The travails of Apostle Johnson Suleiman and the inciting words of the Sultan of Sokoto (Part 2) By FFK

An article written by Femi-Fani Kayode.
President Donald J. Trump summed it up rather well when he said, in reference to the Islamist terrorists and those that derive joy from committing genocide against Christians, that "they are sneaky dirty rats. They blow up people in a shopping centres and they blow up people in a church".
He went on to say "we are fighting sneaky rats right now that are sick and demented. And we are going to win.”

Finally he said, "the execution of Christians is no longer acceptable".

How right President Trump is. I thank God for his life every day. With him as leader of the free world, win we shall.

Yet sadly our Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who is undoubtedly a fine gentleman and who is a practising Pentecostal Christian, appears to be helpless and has done absolutely nothing to help and protect his own from the "sneaky dirty rats".

Clearly he has no power and he does not have the disposition or the political will and clout to take a stand against this great evil.

The best he could do was to issue a tepid statement telling Nigerian religious and political leaders not to allow religion to drive us apart.

He did not condemn the genocide that was being perpetrated by the Fulani militias and neither did he commiserate with the families of those that were butchered or express regret about the inability of the Federal Government to prevent the carnage.

The persecution and killings of Christians appears to just goes on and on even when we have a man that is a Christian as our Acting President.

Yet consider what happens when Christian leaders complain and speak out against the mass murder, the genocide and the insidious attempt to wipe away our faith from the face of the earth.

When our Christian clerics and political leaders rise up and call on Christians to defend themselves and their families where and when the state refuses or is unable to defend them against the practitioners of radical Islamic terror and the barbaric and cruel Fulani Janjaweed militias, our government starts storming their homes, locking them up and inviting them for questioning.

President Buhari and his government is arresting, questioning, detaining and harassing those that are being subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide on a daily basis and they are turning a blind eye to those that are inciting and doing the killing!!!

I say shame on them. And let this be made abundantly clear: no-one is intimidated or scared of arrest or even death because eventually death must come to us all.

There are at least 100 million Christians in Nigeria today and Buhari cannot kill us all or lock us all up.

To the last man and woman we will continue to call on our people and our brothers and sisters in Christ to defend themselves, their homes and their loved ones wherever and whenever they are attacked by those that hate and seek to wipe out our faith where the government of the day refuses or fails in its constitutional duty to defend and protect us.

The Christians of Nigeria will no longer behave like lambs that are silently being led to the slaughter. We will no longer be killed without a fight.

Our God and our constitution requires us to protect our own and fight back when we are attacked and that is precisely what we will do.

The great American patriot and one of the principal players in the war of independence against British colonial rule, Thomas Jefferson said,

"When injustice becomes a law, resistance becomes a duty."

The leaders and the people of Nigeria need to learn from these profound words and take a cue from them.

Nobody likes violence and no-one wants a religious war. Peace and peaceful co-existence has always been our preference and has always been the Christian way.

However it must be clearly understood that if the radical Muslims in our midst insist on waging a bloody Jihad against us, we will not sit by idly and we will defend ourselves. Everyone must be clear on this. It would be a case of mutually assured destruction.

That is why the violence and the genocide that the Fulani militants are indulging in and perpetrating all over the north against Christians must stop.

That is why they must be arrested, prosecuted and hanged for their crimes against humanity.

His grace Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde of the Methodist Church got it right when he said,

"Suleiman should be law-abiding, let him go and face the DSS. Let us see if they will detain him and they will detain so many religious leaders in Abuja. Nigeria is greater than any religion and Nigeria is greater than anybody. The DSS should watch it. If they like, let me be the next victim. What is annoying them is that Suleiman converted from Islam to Christianity. Self-defence is permissible; they slapped our first cheek. They slapped the second cheek and we have no other cheek to turn for them. We may therefore resort to self-defence because this thing is becoming intolerable.”

The Prelate has spoken the mind of every right-thinking Christian in the country. Whatever happens to us as individuals does not matter. The only thing that matters is the defence of our people and our Church and the survival of our faith.

The Apostle Paul tells us in the Holy Bible that "to live is Christ and to die is gain". Consequently we do not fear what any man, any government or any cruel despot and tyrant can do to us.

Rather we count it all as joy. When we are absent in the body, we are present with the Lord. As they say, Christians don't die: they only change address.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was spread by the blood of the martyrs and the suffering and sacrifice of the saints.

