Search Blog / Web

Custom Search

Friday, May 31, 2013

Nigerians must tackle causes of insecurity, say ex-IG, others

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Nigerians must tackle causes of insecurity, say ex-IG, others
May 31st 2013, 23:00

SUCCESS NWOGU writes that Nigerians are of the view that there is more to be done beyond the declaration of a state of emergency, to really restore law and order to the country

The quest to address insecurity in some parts of the country and restore law and order has been a major topic of national discourse in recent times. Although President Goodluck Jonathan, penultimate Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, some security and legal experts are of the opinion that more comprehensive and holistic strategies are necessary to effectively and efficiently address insurgency, terrorism and other violent crimes in the country.

Since the declaration of the state of emergency, military operations have been going on to apprehend the insurgents in the affected states. Also, many civilians have been fleeing the 'war zones' for their safety while reports are rife that Boko Haram members have fled to neighbouring states, where it is feared that they may initiate another round of attacks.

Jonathan had, while declaring the state of emergency, lamented that terrorists had pursued the fanatical agenda of mayhem, mass murder, division and separatism. He said some northern parts of Borno State had been taken over by insurgents, who seemed determined to establish control and authority over parts of the nation and to progressively overwhelm the rest of the country.

He noted that the Federal Government had previously adopted persuasion, dialogue and widespread consultation with the political, religious and community leaders in the affected state, but that had failed to solve the problem.

But a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, opined that more measures should be taken to address the security problem.

Also, an ex-Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie; a pioneer Director of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime, Kampala, Uganda, Prof. Femi Odekunle; and Chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yusuf Ali, at a conference on 'National Security and Development in Contemporary Nigeria,' organised by the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, proffered other solutions to the nation's insecurity.

Akanbi said it was imperative for the root cause of the insecurity and insurgency to be identified and addressed.

The former jurist, who was the founding first chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, said good governance and democratic values are imperative for Nigeria's security.

According to him, it is important to look at the political and social environment of the country while leaders must pursue policies and programmes that will make the people's lives better.

"Nigerians want to see an end to this violence.  We want to see an end to instability. We want to be sure that security is ensured in this country. As far as I am concerned, I do not want to say the state of emergency will fail, but I also do not want to give the assurance that it will solve the problem.

"We need to find out the cause of insecurity and indiscipline. I do not honestly believe that efforts have been made to get to the root cause of the matter. When you get to the root, then you can uproot what is happening. Some people have said that unemployment, poverty, lack of empowerment of the people. I think all these are symptoms. It is not enough to use military force on insurgents, we should find the root cause of the problem," Akanbi said.

Coomassie said the national security challenges should not be seen in isolation but should be better appreciated within the wider context of transnational threats posed by the global terrorist network.

He stated that the primary responsibility of any serious government in any society is the maintenance of law and order with a view to creating an atmosphere conducive for socio-political and economic development.

He stated that the nexus between security and development had made the goal of entrenching and maintaining law and order a major challenge of most governments across the globe.

According to him, even in the so-called mature democracies, threats to national security have always been such a daunting task that must be confronted and surmounted with decisive strategies and policy formulations.

He observed that bomb explosions and sporadic gunshots had continued to endanger the polity and threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria. He added that communal clashes, tribal hostilities, kidnapping, religious bigotry and post-election violence had stagnated and retarded socio-economic activities and developmental process in the country.

He said, "In addition, structural violence, which is expressed in social deprivation, social inequality, high level poverty arising from unemployment and mass illiteracy and ignorance, constitute debilitating conditions that pose a serious threat to security and development.

"Consequently, suffering, heartache, instability and disunity are inevitable corollaries resulting from violence and a state of insecurity. Amid this welter of social maladies, we should, as a people with diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds but united under a common destiny and vision, passionately embrace the path of enthroning an enduring framework that will entrench peace, stability, progress, development and advancement."

Odekunle, who was the chairman, Advisory Committee to a former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, on Socio-Political and Economic Matters, stated that Nigeria needed a focused national leadership with strong hands and strength of character.

He noted that corruption had inhibited Nigeria's development more than the civil war, all the armed robberies and other crimes within the past decades.

He stated that there should be a deliberate alteration of the development ethos and development strategy so that a collective interest will be allowed to predominate over individual interests.

According to him, these ethos and strategies should be allowed to be reflected in Nigeria's economy, politics, official relations as well as in its laws and security measures.

Odekunle, who currently teaches Criminology and Sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, said Nigeria was growing without development.

"On the political level, the circulation of the elite and their acolytes has become the order of the day; the concept of democracy has become, in practice, government of the greedy, by the greedy, for the greedy. Governance has become oligarchic and corruption-ridden – with contents of the National Anthem and pledge being turned into mere nominal mouthing.

"The electoral process itself has become usually tainted with observable manipulations and, in some cases, heart-rending violence with able-bodied youths 'employed' as armed thugs – the post-election violence of 2011 being a most calamitous instance," he said.

Odekunle noted that socially, for a substantial proportion of Nigeria's population, existence has become atomistic or individualistic. He added that there had emerged an alienated generation of youths (except those who have sought refuse in religion) relative to desirable values and norms of conduct.

He said certain social vices had become more noticeable. Such  vices, he noted included prostitution in urban centres, drug use/abuse and associated ailments, direct and indirect child-abuse, child/female trafficking, sufferance of family and community values, general indiscipline/absence of law-abidingness, communal strife, violent disorders and ethno-religious conflicts. He stated that all these anomalies are symptoms of social disorganisation.

To address the insecurity and developmental challenges, Odekunle there should be a change from a 'low-and-order' or paramilitary conception of security to a more social-scientific/realistic conception of the matter.

He also said that there should be a change from a narrow government-of-the-day perception of security to one that focuses on the average citizen.

"There should be restructuring of the substantive criminal laws and procedures for their administration, police and security agencies, courts and criminal justice administration and institute appropriate offender-correction in an integrated and coordinated fashion relative to the country's desired objectives of optimum security.

