By Shagari Sumner Sambo
Hi 2 all u readers of Shaxx04.com.
The spate of annulments in the past months in Nigeria are almost winding up gradually and guess what? The biggest of them are already in the corner as a big fish in Nigerian politics in the person of the Senate President, Chief David Mark, who recently bagged a national award, is the latest casualty as his election was annulled on Sat 23rd Feb. 2008.
The biggest of them however is that of the Presidential Elections Tribunal which will be giving its finall judgments on Yar'Adua and Atiku, Buhari et al.
What do u think will happen on Tuesday? Will Nigerians be happy or sad?
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
THE APPROVED CODE FOR GUYS
This is a collection of rules that every man should live by. It originated in an article written by Maxim, but with some help from other contributors,the code has become some sort of laws for guys worldwide. The rules are to be followed at all times. They can be changed but that requires a majority vote from guys in your neighbourhood. -Shaxx04
1. If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever! Unless you actually marry her.
2. When questioned by a friend's girlfriend, you need not and should not provide any information as to his whereabouts. You are even permitted to deny his very existence.
3. Unless he murdered someone in your immediate family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 24 hours.
4. A best man's toast may not include any of the following phrases, "down in Tijuana", "one time when we were all piss drunk", or "and this girl had the biggest rack you ever saw".
5. You may exaggerate any anecdote told to your friends by 50% without recrimination, beyond that anyone within earshot is allowed to yell out "bullshit!". (exception: when trying to pick up a girl, the allowable exaggeration is 400%)
6. Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.
7. The minimum amount of time you have to wait for another man is 5 minutes. The maximum is 6 minutes. For a girl, you are required to wait 10 minutes for every point of hotness she scores on the classic 1-10 scale.
8. Bitching about the brand of free beverages in your buddy's refrigerator is forbidden. But gripe at will if the temperature is not suitable.
9. A friend must be permitted to borrow anything you own - grill, car, firstborn child - within 12 hr notice. Women or anything considered "lucky" are not applicable in this case.
10. Falling on a grenade for a buddy (agreeing to distract the skanky friend of the hot babe he's trying to score) is your legal duty. But should you get carried away with your good deed and end up getting on the beast, your pal is forbidden to ever speak of it.
11. Do not torpedo single friends.
12. On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.1
3. Before dating a buddy's ex you are required to ask his permission. If he grants it, he is however allowed to say, "man, your gonna love the way she licks your balls"
14. Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to pick a Buffalo wing clean.
15. If a mans zipper is down, that’s his problem, you didn’t see anything!
16. No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. (in fact, even remembering your best friends birthday is optional)
17. You must offer heartfelt condolences over the death of a girlfriends cat, even if it was you who secretly set it on fire and threw it into a ceiling fan.
18. While your girlfriend must bond with your buddies girlfriends with in 30 minutes of meeting them, you are not required to make nice with her gal pal's boyfriends- low level sports bonding is all the law requires.
19. Unless you have a lucrative endorsement contract, do not appear in public wearing more than one Nike swoosh.
20. When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may always ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.
21. If your girlfriend asks to set your friend up with her ugly, whiny, loser friend of hers, you must grant permission, but only if you have ample time to warn your friend to prepare his excuse about joining the priesthood.
22. Only in a situation of mortal danger or ass peril are you permitted to kick another member of the male species in the testicles.
23. Unless you're in prison, never fight naked. This includes men who aren't wearing shirts. If your buddy is outnumbered outmanned, or too drunk to defend himself, you must jump into the fight. Exception: if during the past 24 hours your friends actions have caused you to think "what this guy needs is a good ass wuppin", in which case you may refrain from getting involved and stand back and enjoy.
24. Friends don’t let friends wear speedos. Ever. Case closed.
. However, "house rules" may come into effect, in which case it is left up to the owner of the seat.
26. Shotgun can be called on anything where a shotgun applies., as long as you are in eyesight of the object, or it is at a reasonable time.
favor of better athletes- as long as you don’t let him be the last sorry son of a bitch standing on the sideline.
