Situated in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Aridolf hotel is reportedly owned by Nigeria’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. According to Financial Times, “In the lobby, Louis XIV furniture is accompanied by bowls of plastic fruit, faux Dutch landscapes and a grotesquely gaudy chandelier. The hotel is redolent of the riches on display in a region that for half a century has generated the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth.” 
If US media reported the protests in Baltimore akin to similar events in Third World countries, the public would see the true nature of biased coverage in Maryland.
US media cover events that happen in the United States and in the rest of the world, especially those taking place in far-away, non-industrialized countries, in a very distinct manner.
— Angry TP Roll (@AngryTPRoll) April 28, 2015
A Washington Post reporter wrote an article “How Western Media Would Cover Baltimore if It Happened Elsewhere,” brilliantly pinpointing the double-standards and racist nature of US media coverage during the protests in Baltimore. Karen Attiah, the author of the story, deliberately chose wording and logic used by US media companies when covering a story about protests in some distant nation to describe the Baltimore protests.
The author writes:
“Black Americans, a minority ethnic group, are killed by state security forces at a rate higher than the white majority population. Young, black American males are 21 times more likely to be shot by police than white American males.”
Readers quickly picked up on the satirical story, providing their own thoughts on the events in Baltimore. A person with the nickname “Hehelta” said:
#freddiegray #baltimore #BaltimoreUprising #BALTIMORELOOTCREW Double standards, much ? pic.twitter.com/eDdZIEks6Z
— Ricky Riley (@epicarthouse) April 30, 2015
“When few rebels were killed in Darfur in 2003 after attacking a military garrison, killed many officers in cold blood and burned landed aeroplanes, American media callled that Genocide. Clooney, Save Darfur and other self-made activists wept crocodile tears. Now they are mute. Isn’t that hypocritical Apartheid??”
The use of certain racialized terms, such as “thugs,” “criminals,” as well as the overuse of the words “violence” and “riot” are mostly reserved to instances when protesters are predominantly Black, such as in the Baltimore protesters. However, when rioters are White, media labels them as “fans” or “revelers”. A reader named Optimo, caught onto this paradox as well:
“But yet when (white) Ohio State students light cars on fire after a football game, nobody calls them “thugs” — interesting.”
It is clear that there is more going on in Baltimore than what we can see when reported by CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and others. Mainstream US media choose not to cover the whole story, deliberately leaving out the peaceful side of the Baltimore protests. Instead, all we can hear about is “Riots Erupt,” “Night of Unrest,” “Rage” and “The Worst Moment in America’s History”.
Above is the Alenia ATR 42-500 MPA Surveyor plane, supposedly used to take aerial shots amid the invasion of Sambisa Forest by Nigerian troops earlier this week. The plane was utilized to detect Boko Haram camps and also detect their communication lines. See another photograph bellow.
Look at the comment area on this Genevieve Nnaji and Pete Edochie photograph. Nigerians transformed it into a kind of proverb challenge. haha…
The Defense Headquarters has reported the rescue of 234 more ladies and youngsters from Sambisa forest yesterday April 30th.
The military had earlier saved 293 females on Tuesday April 28th and another 160 young ladies yesterday April 30th.
One of the survivors of the Ode-Irele methanol poisoning in Ibadan, Mr. Olorunwa Jero, yesterday, recounted his ordeal in the throes of death.
Jero, a father of six, who is a vulcaniser, narrated: “By the time I was brought here, I had gone blind. I could not identify my wife, I could not identify anything. I did not even know when I arrived here. “But I thank God and the management and staff of University College Hospital, UCH, for bailing me out. I can see all of you here clearly. I can even identify the clothes each one of you is putting on.”
The victim commended the teaching hospital for its timely medical intervention which he said saved his life. Meantime, UCH management, yesterday, confirmed that five victims of Ode-Irele methanol poisoning were responding to treatment. The victims were said to have taken the methanol while consuming a local gin. Confirming that the toxin was detected in the blood and urine of the victims, Professor Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, UCH, said the five victims were transferred to the teaching hospital on April 18 adding that they had regained their lost sight as a result of taking the chemical.
Alonge, who said this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, warned people to be wary of taking local gin so as to avoid s similar unpleasant experience.