"There is the need for certain punishment for corruption, with less cumbersome/technical procedures that provide loopholes for the escape of such criminals. Nigeria Police Force should engage in routine and systemic policing and less of protection of political/public officials with riot policemen.

"The State Security Service should intensify its current disposition towards gathering 'actionable intelligence' and dwell less on its 'baby-sitting' of politicians/government officials. There should also be a re-orientation towards less of technical justice and more of substance and victim justice," Odekunle said.

Ali said corruption was the major developmental problem of the country. He added that the socio-economic and insecurity problems of the country had their roots in corruption, unemployment and poverty.

"If we remove corruption, 80 per cent of our national problems will go," he said.

He urged policy makers to be realistic, practical and pragmatic in their approach to policy making.

He stated that for Nigeria to be respected within the global community of nations, Nigerians must enjoy enduring peace, security and stability.

"There should be development policies that are not just lifted from developed nations, but are actually tailored to meet the real needs of the people. Critical steps must be taken on economic empowerment, including a special focus on youth employment and education. The current army of unemployed youths and others, who cannot find places in our tertiary institutions is a recipe for insecurity," he said.

Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Aremu, said more emphasis should be on intelligence and crime prevention.

Aremu urged Jonathan to caution some of his aides and people around him to stop making inflammatory utterances that could diminish the President's status and jeopardise national security and unity.

He said efforts should be made to address the growing kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the country.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Ekiti: Supreme Court strikes out Oni’s appeal

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Ekiti: Supreme Court strikes out Oni's appeal
May 31st 2013, 23:07

The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision on Friday struck out an appeal in which former Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni, asked it to remove Governor Kayode Fayemi and return him to office.

A seven-man panel of justices of the Supreme Court led by Justice Mohammed Tanko held that the apex court had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal on the grounds that the matter emanated from a decision of the Court of Appeal arising from the 2007 governorship election to which section 246 (3) of the 1999 Constitution was applicable.

By the provisions of section 246 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, the Court of Appeal has the final decision on governorship petitions as at the time the appellate court sacked Oni from office.

The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, had, on October 15, 2010, sacked Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party from office and declared Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria as the governor.

In the appeal he filed at the Supreme Court, Oni, through his counsel, Chief Joe Gadzama, SAN, had urged the court to set aside the October 15, 2010 judgment of the Court of Appeal on the grounds of alleged likelihood of bias on the part of the panel of the appellate court.

Gadzama had argued that the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, who constituted and presided over the panel and also wrote the lead judgment that sacked Oni from office, had a close affinity with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the leader of Fayemi's party, ACN.

 "Bias or likelihood of it makes a decision a nullity and is therefore a sufficient ground for the lower court to set aside its own judgment," Gadzama had maintained.

But in a preliminary objection, Fayemi, through his counsel, Olusola Baiyashea, SAN, argued that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

He maintained that the National Judicial Council, which investigated allegations of misconduct against Salami and other judges of the Court of Appeal who sat over the matter, had since exonerated them and as a result, the allegation of bias was no longer relevant.

Baiyashea further argued that the appeal emanated from a governorship election petition, which ought to terminate at the Court of Appeal.

Fayemi's lawyer described the appeal as a "subterfuge for appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal," noting that it was not presented under any enabling law, as it did not fall within the ambit of Order 19 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Electricity: FG signs $30bn MoU with Korean firm

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Electricity: FG signs $30bn MoU with Korean firm
May 31st 2013, 23:00

As part of efforts to boost the country's power generation capacity, the Federal Government on Friday signed a $30bn Memorandum of Understanding with HQMC Korea Company Limited.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said the MoU would give rise to a quantum leap in power generation by 10,000megawwats for the next 10 years.

According to Nebo, the Korean firm is set to inject $30bn in the power sector for the next 10 years, adding that this was no doubt a laudable and visionary effort which was in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister, in a statement from the Ministry of Power, said the addition of 1,000MW of solar power annually for the next 10 years would give the nation the required energy mix needed for sustainable development.

He said the development would also enhance the adequate spread of power across the country and Nigerians in the rural areas will benefit immensely from the proposed project.

Nebo said Korea is a top ranking technologically advanced economy, stressing that projects of this magnitude would provide Nigerians with job opportunities and skill acquisition that will positively impact on youths in the country.

"Nigeria as an emerging economy is set to provide the best market for direct foreign investment especially in the power sector," he said.

The minister expressed optimism that the Federal Government will continue to create avenues for foreign investment so as to ensure the desired turn around in the fortunes of the power sector.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, said the MoU signing event was part of efforts geared towards the realisation of the sector's desire for more foreign investment.

The Managing Director, HQMC Korea, Mr. Moon Sang Kim, said the firm was determined to make a success of the project.

Meanwhile, Nebo explained that the short and medium targets projected in power roadmap had been surpassed, as the nation's generation capacity had increased from 2,000MW in 2010 to an average of 4,517MW as at December 2012.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Der Klassiker

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Der Klassiker
May 31st 2013, 23:00

The German version of El Clasico, between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund lived up to all it's pre match hype last  Saturday. The 2013 Champions League final, first ever contested by two Geman teams was a wonderful advert for the Bundesliga and German football.

The German clubs thrilled thalle 86.208 fans at Wembley Stadium with a unique combination of physicality, stamina, pace, tactical awareness, passing and skill. All components of the game came together to deliver a compendium of explosive football, veritable validation of all that is good about the game.

Considering the season Bayern Munich had and the fact that this was their third final in 4 seasons, Bayern fully deserve their European crown.

One must though, spare more than a passing thought to Borussia Dortmund, defeated on the night but far from disgraced. I predicted last week that Dortmund would prevail but in the end they came up just short.

There was a weird blend between the two European Cup final games, the Europa and Champions Leagues. Both featured teams that were the overwhelming favourites to win. Chelsea to beat Benfica and Bayern to beat Dortmund. In both finals the less fancied teams started quickly, dominated possesion for the first 20 minutes but failed to translate their territorial superiority into goals. This allowed their more experienced opponents back into the game, seize the initiative and score the go-ahead goal. Chelsea and Bayern once having gained the advantage were expected to kill the game off but again that wasn't the case in both games as Benfica and Dortmund hit back with penalties. The final piece of symmetry was Chelsea and Bayern scoring their back breaking winning goals in injury time.