28. If you ever compliment a guy's six pack, you better be talking about his choice of beverage.
29. Never join your girlfriend in ragging on a buddy of yours, unless she is withholding sex, pending your response.
30. Phrases that may never be uttered to another man while lifting weights:"Yeah, baby, push it!""Come on, give me one more, harder!""Another set and we can hit the showers""Nice ass! Are you a Sagittarius?"
31. Never hesitate to reach for the last beverage or pizza, but not both. That’s just mean.
32. Never talk to another man in the bathroom unless you are on equal footing: both urinating, both waiting in line for all other situations an "I recognize you" nod will do just fine.
33. Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch nearby, hang up if necessary.
34. You can not rat out a friend who show's up to work or class with a massive hangover, however you may: hide the aspirin, smear his chair with limburger cheese, turn the brightness on his computer way up so he thinks its broken, or have him paged every seven minutes.
35. If you catch your girl messing around with your best friend, let your states crime of passion laws be your guide.
36. If your buddy is trying to hook up with a girl, you may sabotage him only in a manor that gives you no chances of getting any either.
37. Before allowing a drunken friend to cheat on his girl, you must attempt one intervention. If he can get up on his feet, look you in the eye, and deliver a "fuck off" then you are absolved from all responsibility. Later on it is ok that you have no idea what his girlfriend is talking about.
38. The morning after you and a babe, who was formerly "just a friend", go at it, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason not to jump on her again before there is a discussion about what a big mistake it was.
39. If a buddy has lint, an eyelash, or any other foreign object on his hair or face, under no circumstances are you permitted to remove it. However an appropriate hand gesture may be made to make him aware of it.
40. An anniversary is recognized on a yearly basis, under no circumstances will anything be celebrated in an interval other than a year.
41. When using a urinal in a public restroom, a buffer zone of at least one urinal will exist at all times. If the only empty urinal is directly next to an occupied on, then you are still required to wait. (Exception: at a sporting event where a line has formed to use the pisser).
42. When coming to a room which you know is occupied by your friend and possibly another girl, you must knock and wait for an adequate response. If no response occurs, and the door is locked, a 10 minute period is required before knocking again.
43. The only time dicking over a buddy for a girl is legal, is when the girl ranks an 8 or above on the 1-10 scale. (exception: a girl may rank from 5-7, as long as there is oral sex involved).
44. A mans gotta scratch what a mans gotta scratch. This applies to picking as well. Let the man be.
45. No man shall ever watch any of the following programs on TV:Figure skatingMen's gymnasticsAny sport involving women (unless viewed for sexual purposes).
46. If you accidentally touch or brush against any part of another man below the waist, it is an understood accident, and NO apologies or any reference to the occurrence is necessary.
47. No man shall spend more than 2 minutes in front of a mirror. If more time is required, a three minute waiting period must be allowed before returning to the mirror.
48. Any dispute lasting any longer than 3 minutes will and must be settled by rock, paper, scissors. There is no argument too important for this determining method.
49. No man will ever willingly watch a movie in which the main theme is dancing, and if a man shall happen to view such a movie it is only acceptable if its with a girlfriend.
50. Only acceptable time when a man is allowed to cry:when a heroic dog dies to save his master.after being struck in the testicles with anything moving fast than 7 mph.When your date is using her teeth.The day Anna Kornikova chooses a husband.
51. If a bet is made, and the challenge is completed, then the bettor may recoup his money by immediately completing a more daring challenge. If he refuses the challenge or chooses not to propose one, then and only then, must the money be paid.
52. Masturbate often. (exception: if your roommate is due back within the hour).
53. If a hot girl shall happen to pass by while you are in an arms reach of your buddy, you must, and will, tap him on the shoulder to make him aware of the babe.