According to the CMD, series of tests were carried out on the victims and the samples of the three drinks they took.
The medical practitioner said: “On April 18, the Consultant Pathologist with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Osasan, called to seek the assistance of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, in the management of five patients who survived the Ode-Irele neuro-toxicity saga who were completely blind.
‘’We agreed to take over the management of the patients but requested for the samples of the local gin that were incriminated along the fresh blood and urine samples of the patients. ‘’I contacted the consultant neurologist on call, Dr. Steeve Oluwole for a comprehensive evaluation of the patients because of the clinical presentation of the patients that had died and the ones that survived since they all pointed to neurotoxicity”.
’In addition, the clinical pharmacologists led by Professor Catherine Falade, the laboratory scientists and specialists advisers to the hospital, Professor Segun Ademowo, were all contacted for the biochemical analyses of the blood of these patients as well as the urine in addition to the three samples of local gin that was reportedly consumed by the patients. He added that all the relevant health personnel worked for almost two weeks before they detected the likely cause of the neurotoxicity exemplified by sudden blindness and correlated their findings with the toxicants in the blood, urine and the local gin samples.
Culled from Vanguard.
Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday disclosed that she was diagnosed with cancer some years back and had her last surgery for it 15 years ago. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala spoke about her experience at the Service of Songs for late Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas yesterday April 30th. According to the Minister, she constantly used her experience to encourage Oronto during his battle with the disease which led to his death on April 9th.
“Oronto and I had two similarities in life, we both had cancer. I had my last surgery 15 years ago and I shared my experience with him,” she said.
She however did not state what type of cancer she had.
Lolo1 of Wazobia FM was hosted to a surprise birthday party at Club 57 during the weekend which was set up by her team and went to by companions, relatives, Wazobia FM team, Cool FM and superstars.
See more photos bellow.
Nigeria has been ranked the most sexually satisfied nation on the planet. As per a review did by condom producers, Durex over 26 nations, Nigeria was named the most sexually fulfilled nation on the planet.
The overview expresses that Nigerians spend no less than 24 minutes amid intercourse. Nations are positioned taking into account common love and regard between accomplices, flexibility from sexual brokenness, recurrence of sex and foreplay and an energizing sexual coexistence.
Here’s a pic of President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe as he declined to shake hands with one of the rulers of Zulu on the grounds that he latently watched his people kill other Africans. The pic is not recent however.
Aerial shots show Boko Haram individuals escaping Sambisa Forest as Nigerian troops raged the forest to save kidnapped men and ladies and annihilate their camps.
Watch the video bellow.
Begin from the 2.08 mark
This is the scene at the Africa Magic Igbo launch in Enugu yesterday evening time! Here are first photographs from the occasion..jpg)
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Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated a 19-member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition.
A statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Committee (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the terms of reference of the committee include to develop a clear framework for liaison with the out-going Administration for purposes of a smooth hand-over/take-over and to receive hand-over documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government It said the committee is also saddled with reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s out-standing contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.
The committee is also expected to undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area.
In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the Police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order and provide a brief over-view of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS. Other terms of reference of the committee include to suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that CHANGE will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after 6 months of the Administration taking office, and to make any other observations which in view of the Committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new Administration.
The committee has two weeks to conclude its work Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, the President-elect charged the committee to ”assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy. It is a simple matter that you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. ”Needless to repeat, that your Committee – and indeed our Government – are not on a witch-hunt or engaged in fault-finding. We want the facts and nothing but the facts.
What has been done can not be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar.” Gen. Buhari hailed the calibre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. He described the committee chairman, Malam Ahmed Joda, as one of the few surviving links between First Republic civil service to the present day, a man whose versatility includes farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigerian’s precious assets.
Full list of Transition Committee members:
1. Mal. Ahmed Joda – Chairman
2. Dr Doyin Salami – Vice-Chairman
3. Mr Boss Mustapha
4. Mal. Muhammad Hayatuddin
5. Alh. Abubakar Malami SAN
6. Brig. Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa
7. Sen. Hadi Sirika
8. Sen. Audu Ogbeh
9. Barrister Dalong
10. Mrs Bola Adesola
11. Mr Wale Edun
12. Mrs Nike Aboderin
13. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
14. Mr Festus Odimegwu
15. Chief John Oyegun
16. Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
17. Dr Tam David West
18. Alh.Lai Mohammed
19 Mal Adamu Adamu – Secretary
This is the thing that a Bride Price list looks like in Egbu, Imo State and its a 5 paged rundown! The spouse of the Egbu-born lady imparted these on Nairaland for all to see. Our Igbo brothers are not smiling !