The history of the Christian faith and the Church over the last 2000 years since the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is replete with examples of such suffering and sacrifice.

The matter is simple and clear: the more Christians you torment, persecute, lock up and kill, the more the glorious gospel of our Lord and master will flourish and grow. It is a deep and inexplicable mystery but it is very real.

You cannot kill Christianity. You cannot shake our faith. You cannot stop the spreading of the gospel. You cannot deny us our rights. You cannot overwhelm us. You cannot intimidate us and you cannot defeat the God that we serve.

And, like Pharaoh, some may ask "who is this God?" The answer is as follows:

He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Blood of the Sprinkling, the Holy One of Israel and the I Am, That I Am.

He is the Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Lamb of God, the Lord of Life, the El Shaddai, the Elohim, the Adonai and the Ancient of Days.

He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the God of Gideon, Jeptha and Samson. He is the God of Moses, Joshua and David and the God of Daniel, Shedrack, Mishak and Abendego.

He is the solid Rock on which we stand and the holy foundation on which Peter built the Church. He is the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless. He is the defender of the weak, the healer of the sick and the provider for the poor.

He is the Comforter whose Holy Spirit hovers like a small white dove and who roars and burns like a conquering lion and an all-consuming fire.

He is the Seven-fold Spirit of the Heavenly Hosts and the source and power of the four great winds of the earth.

He is the Man of War, the Prince of Peace, the Creator of the Universe and the Lord of Hosts.

He is the God of the Armies of Israel, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end and the giver and taker of life.

He is the God of all flesh who holds the universe together by the power of His word. He is the slayer of Pharaoh and Herod: none can stand against Him and creation bows before Him.

That is who He is and not even one hundred million inciting words from the Sultan of Sokoto or anyone else can change that.

For the Christians of Nigeria, despite all that we see, we must always remember that He is with us and, in the end, He will make all things beautiful.

We must shed our fears and, if nothing else, we must always remember that "to live is Christ and to die is gain!!!"

May the Lord deliver His people from the rising tide of evil in our country and may He strike down those that delight in shedding the blood of His children and in crushing the bones of His servants. Shalom. (Concluded.)

Three die in Port Harcourt’s first rain of the year - Precious Dikewoha

•Homes destroyed, telecoms masts fall
•Govt: we’ve revoked permits for billboards
Three persons were confirmed dead and several homes destroyed at Monday night’s rains in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The downpour, which was accompanied by a thunder storm, also destroyed seven telecommunications masts and 25 advertising boards.
It was Garden City’s first rainfall in the year.
Some of the telecoms masts and advertising boards fell on homes, destroying goods and property estimated at millions of naira.
At Nkpolu School in Port Harcourt City Local Government, a telecoms mast fell on a 16-year-old boy, who was reportedly hawking pure water for his mother.
He was said to have died instantly.
Two other persons were seriously injured when advertising billboards fell on their homes.
The victims were rushed to hospital but did not make it. They were confirmed dead yesterday.
One of the victims, Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, whose shop and goods were destroyed when an advertising billboard fell on it, said two of his workers were injured and almost trapped.
He said: “I’m hoping that the government will come to our aid. Though I thank God that my workers didn’t die, because when the advertising billboard fell on the roof, it brought down the building. But we were able to bring them out.
“The rain was violent. It pulled down the advertising structures. This billboard has been here for more than 10 years. I am not asking for compensation but they should rebuild the shop because it will cost me more than N3 million to rebuild and I don’t have that kind of money.”
Mrs. Marry Ordu lost her three–year-old daughter to a telecoms mast.
In tears, she urged the owner of the mast to revive her daughter.
Culled from Nation

Trump Signs Order To Withdraw From Mega Trade Deal With Asia

Donald Trump has signed the order on withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Washington:  President Donald Trump began recasting America's role in the global economy Monday, canceling an agreement for a sweeping trade deal with Asia as one of his first official White House actions.

After meeting with business executives to discuss the U.S. manufacturing industry, Trump headed to the Oval Office to sign an executive order formally ending the United States' participation in the TransPacific Partnership. The move was largely symbolic -- the deal was unlikely to make it through Congress -- but served to signal that Trump's tough talk on trade during the campaign will carry over to his new administration.

That could point to contentious negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement down the road. Trump repeatedly promised to reopen the 22-year-old deal with Mexico and Canada while on the campaign trail, and he reiterated his threat to punish U.S. companies that build factories abroad in brief remarks on Monday.