However, that's where the similarities ended. The officiating in the Europa Cup final was devoid of any form of controversy but the same couldn't be said of the Champions League final.

Despite Bayern's record breaking domestic season and their hugely impressive performances in Europe this season, exemplified by their 7-0 demolition of Barcelona in the semi-finals. It took a massive slice of good fortune to swing the Champions League trophy Bayern's way. Frank Ribery had a hand in both Bayern's goals in the second half but was lucky to still be on the pitch. He should have been sent off in the first half for clearly elbowing Robert Lewandowski right in front of the referee. He wasn't even booked. The second chunk, rather than slice of luck Bayern got was the referee inexplicably not giving Dante, already on a yellow card a second caution for his lunge on Marcus Reus in the penalty box. The referee rightly awarded a penalty which Ilkay Gundogen expertly converted but failed to send off Dante which would have surely swung the game in Dortmund's favour. Arguments can be made that the referee didn't want to diminish the spectacle of the occasion with arbitrary expulsions. A victory of common sense over finicky officiating some might say. The flip side is a dearth in consistent offciating which confuses players and in this particular situation handed one side an undue advantage. Dortmund are well within their rights to feel a trifle hard done by. As the loss of either Ribery or Dante, not to talk of the duo being sent off, would have had a debilitating effect on Bayern. All of that, however, is mere speculation wrapped in conjecture. The reality is Bayern are the Kings of Europe, joining Liverpool on five European crowns with only AC Milan (7) and Real Madrid (9) ahead of them.

It will be interesting to note where both Champions League finalists go from here, as they may take divergent paths.

For Bayern, it it's the dawn of a new era. Pep Guardiola is taking over at the helm of affairs next season. The  popular Jupp Heynckes bows out on a high today, seeking an historic treble for Bayern by  beating Stuttgart in the German Cup final  Pep Guardiola is going to have a tough act to follow. Heynckes has set the bar very high. Guardiola is also inheriting one of the best squads in world football. The weight of expectation on his shoulders will be immense, he must therefore hit the ground running.

Jurgen Kloop and Dortmund have different concerns. Having over achieved by reaching the Champions League final and finishing second in the Bundesliga, Kloop faces a struggle to replicate Dortmund's form in Europe next season. His status as a preeminent tactician and one of the best coaches in Europe has been established by Dortmund's stellar run to the final. His major challenge will be to retain his key players. Midfielder Mario Gotze has already signed for Bayern and striker Robert Lewandowski is rumoured to be heading in the same direction.  Whether he'll be able to hold on to the rest of his star players with the richest clubs in the world hovering, remains to be seen.

 

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Motorola hits comeback trail with new phone

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Motorola hits comeback trail with new phone
May 31st 2013, 23:00

Motorola plans to launch a new, made-in-the-United States smartphone, CEO, Dennis Woodside, said on Wednesday, confirming speculation the once-dominant cellphone maker intends to make a comeback in the hotly competitive mobile market, Reuters reported.

Motorola, which Google Inc bought for $12.5bn in 2012, has steadily ceded market share to Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, with its latest phones garnering a relatively lukewarm reception.

The new phone, called the Moto X, will be built at a 500,000 square-feet facility in Texas that will employ 2,000 people by August.

Woodside told the AllThingsD conference in Palos Verdes that he was "pretty confident in the products we're going to be shipping in the fall."

The new smartphone will debut in a market dominated by the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy range of devices.

Woodside said the Moto X would benefit from Motorola's expertise in managing ultra-low power sensors — such as in accelerometers and gyroscopes — that can sense usage contexts and power down certain components when not required, thereby conserving power.

Motorola's engineers have also come up with processors that will help save power, he said without elaborating.

Revenue at the Motorola business dwindled to $1.02bn in the first three months of the year, from $1.51bn in the fourth quarter.

It posted an operating loss of $271m.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Murray opens up on public image

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Murray opens up on public image
May 31st 2013, 23:00

He was the pride of Britain last year after winning the US Open and the gold in the London Olympics men's singles.

However, Andy Murray admits he is still unsure over how he is perceived by the public after previously being accused of being 'sulky' by some of his critics.

While like many of his contemporaries he is feisty and ambitious on centre court, Andy insists he isn't aggressive when it comes to his life away from the sport.

As he poses for the July issue of British GQ magazine, the 26-year-old said, "As a person, I'd say I'm fairly relaxed."

"I am still extremely motivated and driven when it comes to my sport, but I wouldn't say I'm an angry person. People might think I am aggressive, but I have never punched anyone in my life."

He acknowledged he found it hard to hide his disappointment whenever he loses, admitting he does 'put a lot of pressure of myself'.

When it comes to his public image, Andy says he strives to be the best athlete he can be, but concedes he doesn't feel comfortable during TV interviews.

He said, "I would say that I am different from what a lot of people think I am like.

"What would bother me is if the people around me started telling me that I had begun changing, being an a**e, or something."

He is also aware of letting his country down when he has failed to win Wimbledon, despite getting to the final last year.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Fayemi hails judiciary over S’Court victory

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Fayemi hails judiciary over S'Court victory
May 31st 2013, 23:14

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has lauded the judiciary "for upholding the tenet of truth and justice" by dismissing the appeal instituted by ousted Governor Segun Oni of the Peoples Democratic Party against him.

Fayemi said this on Friday while reacting to the Supreme Court's dismissal of the appeal filed against him by the ousted governor.

He also thanked the people of the state for standing by him, saying he would continue to deliver dividends of democracy to them.

The governor said there should be a law to punish election robbers to deter others who might want to engage in such corrupt practices.

He said the state would have been spared the distraction caused by Oni had he been punished by the law.