A Borno-based pastor, Kallamu Dikwa, on Tuesday threatened to sue the State Security Service for alleged violation of his fundamental human rights.
The clergy lamented that his ordeal at the hands of the SSS began earlier this year when he publicly alleged that the Christian Association of Nigeria received N7 billion from the Presidency to garner support among the Christian community for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.
The Borno pastor petitioned the SSS Director General, Ita Ekpenyong, through his lawyers from the Right and Democracy Volunteers.
He reminded Mr. Ekpenyong of how SSS officials stri*ped him and forced him to make a statement under duress, recanting his earlier allegations.
“On the 16th March, 2015, Pastor Dikwa returned to the DSS headquarter with his lawyers in Abuja under their invitation through one Mr. Paul”, the petition stated. “The lawyer was denied being present during the chat. The interrogation officers, Felix and Tony stri*ped the pastor unclad and ordered him to make a statement under duress when they ordered him to copy verbatim a statement scripted by the DSS”.
A copy of the petition, made available to journalists in Kaduna, informed the SSS that the constitution of Nigeria guaranteed Mr. Dikwa’s inalienable rights, including the right to freedom of expression, respect to the dignity of his person, and right to liberty; all of which were conveniently infringed upon by the SSS.
The lawyers, therefore, demanded an apology and compensation as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the constitution.
“In this circumstances, we believe that Pastor Dikwa is entitled to N300 million compensation and a guarantee that he would no more be intimidated or harassed by operatives of the SSS without regard to the laws of this country”, the petition said.
“Having regard to the exigency of the situation, we have instructed our legal team to proceed to file a court action to protect the fundamental rights of Pastor Dikwa if after seven days hereof the SSS in its wisdom fails to remediate the matter in compliance with the petition.
“Pastor Dikwa may be a lone victim of circumstances, but he shall not be alone in fighting this violation of his rights”.
Urhobo militant bunch, Urhobo Gbagbako, on Wednesday asserted responsibility regarding two blasts that happened at two major gas trunklines in Delta State.
The storage compartment lines belong to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), situated on the boundaries of Afiesere and Ekredjebo communities and Otedo and Edjovwe groups both in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Here is an announcement released by Urhobo Gbagbako representative, Priest Omodjuvwu:
The University of Lagos convocation ended on Thursday with President Goodluck Jonathan and his minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, snubbing the three-day occasion.
The college likewise presented emeriti professorship on three resigned lecturers of the establishment. The beneficiaries are professors Olayide Abass, Francis Fajemirokun and Soga Sofola. The UNILAG bad habit professors -chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, praised Jonathan for serving to solidify the country’s democracy.
Bello said,
“Your exemplary role in the elections and particularly at the end of the presidential election proved the bookmakers wrong and elevated the stature of Nigeria in the comity of nations as a democracy.”
Jonathan, the VC added, supported manpower development as well as university education, especially with the Needs Assessment Funding Agreement targeted at upgrading the infrastructural decay in the nation’s ivory towers.
Bello, therefore, urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to consolidate on the gains of higher education from the outgoing administration and entrench the implementation of the Needs Assessment Funding programme.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday picked holes in the aftereffects of the March 28 presidential race, saying “the Peoples Democratic Party couldn’t have got those sorts of scores” it had in a few spots.
Jonathan, who talked not long after getting the report of the Senator Ahmadu Ali-led PDP Presidential Campaign Organization at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, however prompted that since the general decisions were over, the nation must be permitted to move forward.
He included that apart from himself that immediately surrendered annihilation to the All Progressives Congress applicant, Muhammadu Buhari, many PDP individuals likewise made penances in light of the fact that they were persecuted throughout electioneering.
The President said, “The problem is not whether we lost the elections, that is history, but how do we consolidate our party and move forward? If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will bounce back.