Trump's protectionist rhetoric is part of a global backlash against the drive toward greater internationalization that has existed since the end of World War II. British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is in the midst of navigating her country's own break from established trading partners, is slated to visit with Trump later this week. A White House spokesman said meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Prime Minister Enrique Pena Nieto are in the works.

"What we want is fair trade," Trump said during his meeting with executives. "And we're gonna treat countries fairly, but they have to treat us fairly."

Among the business leaders Trump met with Monday was Dow Chemical Chief Executive Andrew Liveris, who said the the president tasked the executives to return in 30 days with a plan to shore up the manufacturing industry. He said there was extensive discussion of Trump's threat to impose border tax on U.S. companies that build factories in other countries and ship the goods back home -- a proposal that is shaping up to be a centerpiece of Trump's trade policy.

"I would take the president at his word here," Liveris said. "He's not going to do anything to harm competitiveness. He's going to actually make us all more competitive."

Still, it remains unclear exactly how the tax would be implemented. Testifying before the Senate finance committee last week, Trump's nominee to lead the Treasury Department said any border tax would be targeted at specific businesses. However, the president does not have the power to levy taxes, and international trade experts have warned singling out companies could violate existing treaties.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed allowing businesses that export goods to deduct many of their expenses, while those that import would not receive the same benefit. But in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump dismissed the plan, known as border adjustment, as "too complicated."

Economists have warned that many of Trump's proposals -- including suggestions that he would impose blanket double-digit tariffs on goods from Mexico and China -- could backfire on the American economy by causing prices to rise or igniting a trade war. And business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had lobbied extensively for passage of TPP, touting the deal as an engine of job growth and an important check on China's growing ambitions.

"TPP withdrawal will slow US [economic] growth, cost American jobs, & weaken US standing in Asia/world," said Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said in a tweet early Monday. "China could well be principal beneficiary."

But other industry groups argued that Trump's approach would better leverage America's status as the world's largest economy. Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said his group is hoping that opening up NAFTA could provide more leeway to combat currency manipulation in countries outside the agreement. His group, which represents both industry and unions, is also seeking more stringent rules of origin that dictate how much production must occur with member countries to qualify for free trade status.

"The details are going to matter a lot," Paul said. "Renegotiating NAFTA obviously entails some risks and some rewards."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Culled from NDTV

Pope Francis will 'wait and see' before judging Donald Trump as he warns against rise of leaders like Adolf Hitler-ByChristopher Bucktin

The Pontiff made the comments as the new US leader was being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States

Pope Francis has warned against the rise of populist leaders (Photo: Getty)

Pope Francis has warned against the rise of populist leaders like Adolf Hitler saying he would “wait and see” before making a judgement on Donald Trump .
The Pontiff made the comments as the new US leader was being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.
Francis urged Trump to be guided by ethical values, saying he must take care of the poor and the outcast during his time in office .
"I think that we must wait and see. I don't like to get ahead of myself nor judge people prematurely," the Pope told Spanish newspaper El Pais.
"We will see how he acts, what he does, and then I will have an opinion.

The Pope says he will "wait and see" before he judges Donald Trump (Photo: Getty Images North America)

"But being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite unwise. It would be like prophets predicting calamities," he said.
The Pope warned Europeans against populism, saying they should not repeat the same mistakes as in the 1930s when they turned to "saviours" to resolve the economic and political crisis only to end up at war.
"Crises provoke fear, alarm. In my opinion, the most obvious example of European populism is Germany in 1933” he said.

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President Trump slams the "lying" media during CIA speech

“A people that were immersed in a crisis, that looked for its identity until this charismatic leader came and promised to give their identity back, and he gave them a distorted identity, and we all know what happened.
“In times of crisis, we lack judgement, and that is a constant reference for me... That is why I always try to say: talk among yourselves, talk to one another.”

Police arrest Premium Times publisher, Olorunyomi, - Tope Templer Olaiya

Dapo Olorunyomi

The Nigeria police yesterday raided the head office of an online medium, Premium Times in Abuja, and arrested the newspaper’s publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, alongside the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.
Plain-clothes officers conducted a search at the office shortly after 5:00p.m. yesterday and said they were acting on a complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
The arrests came days after Premium Times turned down the army’s demand to retract news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.

The paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, condemned the raid. “They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate Premium Times,” said Mr. Mojeed. “They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”
He said the paper will continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices, social responsibility and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties.”
The Nigerian Army had recently written to the newspaper, threatening to sue the paper for what it termed unwarranted serial provocative, unauthorised, libelous and defamatory publication” against the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant General, and the army’s counter-insurgency operation in the north-east of the country.
The letter, dated December 22, 2016, and signed by I.M Alkali, a major general, on behalf of Mr. Buratai, accused the paper of publishing reports without reference to the army, adding that its stories exposed a “deep hatred for the leadership of the Nigerian Army.”
The letter expressed displeasure with three stories published by the medium between October and December last year.
The reports were those on the planned invitation of Buratai by the Code of Conduct Bureau for asset verification, the disappearance of a high number of soldiers after a Boko Haram attack and an investigation detailing how soldiers allegedly killed a kidnapped pastor and labeled him a kidnapper.
The army in its letter described the reports as “false,” “unsubstantiated,” and “unprofessional.”
Premium Times, had last week, through its lawyers, delivered a detailed response to the army, affirming its stories, and unequivocally rejecting the demand for retractions and apology.
The paper, instead, asked the army to write a letter within seven days of receiving its reply, withdrawing the allegations and threats against it and its staff, or risk being sued.
Jiti Ogunye, the newspaper’s principal counsel, who signed the response, took the army to task on the “grave implications” of its letter, describing the letter as a threat to the wellbeing and life of Premium Times’ staff.
“By your letter you have threatened the lives of our clients, and our clients are thus obliged to put the public on notice that should any harm come to them, you, the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army should be held accountable,” he wrote.
Ogunye said the “chilling threats” contained in the army’s letter was an affront on the constitutional guarantee of civilian control of the army and the freedom of the press.
The newspaper also claimed the army lied when it denied a report that its troops were being deployed to The Gambia as part of efforts to force President Yahya Jammeh from staying put in office.
In a report entitled Nigeria raises troops for The Gambia, ready to remove Yahya Jammeh last week Thursday, the paper said the army was sending a battalion of about 800 soldiers drawn from the 19 Battalion, Okitipupa, Ondo State, to The Gambia, possibly as part of a sub regional Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) intervention force.

Source: Guardian

Man aged 50 charged with murder after body of 'much loved' mum found in a suitcase BySteve RobsonAdrian Troughton and Richard Wheatstone

Ashwin Daudia, 50, will appear in court in Leicester charged with the murder of Kiran Daudia

Kiran Daudia who was found dead in Cromer Street, Leicester (Photo: Leicestershire Police)

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A man has been charged with murder after the body of a 'much loved' mum was found in a suitcase.
Kiran Daudia, 46, was found dead in a Leicester alleyway yesterday morning.
Leicestershire Police said last night they had charged Ashwin Daudia, 50, with murder and remanded him in custody.
Daudia, of Lyme Road, Leicester, will appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Ms Daudia's family paid tribute to her saying: "Kiran was a much loved mum, daughter, sister and auntie, and she will be deeply missed by us all.
"We ask that our privacy be respected during this very difficult time."

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Police examine the scene after a body is found in a suitcase

Forensics officers are working at the scene (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS)

The body was discovered in a nearby alleyway (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS)

Neighbour Mohammed Asgar Pathan, 49, who lives just a few doors away from the Cromer Street, told the Leicester Mercury: "It is very worrying so close to my home.
"I came home at about 12.30pm on Tuesday to see all the police activity.

"They brought what I thought was a body out at about 3pm.
"The police came to the house last night and told us that a lady had been found in a suitcase."

Police have charged Ashwin Daudia with murder (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS)

Forensics officers searched one address nearby (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS.com)

Neighbours at the scene suggested there had been fears for a woman living locally who hadn't turned up for work at a local Next factory.
One colleague said: "It's scary, like something out of a film."

Police remain at the scene (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS.com)

Forensics officers have been examining the scene (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS.com)

Police have searched a nearby house (Photo: Leicester Mercury / SWNS.com)

Forensics officers appear to have been searching a nearby house as investigations continue at the scene.
Another neighbour added: "It's absolutely terrible. My wife’s scared.
"It's normally a quiet area but when things like this happen you feel that you want to see more police."

Culled from Mirror

Troops, Nigerian warship head for Gambia to sack Jammeh

Olaleye Aluko and Afeez Hanafi

Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation.

The PUNCH learnt from a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.

It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.

He said, “I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

“That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.