He said, "Oni and his jesters merely sought to use this case to distract us, but we refused to be distracted. We have remained focused all through, concentrating on the development of the state and this is evident in the lives of the people.

"I think we should also put in place laws that will punish electoral offenders. I believe if Oni had been punished for rigging the 2007 governorship election in Ekiti State, he would not have had the effrontery to approach the court again, seeking a back door to the governorship seat.

"It is sad that he rigged the 2007 election and was at the helm of affairs of the state illegally for three-and-a-half years, while I, the winner of the election, was in court until the case was eventually decided in my favour in 2010 at the Court of Appeal."

Fayemi's victory elicited wild jubilation as residents of the state trooped out to celebrate.

Youths and supporters of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in the state gathered at Fajuyi Roundabout in Ado Ekiti to celebrate Fayemi's victory as they sang songs of praises and danced round the town.

Some of the youths, who carried brooms, were seen in vehicles driving at high speed round the town. Some of the party's supporters were seen celebrating with fireworks.

Fayemi's wife, Bisi; the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, and other top government officials thanked the people of the state for their support for the governor and the party.

It was gathered that some PDP supporters had bought vests with which they intended to celebrate had the pendulum swung their way but none of them was seen on the streets as ACN youths took to the streets to celebrate.

Meanwhile, ousted Governor Segun Oni says he still has another case against Justice Ayo Salami, who headed the Court of Appeal panel that sacked him from office on October 15, 2010.

Oni said this at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Tabernacle of Praise, in Ifaki, where a thanksgiving service was organised for him immediately he was briefed about the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict, which stopped him from returning to the Government House.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Council declares war against vendors in Onitsha

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Council declares war against vendors in Onitsha
May 31st 2013, 23:05

Newspaper distributors and vendors in Onitsha, Anambra State on Friday protested the mass destruction of newspapers by officials of the Onitsha North Local Government.

The vendors, who organised themselves under the umbrella of Onitsha Newspapers Directors and Distributors Association, marched through the streets of Onitsha, Nkpor and Obosi, causing traffic jam on the road.

They carried placards with inscriptions like, 'Anambra State government caution Onitsha North chairman,' 'Anambra State government, don't declare war against vendors,' 'Governor Peter Obi caution your task force men,' 'Vendors are not part of the people polluting the environment,' 'Enough is enough to assault on the vendors, 'Onitsha North chairman, is it part of your duty to stop the sale of newspapers in Onitsha?'

The protesters also visited the Anambra Broadcasting Service and newspaper offices on Old Market Road, New Market Road, Awka Road, Old and New Nkpor Roads, Upper Iweka and Owerri Road.

The distributors and vendors refused to sell newspapers that arrived in Onitsha from Lagos on Friday morning and threatened to continue with their protest until the council chairman stopped the harassment.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Appeal court reverses Baba Suwe’s N25m judgment

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Appeal court reverses Baba Suwe's N25m judgment
May 31st 2013, 23:06

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has set aside the judgment awarding N25m compensation to Yoruba actor, Babatunde Omidina (aka Baba Suwe) for alleged wrongful detention by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in October 2011.

Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, had on November 24, 2011 ordered the NDLEA to pay N25m to Omidina and publicly apologise to him in conspicuous pages of two national dailies for violating his rights to personal liberty.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Rita Pemu on Friday, the appellate court upheld NDLEA's appeal against the judgment.

The three-man appeal panel held that the Lagos High Court, Ikeja lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter in the first place.

The panel added that even if its decision on the jurisdictional issue was wrong, the arrest and detention, which the respondent (Omidina) had complained of was "not unreasonable."

Pemu held that there was no basis for the trial court to award damages based on the facts of the case, adding that it was not in accordance with the law.

She said, "There is no basis for the award of damages. Though the award of damages is discretional, if there is any need to award damages, it must be based on law.

"The award of N25m damages in this circumstance was excessive, unrealistic and perverse."

The appeal panel was headed by Justice Chima Nweze. Also on the three-man panel was Justice Fatima Akinbami. Both of them concurred with the judgment, which was read in their absence by Pemu.

On the issue of jurisdiction, the appellate court upheld the submission of NDLEA's counsel, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, holding that the trial judge had made the order without the requisite jurisdiction.

Pemu said there was no way the trial court would have entertained the suit without delving into narcotics and drug trafficking, a subject matter, which she said a state High Court had no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon.

"I agree that the order of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja Division on November 24, 2011 was made without jurisdiction. You cannot build something on nothing," the judge said.

The anti-drug agency on October 12, 2011 arrested Omidina at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos on his way to Paris on the suspicion of ingestion of banned drug.

He was kept under observation in detention by the NDLEA up till October 21, when the agency obtained an order of a Federal High Court, Lagos further permitting it to keep the actor for additional 15 days.

Pemu held that the NDLEA had not in any way violated Omidina's rights, saying the agency "was conscious of his sacred constitutional right to liberty" by approaching the Federal High Court to obtain an order to further keep him in custody.

She said according to the evidence put before the trial court, the agency took definite steps of investigation by putting the respondent through tests and was thus not "unreasonably detaining him."

In resolving three out of the four issues adopted for determination against Omidina, the court held that the NDLEA acted within the law.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

May & Baker plans to raise fresh funds

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
May & Baker plans to raise fresh funds
May 31st 2013, 23:00

The management of May & Baker Nigeria Plc has announced plans to seek fresh funds to support its effort aimed at business expansion.

The company said that the additional capital would also be used to ensure the sustainability of the health care company to perform above competition.

A statement by the company on Friday quoted the Chairman, May & Baker, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd), as saying this at the company's Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

He noted that the management was in discussions  on the best approach to increase the company's capital base, adding that this was necessary to enable it have the required liquidity to succeed in the business environment.

He stated that the huge investments in the world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing centre in Ota, Ogun State, the company's vaccine manufacturing joint venture with the Federal Government, new products and other initiatives would also assist to provide a stable base for the company's growth in the years ahead.

He also said the company had rolled out a new five-year strategic plan that would seek to harness all opportunities to increase the group's earnings and returns to  shareholders, adding that profit was also expected to increase in 2013 as the company optimized production and cost efficiencies.

"Our company is well-positioned for the future with a lot of potentials from the strategic investment we have made in Ota and other attractive business prospects in our site. As we vigorously pursue our new five-year strategic plan with all the opportunities it presents, we can only hope for better performance and stronger earnings capacity going forward," he said.

He noted that the company had projected turnover of N9.6bn for 2013 based on the optimism on expected increased output from its new manufacturing plant, business restructuring efforts and expected reduction in financing costs following the soft loan received from T.Y Holdings during the last quarter of 2012.

The company's audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2012 showed a turnover of N5.7bn, representing 18 per cent increase compared to N4.8bn in 2011, while gross profit grew to N2.1bn compared to N1.9bn the previous year.

Danjuma called on government to encourage local firms  making effort to improve the quality of their products to international standards.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Adepoju, Kpakor disagree over Moses

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Adepoju, Kpakor disagree over Moses
May 31st 2013, 23:00

Former Nigeria internationals Mutiu Adepoju and Moses Kpakor have different opinions about  the unavailability of Chelsea Victor Moses for the Super Eagles' crucial World Cup qualifying games against Kenya in Nairobi on June 5  and Namibia  in Windhoek on June 12.

Nigeria will represent Africa at the FIFA Confederations Cup scheduled to take place in Brazil between June 15 and 30 and  Moses, who is nursing an injury, will also miss the tournament as he will not  be fit to play until July, after treatment.

The 2013 Europa League winner wrote on his Twitter page on Wednesday, "(I'm) devastated not to be able to represent my country this summer but have to respect medical advice on injury. I'll be supporting though."

Coach Stephen Keshi will also miss the services of Spartak Moscow talisman and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot winner Emmanuel Emenike, who underwent knee surgery on May 2.

Adepoju and Kpakor, who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews on the telephone during the week, lamented the development.

Tunisia '94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Adepoju said the Eagles would miss Moses, particularly  in the game  against Kenya. He also said Emenike would be a big loss to the team. But the former Real Santander midfielder   backed other forwards in the squad to produce goals.

"The Eagles will miss Moses because he is a quality  player who can make things happen for the team," Adepoju, who represented Nigeria at the USA'94 and France '98 World Cups, said.

"Moses is a fantastic player. We  saw what he did in South Africa and at Chelsea in the season just ended.

"However, shouldn't be disturbed by the development because injuries are part of the game.

"When one  player is injured, it's an opportunity  for another player to step up.

"I believe Keshi has taken care of this. We shouldn't worry over Moses and Emenike's absence."

The Saudi'89 FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medallist predicted victory for Nigeria against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Adepoju dismissed the fears that the Eagles would struggle against the East African minnows because most of the players  Keshi will select for the match are tired following  a hectic season in Europe.

"If they are tired, Keshi knows what to do to make them fit for the encounter," he said.

On his part, Kpakor insisted that Moses' absence  would not be felt in the game against Kenya.

"It's very unfortunate that he will not be available for the game but I don't think we'll miss him much," the Algiers '90 Africa Cup of Nations winner said.

"It's difficult to miss any player judging from the way Keshi has  built  the national team.

"I'm glad that both the domestic league players and their foreign-based counterparts have an equal opportunity to play in the team.

"I'm very sure that Keshi has capable replacements for Moses and Emenike.

"He's in charge of the team and he has the right to select any player."

The former BCC Lions star also backed the Eagles to beat Kenya at home.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Weather and sex

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Weather and sex
May 31st 2013, 23:00

At the beginning of the year the weather was so hot and electricity supply was not regular. Literally, you could see disappointment boldly written on the faces of people and the murmurings about how terribly hot the weather was. But for some few months now, the story has changed as it rains regularly. However, the wet season has had a positive effect on the sex lives of many couples.

 Does a change in weather really affect sexual performance and libido? In order to get reasonable answers, my team of sex therapists took a survey of many couples via SMS, email, phone calls and street chats with a simple question: 'How does hot or cold weather affect your sex drive?'

The statistics do not only show the dynamic of human sexuality but also shows how culture and mindset can affect relationship and sexual performance of married couples.

Virtually 87 per cent of couples say hot weather decreases their sex drive, hampered their libido, makes sex a no-go area and kills their interest. Among many reasons why hot weather creates an anti-sexy environment is that many couples complain bitterly that most of their spouses sweat and smell irritably in hot weather. Amazingly, this is also the period when most people say STDs are more pronounced in their partners or when they are infected. This indicates that a hot or humid environment is a good breeding ground for most diseases. This is also the period when skin infections spread. Ironically, we found a small percentage of couples who indicated that their sex drive stays the same in wet or hot weather.

Many couples have more sex in the wet season, as they say the cold increases their sex drive tremendously. Well the reason is not far-fetched. Whenever it rains, the environment becomes peaceful, cool and cozy. Seven in 10 Nigerians say the weather affects their mood, and makes them want to stay near a comforting spouse.

Exposure to cold weather and a little sunlight elevates the production and secretion of melanocyte stimulating hormone, which has been linked to increased sex drive in women. This explains why women in particular crave for sex during the raining season. Serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter produced by the brain, may also be responsible for heightened mood and sex drive during the rainy season.

One particular wife said, 'To me, making love with the sound of rain outside is so romantic I always fantasise the rhythm of the rain with the thrusting in and out of my husband. It's so awesome. As his energy builds, there is also an improvement in the physical sexual pleasure within me. For me, the rain is a reflection of a sexual reunion. And each time it rains I make it a point of duty to seek numerous opportunities to improve our sexual experience and heighten the sensations. Even when there is no electricity supply, I'm equal to the task."

A male respondent said he noticed a big difference in his wife's sexual outlook since the rains began as "cold weather makes sex pretty soothing." When we ask his wife to elaborate, she said, "I just feel happier when it rains and sex keeps me warm. People's moods are enhanced by the calming effect of the rain."

"Cold weather equals hard nipples" was the instant response of one husband.

He added, "I look forward to any season that can make my wife shiver because it immediately makes her nipples hard. That is my best sex turn-on. Definitely when she is cold and she cuddles and warms up to me, that's really sexy. It gives us an excuse to stay in bed more than we normally would and that leads to passionate sex. I love the rainy season; it's the best season of the year."

Recalled a particular experience, he said, "There was a day my wife just got back home and she was soaked to her underwear. As soon as she dropped her bag, I picked her up. When her hard nipples touched my chest, I was lost in desire. After hot sex, we just curled up in each other's arms.

"The heat generated from our breathing drove her cold and sneezing away. We added some champagne and had a meal in bed. Really, nothing is sexier than this experience."

Another finding is that many women give birth few months after the rainy season. Is this because of the extra snuggling that comes with the cold weather, or is the mood-boosting chemical serotonin that also elevates reproduction? In general, people are more likely to be happy in cold weather than any other time of the year. Lastly, many respondents claimed they are more likely to reach an orgasm when they are cold than hot.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

We combine business with religion –Market preachers

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
We combine business with religion –Market preachers
May 31st 2013, 23:00

As the numerous pentecostal churches strive to draw more souls to swell their congregations, so also are itinerant preachers who move from place to place to share the word of God with as many people as possible.

In Lagos as in other major cities in Nigeria, market places are being turned into worship centres by traders, to bring about a seeming fusion of faith and trading.

Thursdays, which are sanitation days for traders in Lagos, have become worship days in

various markets across the state. This is made easier because the mandatory non-working hours between 7am and 10am meant for the cleaning of market places can spare traders a couple of hours for combined prayers, singing, preaching and general worship. These days, microphones and loud speakers that project the voices of worshippers have become common sights in market places.

Interestingly, it is often traders who organise and minister at such religious meetings, except during special programmes when evangelists are invited from outside to deliver a sermon.

A trader who sometimes coordinates worship programmes at Dogo Plaza, Balogun Market, where he also has a shop, Mr. Oliver Iheanacho, said most of the Thursday worship programmes are non-denominational, and therefore open to Christians, Muslims and other interested persons, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Iheanacho, who said market fellowships have existed for over a decade, explained that the services were geared towards attracting divine favour and good sales.

He said, "People are also becoming aware of the need to serve God; one might be struggling day to day without success. We believe that the spiritual controls the physical, so if one tackles the spiritual by prayer, physical challenges like struggling to sell will be broken."

Another trader, who coordinates worship sessions at Ereko Market, Mr. Samson Madu, also identified market prayer sessions as integral in the fight against the "activities of the devil in these last days."

Madu, who is also a pastor at Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, intermittently stressed his argument with Bible quotes.

He said, "This is why we are Christians. We are faced with different challenges bordering on spiritualism, evil worship and cultism; the only way to stand firm and face these is to pray. It is important to have corporate prayers at a time like this."

'Let us pray'

At a Thursday worship programme held for occupants of Ayeni Plaza, Computer Village, Ikeja, Saturday PUNCH noted about 30 traders in attendance.

But in their case, worship programmes are conducted by the complex's landlord, Mr. Yemi Ayeni, doubling as an evangelist.

The traders maintained calm all through the worship session as Ayeni's voice sounded a note of caution about the consequences of doing evil. The programme was, however, blended with other issues, particularly those concerning the management of the complex and its 56 shops.

Various committees such as Generator Committee, in charge of the purchase of a new generator for the complex and the 'Environment Committee gave accounts of their activities to the traders and appealed for cleanliness and the payment of outstanding dues.

Ayeni also used the opportunity to remind his tenants to pay their rents as at when due.

After about two hours, the programme came to an end with a closing prayer delivered by Ayeni, who requested that everyone should raise their hands and be on their feet.

Everyone did as Ayeni ordered and resounding choruses of 'amen' followed his prayers. They included, "This year, we will not die! We receive the grace to escape death! We receive the grace to escape sins, shortcomings and poverty, in Jesus name!"

After the session, Ayeni later told Saturday PUNCH that he pastors a church, besides being the landlord of the complex.

"In this zone, I'm the only landlord that also coordinates prayer sessions in the market. The scriptures tell us to go into the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, most traders work every day of the week, including on Sundays, so we are bringing the church to them," he explained.

Ayeni added that offerings at such programmes are channelled into renting speakers, microphones and other equipment.

He said, "We usually rent those things because of the stress of where to keep them. There is no space where we can be keeping such things, so we resolved to be renting whenever we need them."

However, there are some market prayer groups which have acquired microphones, loud speaker and even chairs for their permanent use. Some coordinators say that money generated from such services goes into buying batteries, sockets, posters and in some other cases, drinks to be shared among traders belonging to the unit at the end of each year.

Basically, traders have different reasons for participating in the worship sessions. While some traders described such participation as necessary to rise above the economic situation in the country, some others attribute their involvement to the general state of the country, particularly the security challenges.

A Christian trader at Balogun Market, Steven Okwuchukwu, is a staunch member of a fellowship in the market where he has a shop.

He said, "Prayer is never too much; true that we pray at home, but the one for the market is also necessary. We still have to pray to God to grant us favour and improve our sales."

Although such worship programmes started with Christian traders and are more prominent among them, it is, however, no longer peculiar to them. Muslim traders now also hold similar programmes, and investigation shows that harmony exists at various markets between traders of both faiths.

However, a Muslim trader at Ereko Market, who identified herself as Alhaja Adunni, and has been attending Muslim worship programmes in the market, said additional prayer sessions were necessary because of the "sins of the land."

She said, "Things have turned upside down now, unlike before when things were better in this country. So, we need prayers in this country to make things better for us."

Iheanacho said some Muslims join in the non-denominational programmes or the Christian versions and even give offerings.

He said, "Some Muslims attend and we pray together since many of the programmes are even non-denominational. Many even give offerings when they are leaving."

Apart from Thursdays, some complexes in market places also organise such worship sessions on other days, but usually for traders sharing a place.