“The PDP is still the dominant party. If you look at the results, the difference is just 2.5 million votes and if you look at the areas where it is perceived that the PDP scored so low, the PDP couldn’t have got those kinds of scores but the elections are over, so the country first.
“It is not as if Jonathan alone made the sacrifice, it is all of us. I made the pronouncement but some of us are paying the price.
“Some people pay more price than I do, I know how some of you are already being persecuted and the kind of situation facing you.
“The key thing is that we must continue to unite, as a party; we must continue to work hard so that as we go into subsequent elections in 2019, 2023 and so on and so forth, the PDP will continue to come up strong. Even in the interest of the nation, we need the PDP.
“I still believe, though we have lost presidential election, some National Assembly elections, governorship elections especially in the North, the PDP is still the dominant party.
“Let us not judge the PDP by the results of the elections for the presidential election.
“Our duty is to go back and identify areas of challenges so that the party will come up strong and play the role as a very strong party. The PDP is still the most organised party, is still the party that is not owned by anybody, is still the party that whatever you are, you can get to any level with your competencies and so on.”
The President also said that all members of the PDP who defected to the APC would return with empty stomachs.
He said that it was not unlikely that the APC leaders would first settle their members before thinking of those who joined them midway.
Jonathan added that “food” might have finished before it gets to the turn of the PDP defectors .
He urged party faithful to remain committed to the PDP, adding that even if it was difficult in the beginning; their aim would be achieved at last.
The President said, “I encourage members of our party to remain loyal to the party; not to be so disillusioned because we lost presidential election and decide to go where they think they will fill their stomachs or something.
“It is not easy. I have been here for five years plus, you hardly satisfy even 15 per cent of those who work for you.
“So, those people running and those already cross-carpeting, they will come back on an empty stomach because they will touch the primary members of their party before they get to them.
“They know you are coming because you are hungry; and before it will get to you, the food will be gone.
“So, let us be committed to the party, yes we will have challenges at the beginning but surely we will get to where we want to be.”
The President said although he did not consult before calling Buhari on the telephone to concede defeat, he took that step on behalf of the PDP.
“Yes, I did not consult anybody before I made that phone call (to Buhari) but I made that phone call on behalf of all of you and on behalf of the PDP, “ he said.
Jonathan likened the 2015 elections to the nation’s civil war, saying people would give different accounts of the event depending on the angle from where they were reporting.
He however said because of his privileged position, he knew about the elections more than any other person.
He said the issue was not about his electoral loss, but the need to consolidate the party and move forward.
He said, “The issues of this 2015 elections will be similar to the civil war because different people gave different accounts of the civil war.
“The first book on civil war that I read was ‘My Command’ by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, which is his perspectives on what he saw and observed. I recall (Chukwuemeka) Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s own was ‘Because I’m Involved.’
“I know that the issues of the 2015 general elections, may be after few years when political scientists will write, we will get different perspectives.
“If you ask the various observer groups, each will give you a different perspective. Even among ourselves whenever we talk sometimes I laugh when people draw some of their analysis but by my privileged position, I know a little more about the elections than others.
“But the key thing is not whether we lost or won but that Nigeria as a nation must move forward. Political parties can only thrive when there is peace and stability in the country. If there is military intervention all the parties will disappear.”
The President also argued that despite the loss that the PDP suffered in all the elections, it remained the dominant party in the country.
Jonathan expressed delight that countries that brought ships to Nigeria and were waiting to evacuate their citizens in case post-election crisis broke out did not have any reason to do so. The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, attributed PDP’s loss to what he called conspiracies and betrayals by people trusted by the party chiefs.
Anenih however said they needed to put that behind them and look at how they could build a party that would serve as a vibrant opposition to the APC.
“There is a lot to be done. We need a very vibrant and strong party that can stand in as a strong opposition party; a party that can stand well in the next election. That party has to be put in place now. I believe that we are on the right path,” he said.
Ali said the lessons learnt from the elections would be used to wrest power from the APC in 2019.
He said it was saddening that the PDP lost despite all the energy it put into the electioneering.
Ali also said the report would provide a road map for the PDP to move forward.
He described the campaigns in the 36 states of the federation as largely successful except for a few incidents in some states.