“The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.”

Another military source added, “The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.”

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.

The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said, “We should not drag the Nigerian military into a political issue. What is happening is a political discussion between the ECOWAS leaders, aimed at solving a political impasse in one of its member states.

“Whatever they agreed to do is what will happen. Therefore, the military is not for any engagement regarding Jammeh or any other person for that matter.”

Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat by congratulating Barrow, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.

Despite interventions by the African Union and ECOWAS, Jammeh insisted he would not hand over power to Barrow.

This stance informed the decision of the leaders to withdraw their recognition for Jammeh as the Gambian president after Thursday.

Meanwhile, Jammeh, on Tuesday, declared a 90-day state of emergency 24 hours to the end of his tenure.

He warned security forces against violating the order or engaging in acts likely to cause a breach of the peace, and denounced “foreign interference in The Gambia’s election.”

The declaration of a state of emergency by the embattled President followed a rejection of his injunction to stop Barrow’s inauguration by the Gambian Chief Justice, Emmanuel Fagbenle, on Monday.

In a televised announcement on Tuesday, Jammeh said, “Any acts of disobedience to the laws of the Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace are banned under the state of emergency.”

He directed security forces to “maintain absolute peace, law and order.”

Barrow is currently in Senegal and due to security fears, he was unable to attend the funeral of his eight-year-old son, who died on Monday after a dog bite.

Culled from Punch

The Bush Sisters Wrote the Obama Girls A Letter

• Barbara Bush @ghcorps
• Jenna Bush Hager @JennaBushHager

Leigh Vogel—Getty Images Jenna Bush-Hager and Barbara Bush attend the George W. Bush and Laura Bush Portrait unveiling at the White House on May 31, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Bush is the CEO and co-founder of Global Health Corps

Hager is a correspondent for the TODAY Show

Malia and Sasha, eight years ago on a cold November day, we greeted you on the steps of the White House. We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home. We left our jobs in Baltimore and New York early and traveled to Washington to show you around. To show you the Lincoln Bedroom, and the bedrooms that were once ours, to introduce you to all the people—the florists, the grounds-keepers and the butlers—who dedicate themselves to making this historic house a home. The four of us wandered the majestic halls of the house you had no choice but to move in to. When you slid down the banister of the solarium, just as we had done as 8-year-olds and again as 20-year-olds chasing our youth, your joy and laughter were contagious.

In eight years, you have done so much. Seen so much. You stood at the gates of the Robben Island cell where South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, your arms around your father. You traveled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education—girls who saw themselves in you, saw themselves in your parents, saw who they could become if they continued to study and learn. You attended state dinners, hiked in national parks, met international leaders and managed to laugh at your dad’s jokes during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, all while being kids, attending school and making friends. We have watched you grow from girls to impressive young women with grace and ease.

And through it all you had each other. Just like we did.

Now you are about to join another rarified club, one of former First Children—a position you didn’t seek and one with no guidelines. But you have so much to look forward to. You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years.

Never forget the wonderful people who work at the White House. Our greeter as 7-year-olds at our grandfather’s Inauguration was Nancy, the White House florist, who ushered us in from the cold. She helped us make colorful bouquets of winter flowers for our grandparents’ bedside. Twenty years later, Nancy did the flowers for Jenna’s wedding. Cherish your own Nancy. We stay in touch with our Secret Service. They were part of growing up for us: there for first dates, first days and even an engagement and a honeymoon. We know it wasn’t always easy—the two of you and the two of us were teenagers trailed by men in backpacks—but they put their lives on hold for us.

Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did. And you won’t have the weight of the world on your young shoulders anymore. Explore your passions. Learn who you are. Make mistakes—you are allowed to. Continue to surround yourself with loyal friends who know you, adore you and will fiercely protect you. Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight. Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter.

Take all that you have seen, the people you have met, the lessons you have learned, and let that help guide you in making positive change. We have no doubt you will. Traveling with our parents taught us more than any class could. It opened our eyes to new people as well as new cultures and ideas. We met factory workers in Michigan, teachers in California, doctors healing people on the Burmese border, kids who lined the dusty streets of Kampala to see the American President, and kids with HIV waiting to get the antiretroviral drugs that would save their lives. One tiny girl wearing her finest lavender dress looked young, which she was not. She was little because she was sick. Her mom admitted that she might not live to see these drugs work, but her brothers and sisters would. After meeting this girl, Barbara went back to school and changed her major, and her life’s path.

You have lived through the unbelievable pressure of the White House. You have listened to harsh criticism of your parents by people who had never even met them. You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines. Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we.

Barbara Bush is a co-founder and the CEO of Global Health Corps. Jenna Bush Hager is a correspondent for the Today show. 

Culled from Time

Nigeria raises troops for Gambia, ready to remove Jammeh

The Nigerian Army has raised an army battalion that would be deployed in troubled Gambia to forcefully remove President Yahya Jammeh from power if he fails to step down on January 19, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.
The battalion, christened ECOMOG NIBATT 1, was drawn from the Army’s 19th Battalion based in Okitipupa, Ondo State, military insiders have told PREMIUM TIMES.
Personnel were also drawn from other formations and units across the country due to shortage of men at 19 Battalion which has a significant chunk of its troops deployed for internal security task force, Operation Delta Safe.
This newspaper learnt that the Army Headquarters has instructed the nominated officers and men, put at over 800, to immediately report at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, for a crashed course on counter terrorism and counter insurgency.
Our sources said Army Headquarters has also instructed the Army directorates of policy and plans; finance; and logistics to ready funds, arms, ammunition and other logistics for the operation.
The Armoured Corps is also working hard to ready armoured vehicles needed for the task, officials said.
There were suggestions by some of our sources that the Nigerian Air Force and the Navy might deploy men and equipment for the operation as well.
Top military officers said the Nigerian Battalion would be deployed in The Gambia anytime after January 19 if President Jammeh makes real his threat not to step down after the expiration of his tenure.
“This is an emergency operation, but we are ready,” one officer said. “The Nigerian Army is a strong, professional fighting force battle ready at anytime. We are so well structured that we can deploy at the touch of a button.
“We did it in Liberian, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. And Jammeh should know that we are not a joking force. Once we get the all clear from ECOWAS, the AU and the UN to move in, we can pick him up.”
The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had on December 23 put standby military forces on alert.
The ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel de Souza, said Senegal, The Gambia’s only territorial neighbour, would lead any military operation in the country.
Other West African countries will be mandated to provide troops as well, Mr. De Souza reportedly said.
Mr. Jammeh lost the December 1 2016 Gambia presidential election to opposition candidate, Adama Barrow.
He initially accepted defeat and congratulated Mr. Barrow but changed his mind and decided to challenge the outcome of the election.
He also vowed not to hand over to the winner as expected on January 19.
On Thursday, Mr. Jammeh said he would not step down before a Supreme Court decision on the disputed election, the BBC reported.
The President, the report said, insisted his cabinet and the National Assembly would remain in place until the Supreme Court rules on his party’s petition.
There is currently shortage of judges in the country to sit on the matter.
The case can only be heard in May if Nigeria agrees to supply judges to the Supreme Court.
West African leaders, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the chief mediator, are travelling to Gambia on Friday to persuade Mr. Jammeh to accept an “honourable exit plan”.

Culled from Sun

Donald Trump denies he paid prostitutes to urinate on his hotel bed because he's a 'germaphobe'-Mikey Smith

The President elect was forced to deny paying prostitutes to urinate on him in a dirty protest against Barack Obama

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Donald Trump responds to leaked 'fake news' Russia dossier

Donald Trump, the President elect of the United States, today denied paying prostitutes to urinate on his Moscow hotel bed, because he's "a germaphobe".
Mr Trump was responding to allegations in the Watersportsgate documents, which claim he staged the event as a 'dirty protest' against Barack Obama, who had previously stayed in the hotel suite.
At his first press conference since winning November's presidential election, he said the claims were "phony news from sick people" - specifically attacking CNN, who broke the story and BuzzFeed, who published the document.
He said he was very careful to look out for hidden cameras when he travels overseas, including on trips to Russia.

(Photo: REUTERS)

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• Donald Trump says Watersportsgate is 'phony news from sick people'

“I’m a very high profile person would you say?” he said.
“I’m surrounded by bodyguards, surrounded by people, I always tell them... In your hotel rooms and wherever you go you’re going to probably have cameras.
“In those rooms you have cameras in the strangest places... You’d better be careful or you’ll be watching yourself on nightly TV. I tell this to people all the time.”

(Photo: Getty)

He said he visited Moscow to attend the Miss Universe contest in 2013, which he insisted: “did very well”.
He added: “I’m also very much of a germaphobe by the way!”
While urine is not sterile, as has been commonly believed, current research suggests any bacteria present is at 'low levels.'

Culled from Mirror

Three Killed, Many Injured As Cult Boys Clash In Lagos

No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead, while several others were injured in two separate clashes between rival cults in Lagos.

The two incidents occurred on Olorunfunmi Street, Oworonshoki; and Muri Ojora Street, Amukoko.

It was learnt that one Bayo Morebise, aged 37, was killed in the Oworonshoki clash, while 28-year-old Lekan Makinde and one other, identified as Area, were hacked to death in Amukoko.

In the Amukoko clash, which happened around 4pm on Sunday, it was gathered that one Emmanuel, said to be a member of a rival cult to Makinde’s gang, went into a coma and was taken to a hospital in the community.

A resident of Amukoko, who spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity for fear of attack, said many people were injured while scampering to safety.

He said, “It all started with a scuffle between two boys on the street, who belonged to rival cults. About 30 minutes after they were separated, members of the two factions – Eiye Confraternity and Aiye Confratenity – mobilised and started chasing one another with cutlasses. People fell and got injured while trying to run to safety.

“The chaos stopped after policemen from the Amukoko division arrived at the scene. Three persons were hacked. Two of them, Lekan (Makinde) and one boy called Area, died from the injuries they sustained. One other boy (Emmanuel) was rushed to a hospital for treatment. Around 10pm, they regrouped and clashed again.”

Another resident, who gave his name only as Tomi, told Punch that the peace of the community had been under threat as a result of clashes, calling on security agencies to go after the hoodlums.

“This community is volatile and hoodlums foment trouble at will. They are jobless and not ready to work. When responsible persons are engaged in the day, you will find them hanging around, smoking. It is when we are relaxing outside in the evening that they will start their trouble. The two deaths recorded on Saturday were just one of many atrocities they had perpetrated.

“Once these miscreants are arrested, they should be made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others. Something has to be done to curb the attacks. Besides, these people live around children, who can easily be influenced negatively,” Tomi said.

In the Oworonshoki incident, which occurred on Saturday, it was learnt that operatives attached to the anti-crime patrol team of the Oworonshoki Police Station were mobilised to the scene after receiving a distress call.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Morebise’s killing, saying the case was under investigation.

Source: Punch /olufamous

The U.S. Dropped an Average of 3 Bombs Per Hour Last Year

U.S. Bombed Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia in 2016

by F. Brinley Bruton

The Afghan war and the evolution of Obama 8:27

The U.S. dropped an average of 72 bombs every day — the equivalent of three an hour — in 2016, according to an analysis of American strikes around the world.
The report from the Council of Foreign Relations comes as Barack Obama finishes up his presidency — one that began with promises to withdraw from international conflicts.
According to the New York City-based think tank, 26,171 bombs were dropped on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan during the year.
CFR warned that its estimates were "undoubtedly low, considering reliable data is only available for airstrikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya, and a single 'strike,' according to the Pentagon's definition, can involve multiple bombs or munitions."


Some 24,287 bombs were used in Iraq and Syria, where the U.S. is helping drive ISIS militants from swaths of both countries. In 2015, the U.S. dropped 22,110 bombs in Iraq and Syria, CFR reported.
Last year saw a sharp uptick in strikes in Afghanistan, with 1,337 compared with 947 in 2015, CFR found.
The study, which drew data from a variety of military and press sources, showed that three bombs were dropped on Pakistan during 2016, 14 in Somalia and 34 in Yemen.

A similar study looking at 2015 showed that 11 bombs were dropped in Pakistan during the year, 58 in Yemen and 18 in Somalia. The 2015 analysis did not include Libya.
When he was campaigning for president in 2008, Obama pledged that when he became commander-in-chief he would "set a new goal on day one: I will end [the Iraq] war."
Upon accepting the Democratic nomination that year, Obama again outlined priorities that would make the country safer, saying: "I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan."
However, ISIS later seized parts of Syria and Iraq — and the Taliban won back territory in Afghanistan as the number of NATO troops in the country dwindled.

