge from their racketeering lawsuit against an attorney who helped engineer an environmental case that resulted in an $18 billion judgment against the company in Ecuador. As the parties are gearing up for a November trial in Manhattan to block the award, Chevron filed a proposed amended complaint on Thursday that removes attorney Steven Donziger as a party to one of the counts. Donziger, however, is not too happy about the change, as it could prevent him from participating in a trial to determine whether the judgment he secured is enforceable. Chevron spokesman Kent Robertson told Courthouse News that it made the change because Donziger does not "have a dog in that fight." He added that the Ecuadoreans can seek any lawyer they want to defend the judgment. After Chevron filed the amended complaint, a spokeswoman for Donziger...

Some NYSC members on national service for INEC during the 2011 Elections President Jonathan on the National Youth Service Corps Members: “will do what is right” including Professional Mental Health Counseling Our world has a long history of election violence but what makes the April 2011 Nigeria election violence distinct is the reported horrifying death of some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. How many of them actually got slaughtered, severely disfigured, vanished in the bushes or yet to be found remain unknown given our fragile intelligence and forensic power but we know that a good number of service corps members died in various riots across the predominantly Muslim northern States. As young men and women serving in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps, a mandatory yearlong service, doing their civic work, little did they know that some of them will fall victim to deadly rioting that tailed the presidential election in particular. As part of their calling they were ...

The Lamentation of an NYSC Member What do we do? Is there possibility of free and fair? Every one raises an eyebrow, over what? A situation that is overlooked! I cannot help but cry for my nation. What a nation! I sleep and wake with the thought of how to make it better, free from all manners of catastrophe. But can I do it alone? How can me when even those that are supposed to lead for an onward match to sensitization and success are nowhere to be found. You deny your subjects their right, making unfulfilled promises year in year out. When can we truly realize these? I ask. Imagine a society free from social crisis. Whereby meaningful employment is made available at all levels both for graduates and non graduates. Providing food for all, especially for the poor, less privileged, handicapped and the destitute as well. A stable and reasonable transport system, Good roads maintenance, proper and effective education at all levels with sound practicability. I cannot imagine myself in an i...

President Goodluck Jonathan How The Psychology of Dr. Jonathan’s Presidential Election Could Be About National Sensibility and Development It will not be unusual to state that the April 16, 2011 presidential election of President Jonathan remains a non-default national outcome with a clear or given mandate which is richly suited to our current national needs; no matter how imperfect it may be to some quarters in the country or else where. The Nigerian people are a mix of various ethnic, traditional and religious sentiments and these psychologies play a role as to how the President will appeal to the country’s common national identity, share our common interests and address the soul or mentality of those tied to the politics is ruthless divisions and selfishness. President Jonathan knows that his newly found mandate is not only God-sent but anchored in the spirit of a people crying for progress in their general living conditions; a cry that began since the democratic year of 1999. In ...

When Peter and the other apostle went home, Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb crying. Suddenly she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize Him at first. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Mary thought He must be the gardener and said, "Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where, and I will take Him!" Jesus said, "Mary!" Then she recognized Him and exclaimed, "Master!" Jesus said, "Don't hold on to me, because I have not yet returned to the Father. But go to my disciples and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Then Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!", and she told them everything that had happened. Easter - The Resurrection of Jesus Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21, Acts 1

Photo Credit: Press S TV, 2011. Nigeria: Post election violence suspects escape from Jail The AFP reported Saturday that 12 of the suspects detained over the post-election violence have escaped after riot broke out in an overcrowded jail in northern Nigeria. The controller of prisons in Adamawa state, Andrew Barka said 18 of the 600 arrested this week escaped but six were later captured. "There was heavy congestion. The living conditions have worsened since the suspects were brought in," Barka told AFP. "Therefore yesterday they went on riot, burning a section of our (training) workshop and injuring two wardens. Some of them tried to escape by scaling over the fence," Barka added. Arrested suspects of the post election violence in Nigeria in April, 2007 The following is the rest of the report. Rights groups estimate that more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the riots broke out after last weekend's election won by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan...