NAIJAFEED

Friday, June 5, 2009

CNN's Walter Rogers writes women are the future of Nigeria

I just read a pretty awesome article by former senior international correspondent for CNN Walter Rogers. He gives some mad props to Nigerian women, and I totally agree with him. With ladies like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo out there. I believe the time for Nigerian women to bring back Nigeria to the glory days is nigh!

Here's an excerpt from Walter Rogers Article:

"Such strong trust in women's leadership abilities may already be at play inside Nigeria's political arena. A woman now heads Nigeria's stock exchange. Another is minister of information and communications. Others hold prominent positions in the health and economic sectors.

Political observers point out that most men running for state governor now seek to have a woman on the ticket with them. It is a similar story in neighboring Ghana. And in South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has appointed 14 women as ministers, bringing the gender balance of his cabinet to nearly 50-50."

Check out the full article here , pretty good read!

Related story: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo for President

Nigerian authorities shut down Afro Beat Mecca

Femi Kuti’s club “The New Africa Shine” has been shut down by Nigerian Authorities. The club was accused by authorities of “noise nuisance, illegal street trading, indiscriminate parking, blocking of access roads and obstruction of traffic.” This unfortunate incident has come on the eve of Femi Kuti’s tour that’s supposed to start in New York next week.

Femi Kuti (son of African music legend Fela Kuti) and the rest of the Kuti family recently started a campaign that involved plastering posters all over Lagos that carried messages demanding the return of electricity in his impoverished neighbourhood. The Kuti family believe this particular campaign that incited other Lagos denizens to revolt against the government is the reason the authorities have shut down his club.

Fela Kuti’s oldest child Yeni Kuti co-manages the club with Femi Kuti said the Government gave them 48 hours to shut down the club, but closed the club less than 24 hours after the delivery of the letter. She had this to add on the apparent abuse of power by the Nigerian Government:

“I’m shocked, indignant. They dropped the note on Monday evening and the next day at 9:00 a.m. they had closed the place.”

The folks over at The Independent have written a great article on the constant battle and harrowing experiences the Kuti family have gone through for their fight for a better Nigeria. Please check it out here.

The New Africa Shrine back in business

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Ken Saro-Wiwa vs Shell trial Cancelled

The case brought forward to U.S. District Court in Manhattan by the family of late Ken Saro-Wiwa about Shell's exploitation of Nigeria that caused the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other activists in 1995 has been cancelled by presiding judge Kimba Wood.

The Saro-Wiwa family decided to seek Justice in America because under the 1789 U.S. statute, the Alien Tort claims Act, Allows non citizens to file cases in U.S. courts for human rights abuses occurring overseas.

Judge Kimba Wood canceled the hearing on Wednesday in the civil trial of Royal Dutch Shell over the alleged involvement of Shell in the executions of protesters in Nigeria in 1995. Shell has denied these allegations.

Judge Kimba Wood has yet to give a reason for the cancellation of the trial.

Carson Daly talks with Ida Ljungqvist

Carson Daly and the crew from his show Last Call were fortunate to be graced with the presence of Africa's first playmate of the year Ida Ljungvist. She's all things beautiful and it's refreshing to see that she's also the down to earth sort of lady with a sweet sense of humour. Hit play up top and take it all in gentlemen...even ladies will admire I hope.

Related Stories: First African playmate of the year

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Abacha told Colin Powell about his coup d'état

Retired US Secretary State and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff of the American Armed Forces, General Colin Powell recently revealed that he got a call from the late General Sani Abacha on the night he planned the coup to oust Chief Ernest Shonekan and the Interim National Government. Powell said he received this call around 2:00 a.m. and protested against Abacha's decision. But we all know what happened next.

Abacha's coup was successful. And what Nigeria got in return was one of the world's most corrupt leaders in recent history.

Colin Powell shared this information with his audience at the breakfast meeting organised by Tell Communications Limited to mark Nigeria's 10 years of unbroken democracy. Here are some quotes from Colin Powell from the meeting:

"I have watched as someone who sees and believes in the great potential of Nigeria as an economic power and a political leader in the region and the world- as someone who wants to see that potential realised,"

"Yes, I have seen the turmoil", he said. "Shortly after I retired from the Army in 1993, I began getting letters from Sani Abacha, telling me of the problems in Nigeria,"

"His letters were disturbing, and foreboding,"

"Then, late one night, around 2 a.m, I got a phone call from him at my home that the situation, in his view had become so bad that he had to act."

"I pleaded with him not to, that America and the world would not understand and would react badly. He did not listen, and you know the rest of that story."

AllAfrica