Culled from NBC News

Why China withholds $20b concession loan to Nigeria - Chuka Odittah

Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE

Presidency official blames negative economic growth
Multiple negative growth recorded in the economy in 2016 has been identified as one of the reasons the Chinese government withheld a $20 billion concession loan earlier promised Nigeria upon due verification, The Guardian has learnt.
A top Presidency source privy to the development told The Guardian that the Federal Government had been hopeful that the Chinese government would release the loan last year, given the relationship between the two countries, but expressed disappointment that the money was withheld.
The action of China may well be an indication of the loss of confidence in Nigeria’s credit worthiness by the global financial community. Analysts have predicted that the current economic downturn would dent the country’s credit worthiness. The situation has increased the concern over Federal Government’s ability to borrow the $30billion for infrastructure development, which the National Assembly has refused to approve.

According to the source, government immediately swung into action after the President’s return from a visit to China as well as the follow-up visit of the Budget and National Planning Minister, Udo Udoma, to immediately fulfill the conditions for accessing the loan. “We were very hopeful that we would secure that loan and other levels of assistance from the Chinese government. This is not to say we have given up though. We had set up an inter-ministerial committee working closely with the Chinese government officials as well as the China Exim Bank experts. They may have their reasons, but we are determined to fulfill our end of the bargain, and the Federal Government has already appropriated large sums for payment of counterpart funds on key projects to enable us to commence work proper,” the source said.
In 2015, China had, at a summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, pledged a $60 billion assistance to countries on the continent, including Nigeria, to develop and grow their infrastructure and human development capacities.
The move was not surprising as China had remained the continent’s top trade partner for six consecutive years.
The Chinese government said $35 billion had been set aside for concessionary loans, out of which about $10 billion was to go into the China -Africa Fund for Production Capacity. About $5 billion each was earmarked as non-interest grants for China-Africa Development Fund, and special loan schemes for the development of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) among qualified African countries. The funds were said to have been on ground for prompt disbursement.
The Federal Government had last year planned to raise a total of N2.2 trillion through external borrowings from China and other foreign finance institutions to fund the deficit in the 2016 budget, the implementation of which it said would continue till May 2017.
Unexpectedly, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – which measures the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period, suffered a steady decline from quarter to quarter in 2016, sending negative signals to investors and lowering Nigeria’s credit worthiness in the international financial market.

In the first quarter (Q1) of 2016, the Nigerian economy contracted by -0.36%, followed by further contraction by -2.06% in Q2, even as the slide continued in Q3 to -2.24%. Hopeful that the concession loan and other categories of financial assistance from China would be approved early, President Muhammadu Buhari led a delegation to Beijing in April last year to make a strong case for the country.
This was, however, not to be, as the Chinese government was advised by its economic experts who visited Nigeria for physical assessments to exercise caution, citing the shrinking economy and falling value of the naira.
They also alluded to high risks in diverting the loan to projects not specified in the agreement and requested a direct monitoring of the projects, in addition to the need for full compilation of all current trade agreements between the two countries till date, The Guardian learnt.
A team of experts from China Exim Bank had also expressed fear of possible mismanagement of the funds and requested an overhaul of some of the priority areas presented by the Federal Government for closer study on their viability and sustainability.
The Chinese financial experts, it was further learnt, expressed reservations about some areas the Federal Government was keen on investing the loan, saying they did not fall in line with the FOCAC vision.
However, a ministry official, who pleaded anonymity, in a text massage response to The Guardian, said: “All appropriate loan prospecting options by the Federal Ministry of Finance are on course, and are undergoing normal process of negotiation,” without giving further details.
The National Assembly has refused to approve the $30 billion worth of loans until the executive provides details of what they are meant for, even as there are speculations that the refusal was more political than economic as the executive had opposed the provision for constituency projects in the budget.


Source: Guardian

ICPC stops university from exploiting students

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),  yesterday said its intervention stopped the exploitation of students by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, said fresh undergraduates of the university who were allegedly exploited by the school authority to the tune of N4.76 million were refunded their money.

According to the statement, the refund is as a result of the intervention of the ICPC, following a petition by one of the students.

It noted that the student alleged that fresh undergraduates were made to pay an additional N5, 000 as fee for ICT training.

It said the student in his petition, told the commission that they had earlier paid N2,500 before they were asked to pay the additional N5,000.

It noted that upon receipt of the petition, the operatives of the commission swung into action, while investigations revealed that the students were levied twice for the same training.

“The commission, after bringing the issue to the attention of the management of the university, directed it to resolve it within a stipulated period.

“ Following that directive, the affected students were requested by the school to provide evidence of payment of the said N5, 000 to the college accountants to facilitate a refund.

It said random telephone calls from the affected students to the commission confirmed the refund.

Culled from Nation