54. A man's shoes may not intentionally match any other article of clothing on his body.
55. No comment shall ever be made to a man about how much he is sweating. In fact, there is no need bring notice to any body part which he may be sweating from.
56. No man shall ever allow anyone to speak ill of The Simpsons or any Rocky movie. (Exception: Rocky V).
57. You have not made any mistake if you find that there are extra pieces after reassembling or assembling an object. In fact, you have just found a way to make that object more efficient.
58. There are is never an occasion in which any shirt without buttons may be tucked in. (Exception: when you are participating in a organized sporting event)
59. Unless you are under the age of 11 or wearing a bathing suit, DON’T wear whitey tighty's. It still escapes all reasoning as to why they even make them in adult sizes.
60. Any object thrown with reasonable speed and accuracy, MUST be caught.
61. No man shall ever keep track of, or count, the amount of beers he has had in a night.
62. Under no circumstances may two non-related men share a bed or anything which can be perceived as a mattress.
63. In an empty room, car, ect., a man can not ask another man if he is mad because he isn’t talking.
64. If you jiggle more than twice, your playing with it.
65. A man shall never help another man apply sun tan oil.
66. The guy who wants something the most is responsible for getting it.
67. If your friend says "Lick my nuts" as a way to put you down, don't try to be funny by saying "OK" and moving your head towards his crotch, two homosexual references in a row are just plain scary...
68. If you say ouch, you are a pussy!
69. It is the God given duty of every man to assist any other man that may be in need of assistance in obtaining every guys dream- girls.
* With every set of laws, there are appropriate punishments. If any man shall happen to break any one of these codes, he will be found guilty, and will, for 24 hours from the time of the violation, be considered NOT A MAN. During this time he will not be referred to in any masculine way, and he shall bear the name Princess!!!!!!!!!!
-Shaxx04 b0y!
1. If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever! Unless you actually marry her.
2. When questioned by a friend's girlfriend, you need not and should not provide any information as to his whereabouts. You are even permitted to deny his very existence.
3. Unless he murdered someone in your immediate family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 24 hours.
4. A best man's toast may not include any of the following phrases, "down in Tijuana", "one time when we were all piss drunk", or "and this girl had the biggest rack you ever saw".
5. You may exaggerate any anecdote told to your friends by 50% without recrimination, beyond that anyone within earshot is allowed to yell out "bullshit!". (exception: when trying to pick up a girl, the allowable exaggeration is 400%)
6. Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella.
7. The minimum amount of time you have to wait for another man is 5 minutes. The maximum is 6 minutes. For a girl, you are required to wait 10 minutes for every point of hotness she scores on the classic 1-10 scale.
8. Bitching about the brand of free beverages in your buddy's refrigerator is forbidden. But gripe at will if the temperature is not suitable.
9. A friend must be permitted to borrow anything you own - grill, car, firstborn child - within 12 hr notice. Women or anything considered "lucky" are not applicable in this case.
10. Falling on a grenade for a buddy (agreeing to distract the skanky friend of the hot babe he's trying to score) is your legal duty. But should you get carried away with your good deed and end up getting on the beast, your pal is forbidden to ever speak of it.
11. Do not torpedo single friends.
12. On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.1
3. Before dating a buddy's ex you are required to ask his permission. If he grants it, he is however allowed to say, "man, your gonna love the way she licks your balls"
14. Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to pick a Buffalo wing clean.
15. If a mans zipper is down, that’s his problem, you didn’t see anything!
16. No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. (in fact, even remembering your best friends birthday is optional)
17. You must offer heartfelt condolences over the death of a girlfriends cat, even if it was you who secretly set it on fire and threw it into a ceiling fan.
18. While your girlfriend must bond with your buddies girlfriends with in 30 minutes of meeting them, you are not required to make nice with her gal pal's boyfriends- low level sports bonding is all the law requires.
19. Unless you have a lucrative endorsement contract, do not appear in public wearing more than one Nike swoosh.
20. When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may always ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.