Meanwhile, claims of miracles and startling testimonies have gone beyond church auditoriums to hit market places too. According to Madu, Christian traders at Ereko Market used to be poor before the start off of worship sessions.

He said, "Some 15 years ago, evil men in the market then told us that it was either we belonged to them or leave. But since we started the prayer sessions, the fortunes of Christians have been turned around and most of us are now importers. Since God took over, the occultists have all run away."

Madu said there have also been plans to unite all market fellowships in Lagos under an umbrella, but criticised market preachers who have attempted to turn fellowships into "private churches."

He said, "We don't encourage it because we are all business people. Turning the fellowships into churches is not the calling. God told us to preach the gospel and not to establish our own church; people who have tried to do that have always had problems.

"Also at Balogun Market, we don't encourage the taking of offerings from our Thursday fellowship so as not to drive some people away or defeat the purpose of the crusade. We, coordinators, even levy ourselves when we have something to do and the money we have is not enough."

 However, there are a few traders who do not attend religious programmes for various reasons, ranging from mistrust to unavailability of time.

A trader, Adekunmi Alade, who expressed doubt over the sincerity of some of the preachers, said he has not been attending market fellowships.

He said, "Of course, we know that some people are only looking for what to eat, but that is not really why I don't attend. I usually use my Thursday mornings to relax at home, so I don't get to the market early."

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Pascal backs Keshi on Confed Cup

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Pascal backs Keshi on Confed Cup
May 31st 2013, 23:00

Patrick Pascal insists Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is right to make World Cup qualification his priority.

Nigeria have a make-or-break World Cup qualifier against  the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Nairobi on June.  They will  travel to Windhoek to face the Brave Warriors  of  Namibia on June 12 in another World Cup qualifier.

The Eagles will take on Oceania champions Tahiti in their first match in the  FIFA Confederations Cup in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on June 17. Keshi says  World Cup qualification for the country is his top priority.

"I will choose qualifying for the World Cup each time," SuperSport.com quoted the former Eagles captain as saying on Wednesday.

 "The FIFA Confederations Cup is also good but nothing beats or compares to the World Cup; that is the real deal."

Speaking to  our correspondent on the telephone during the week, Pascal said  Keshi had made a wise choice.

"I completely agree with him," the former Turkey and Belgium-based Eagles defender said.

"If a woman  wears a wedding gown and didn't getting to the venue for her wedding she hasn't wed, and she will not be addressed as a married woman.

"We've qualified for the Conferations Cup and  the Eagles will feature in the tournament  being African champions. But they  have yet to qualify for the World Cup.

"Nigeria can't afford to miss the World Cup in Brazil next year. So the team must do everything to get us there.

"Keshi won't be happy if the country is not there. He knows there will be much problems if we don't qualify.

"Keshi also knows what he will get if we qualify for the World Cup  he leads Nigeria to a respectable outing in the championship.

"He's right. The Confederations Cup is important, but it shouldn't be our priority."

The versatile Bauchi-born ex-Shooting Stars player tipped Nigeria to pick up three points in their World Cup qualifier against Kenya.

"Kenya have not beaten Nigeria and it will not be different this time around," he said.

Pascal, who was on the alternate list along with Abiodun Baruwa, Ndubuisi Ndah and Jonathan Akpoborie when Nigeria won football gold at the Atlanta'96 Olympic, however warned the Eagles not to underrate their opponents.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Boko Haram paid us N5,000 each to burn schools – Kid suspects

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Boko Haram paid us N5,000 each to burn schools – Kid suspects
May 31st 2013, 23:00

Some kid suspects released by military authorities in Maiduguri on Friday said the Boko Haram sect paid them N5,000 each to burn primary schools and spy on soldiers.

They were among 23 women and 35 children released to the governors of Borno and Yobe states by the Commander, 21 Armoured Brigade, Maiduguri, Brig-Gen. R.O Bamigboye, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa'ad Ibrahim.

The children, whose ages range between nine and 15 years, said they were given kegs of petrol by Boko Haram leaders and sent to burn schools in both states.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, government officials and journalists listened in bewilderment as the children narrated how they were used by the extremist sect to burn schools and spy on soldiers.

One of them said they were taken to the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, and told to spy on soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force and report back to the Boko Haram commanders.

He said, "We were taken to Damaturu. We watched out for the soldiers at their unit and reported back to them. We were reporting either when soldiers were at ease or enjoying themselves and when they were off guard and we were paid for doing that."

Another child suspect said, "I usually helped Boko Haram to leak information on military activities so that they could attack them (soldiers). My last job was to travel from Maiduguri to Gashua to spy on soldiers before I was caught."

Yet another said, "We usually help Boko Haram to carry stolen items each time and sometimes help them to give information about people they want to attack and sometimes even help to hide their guns after attacks. They pay us N5000 after every operation. I regret what I did, I want to go home and ask for forgiveness from my father and mother for what I did; I also want to go to school."

One of the boys said he was arrested last year after he was overheard talking about the people who burnt a school in Maiduguri and failed to inform the military.

"I was arrested because I know those who burnt the school without telling the soldiers. Some people heard me discussing about the people who burnt the school and reported me to the soldiers who arrested me," he said.

One of the teenagers said they were paid N5,000 and provided with fuel in kegs to set schools ablaze in Maiduguri.

The release of the suspects was done in line with the Federal Government's amnesty deal.

In Borno State, 20 detainees, comprising six women and 14 children arrested between 2012 and 2013 were set free and handed over to Shettima for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The 20 detainees were mostly arrested in Maiduguri, Bama in Borno and Damaturu in Yobe State.

Bamigboye, who supervised the handing over, said he was acting on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa'ad Ibrahim.

This, he said, was in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to the army.

He explained that the detainees were arrested in connection with the roles they played in the insurgency.

The six freed women were Hajia Zainab Mohammed, 40; Hajia Karagama Mohammed, 55; Hajia Zari Mohammed, 40; Aishatu Mohammed Aji, 62; Hadiza Ahmad, 40; and Yakaka Goni Habib, 16.

