From the monthly archives: August 2011

Now that we have ‘moved forward’ (i)

On August 28, 2011 · In The Spectrum

It all began with a ‘dutiful’, uncharacteristically impatient Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; then only a harmless Vice-President of necessity; his terminally-ill principal, President Umaru Yar’Adua, bedded in far-away Saudi Arabia, a subject of needless ethno-regional controversy; and himself Ebele ‘luck-dependent’ as ever, and now virtually at the apogee of his most valuable political ‘manna’ yet from heaven, was –quite pardonably you might say- ‘covetously’ beside himself: enthusiasm-filled and waiting to grab the chisel to hew the very hedgy polity that he was, by the way, constitutionally heir to and about which Yar’Adua was raring to depart intestate!

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Nigerian judges are not ghosts: They live among us

On August 28, 2011 · In Nigeria Today

The appointment of Joshua- my childhood friend and classmate-to the position of high court judge several years ago presented an interesting experience that has refused to elude me. On the day the appointment was made, we — all his friends— trooped to his residence in celebration to congratulate him. He was, in fact, the first to be so honoured among us. But, then, although everyone of us looked happy over the development, the environment was rather too serene for a supposedly joyous occasion.

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Re: Tenure elongation

On August 28, 2011 · In Vista Woman

From the responses we got from our readers, it was obvious that many Nigerians were not at all impressed that the present administration are considering tenure elongation, in whatever form or nature. They feel, and rightly so, that that’s the least of our priorities.

‘Madam Helen, I agree totally with you that even discussing tenure of government is an unholy distraction in our country at this point in time. What are our leaders thinking of? Also, like you, I had a lot of faith in many of those who’ve just come on board to rule us.

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Job creation, road to economic recovery – Saraki

On August 28, 2011 · In Business

The immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki, recently visited home, during which he spoke on the economy and other matters. Excerpts:

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UN House Blast: We are on top of the situation – Jonathan

On August 27, 2011 · In News
Jonathan with journalists at the UN House.

BARELY 24 hours after terrorists bombed the United Nations, UN, building in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene of the blast, where he was conducted round by the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azaazi (rtd).

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Facebook shutting down online Deals program

On August 27, 2011 · In News

WASHINGTON-(AFP) – Facebook is ending a Deals program launched in April which offered online bargains like Groupon, LivingSocial and other companies.

“After testing Deals for four months, we’ve decided to end our Deals product in the coming weeks,” the Palo Alto, California-based social network said in a statement.

“We think there is a lot of [...]

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Obama takes charge at hurricane command centre

On August 27, 2011 · In News

US President Barack Obama warned Saturday the US east coast was in for a “long 72 hours” as he led his government’s response to Hurricane Irene at a disaster command center in Washington.

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3 dead as hurricane batters US east coast

On August 27, 2011 · In News

At least three people, including an 11-year-old, have died in storm-related incidents since Hurricane Irene slammed into the US east coast on Saturday, officials said.

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Dahiru Musdapher is new CJN

On August 27, 2011 · In News

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Honourable Justice Dahiru Musdapher as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) pending Senate confirmation.

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Al-Qaeda second-in-command killed in Pakistan

On August 27, 2011 · In News

The United States said Saturday that Al-Qaeda’s number two leader Atiyah abd al-Rahman had been killed in Pakistan, in what it said was another “tremendous blow” to the extremist group.

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Why we attacked UN building – Boko Haram

On August 27, 2011 · In News
Rescue operation at the scene of the blast

THE Yusifiyya movement popularly known as Boko Haram, Saturday, said that the reasons why they attacked the United Nations building in Abuja is because United States and the UN are supporting the Federal government of Nigeria in persecuting Muslims all over the country.

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9 UN staff confirmed dead after Abuja bomb

On August 27, 2011 · In News
The front office and first floor of the UN Building after the blast.

The United Nations on Saturday said nine of its staff members were confirmed dead after a suicide bomb attack on its headquarters in the Nigerian capital Abuja and dozens were hospitalised.

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Drogba taken to hospital after head injury

On August 27, 2011 · In Sports

Didier Drogba was taken to hospital after suffering a horrific head injury in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over 10-man Norwich on Saturday.

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Chelsea late show sinks Norwich, but Drogba injured

On August 27, 2011 · In Sports

Chelsea left it late to clinch a 3-1 victory over 10-man Norwich that was marred by a serious injury suffered by Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

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