The 14 children released were Abba Modu Aji,10; Mohammed Musa, 12; Ibrahim Mohammed, 15; Umar Bukar, 15; Mustapha Umaru, 14; Bashir Ali, 12; Musa Grema, 13; Abba Mohammed, 14; Baba Alhaji, 13; AbdulAziz Umar, 14; Ari Masa'a, 14; Bayi Mustapha, 14; Mohammed Ibrahim, 14 and Alhaji Goni, 14.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Obama’s burden and curse of governance

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
Obama's burden and curse of governance
May 31st 2013, 23:00

The seeds of the present war were not sown during 9/11, but half a century before and were nurtured by US policies.

"These deaths will haunt us as long as we live…"

I hope so.

It would be nice to believe that the President of the United States, or any other leader, is actually haunted by the deaths of civilians at the hands of the military he commands.

In this case, the President was referring to civilians killed by American drone strikes in the Middle East and Central Asia. It is impossible to know the precise number – critics put the estimate at 1,000 or even higher – and until now the US government has attempted to minimise the number by claiming most of the dead were combatants, based on the rationale that any military-age male hit by a drone was most likely a combatant and thus a legitimate target.

This is not the way you clear away ghosts.

Indeed, if the President has been haunted by civilian deaths, many of the ghosts are of the men he executed merely because they possessed a certain "signature" – the way they looked or where they were at a specific moment. Imagine the uproar if the President was targeting young black or hispanic men for harassment or arrest, never mind termination, merely because of the clothes they were wearing or corner they were hanging out on (or because they responded to someone being blown up down the block or were even at a funeral of an alleged gang member, all of which has happened to civilian victims of US drone strikes).

Of course, the President would never do that. But young Muslim men living in what to Americans are "the most distant and unforgiving places on Earth"; well, maybe all those strikes haunt him enough to want to process them with his fellow Americans to help clear the air, and even his conscience. But they do not seem to be haunting him enough for him to end the practice.

If the President's speech on May 23 at the National Defense University reflected an unusual and very public expression of ambivalence about policies that are still being pursued by his administration, the ambivalence remains largely at the level of rhetoric rather than policy. The "appropriate balance between our need for security and preserving those freedoms that make us who we are", which the President declares he is trying to strike, is one that can only be achieved by understanding precisely who the "we" are that the administration's actions are trying to "secure", and then determining whether this "we" actually represents the American people and whether its security is in fact the goal – or at the least, a likely outcome – of his policies.

Twilight histories

"And so our nation went to war."

If the President is haunted by his actions, a core reason is likely because he has not, and indeed cannot, provide the proper historical context for understanding the present policies and why they seem to be producing such animosity abroad and, increasingly, concern inside the US. While the President traces the present moment back "over two centuries", and reminds his listeners that Americans have always been "deeply ambivalent about war", he refuses to shine light on the decades of US policy that contributed to the present dynamics of the "war on terror".

Inside Story Americas – How effective are US drone strikes?

Instead, he merely refers to the "long, twilight struggle of the Cold War" as part of the "price [that] must be paid for freedom". But was the Cold War really a "twilight war"? Tell that to the roughly 95,000 American soldiers killed in Korea and Vietnam, not to mention the millions of Koreans and Southeast Asians killed by American forces. Or to the – literally – countless people killed, governments overthrown and conflicts stoked in proxy wars across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and, finally, Afghanistan.

If these were all twilight wars, what does the President consider to be war in the light of day?

Does President Obama really not understand that when he describes a "group of terrorists [coming] to kill as many civilians as they could", people around the world are more likely to think of al-Qaeda than the US? To say this in no way diminishes the evil of al-Qaeda and Muslim terrorism; far from it. Rather, it points to the reality that the seeds of the present war were not sown at the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11. They were planted half a century before and were nurtured (whether carelessly or deliberately is another matter) by US policies that for decades put terror in the hearts of people around the world.

That other countries – the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Mao's China, and on and on – also pursued and supported oppression, violence and terror at home and abroad does not change the reality that terrorism has been a core tool in the arsenal of US strategic policies, whether diplomatic or kinetic, for as long as it has been a "great power". Indeed, if we consider the crucial role played by the cleansing and near extermination of Native Americans and of slavery in the first centuries of American history, the use of large scale violence against civilians to advance the interests of elites is at the core of America's political and cultural DNA.

Of course, that does not make the US "exceptional" (as its leaders are so fond of saying). It makes it all-too normal a country. But when every leader in memory has defined the US as "exceptional" for precisely the opposite reasons to what in actuality makes it normal, the cognitive dissonance makes it nearly impossible for Americans to come to grips with the root causes of the present global conflict in which it is enmeshed.

Roots of the 'war on terror'

This is why, when the President argues that "And so our nation went to war. We have now been at war for well over a decade. I won't review the full history…" he won't review the full history because he simply cannot review the full history. To provide a full, or even a fuller, historical accounting of the roots of the "war on terror" and how they impact current US policies, would be to reveal the moral bankruptcy of the very policies Obama is, quite literally, sworn to uphold.

When he next argues that "these threats don't arise in a vacuum", the President ironically can only sustain this claim by creating an ideological vacuum in which to contextualise it. Thus he argues that:

"Most, though not all, of the terrorism we face is fuelled by a common ideology – a belief by some extremists that Islam is in conflict with the United States and the West, and that violence against Western targets, including civilians, is justified in pursuit of a larger cause. Of course, this ideology is based on a lie, for the United States is not at war with Islam; and this ideology is rejected by the vast majority of Muslims, who are the most frequent victims of terrorist acts."

Of course the US is not at war with "Islam"; that is a straw man argument Obama, like his predecessor, is fond of deploying. But it is at war with millions of Muslims. What is more important here is that Obama, like Bush before him, is lying here: Most Muslim terrorism is not simply the product of a groundless and irrational ideology; it is a direct response to US and broader "Western" policies that either have directly oppressed, harmed and killed millions of people across the Muslim world, or supported governments that do so.

 

– Al Jazeera

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...