21. If your girlfriend asks to set your friend up with her ugly, whiny, loser friend of hers, you must grant permission, but only if you have ample time to warn your friend to prepare his excuse about joining the priesthood.
22. Only in a situation of mortal danger or ass peril are you permitted to kick another member of the male species in the testicles.
23. Unless you're in prison, never fight naked. This includes men who aren't wearing shirts. If your buddy is outnumbered outmanned, or too drunk to defend himself, you must jump into the fight. Exception: if during the past 24 hours your friends actions have caused you to think "what this guy needs is a good ass wuppin", in which case you may refrain from getting involved and stand back and enjoy.
24. Friends don’t let friends wear speedos. Ever. Case closed.
. However, "house rules" may come into effect, in which case it is left up to the owner of the seat.
26. Shotgun can be called on anything where a shotgun applies., as long as you are in eyesight of the object, or it is at a reasonable time.
favor of better athletes- as long as you don’t let him be the last sorry son of a bitch standing on the sideline.
28. If you ever compliment a guy's six pack, you better be talking about his choice of beverage.
29. Never join your girlfriend in ragging on a buddy of yours, unless she is withholding sex, pending your response.
30. Phrases that may never be uttered to another man while lifting weights:"Yeah, baby, push it!""Come on, give me one more, harder!""Another set and we can hit the showers""Nice ass! Are you a Sagittarius?"
31. Never hesitate to reach for the last beverage or pizza, but not both. That’s just mean.
32. Never talk to another man in the bathroom unless you are on equal footing: both urinating, both waiting in line for all other situations an "I recognize you" nod will do just fine.
33. Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch nearby, hang up if necessary.
34. You can not rat out a friend who show's up to work or class with a massive hangover, however you may: hide the aspirin, smear his chair with limburger cheese, turn the brightness on his computer way up so he thinks its broken, or have him paged every seven minutes.
35. If you catch your girl messing around with your best friend, let your states crime of passion laws be your guide.
36. If your buddy is trying to hook up with a girl, you may sabotage him only in a manor that gives you no chances of getting any either.
37. Before allowing a drunken friend to cheat on his girl, you must attempt one intervention. If he can get up on his feet, look you in the eye, and deliver a "fuck off" then you are absolved from all responsibility. Later on it is ok that you have no idea what his girlfriend is talking about.
38. The morning after you and a babe, who was formerly "just a friend", go at it, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason not to jump on her again before there is a discussion about what a big mistake it was.
39. If a buddy has lint, an eyelash, or any other foreign object on his hair or face, under no circumstances are you permitted to remove it. However an appropriate hand gesture may be made to make him aware of it.
40. An anniversary is recognized on a yearly basis, under no circumstances will anything be celebrated in an interval other than a year.
41. When using a urinal in a public restroom, a buffer zone of at least one urinal will exist at all times. If the only empty urinal is directly next to an occupied on, then you are still required to wait. (Exception: at a sporting event where a line has formed to use the pisser).
42. When coming to a room which you know is occupied by your friend and possibly another girl, you must knock and wait for an adequate response. If no response occurs, and the door is locked, a 10 minute period is required before knocking again.
43. The only time dicking over a buddy for a girl is legal, is when the girl ranks an 8 or above on the 1-10 scale. (exception: a girl may rank from 5-7, as long as there is oral sex involved).
44. A mans gotta scratch what a mans gotta scratch. This applies to picking as well. Let the man be.
45. No man shall ever watch any of the following programs on TV:Figure skatingMen's gymnasticsAny sport involving women (unless viewed for sexual purposes).
46. If you accidentally touch or brush against any part of another man below the waist, it is an understood accident, and NO apologies or any reference to the occurrence is necessary.
47. No man shall spend more than 2 minutes in front of a mirror. If more time is required, a three minute waiting period must be allowed before returning to the mirror.
48. Any dispute lasting any longer than 3 minutes will and must be settled by rock, paper, scissors. There is no argument too important for this determining method.
49. No man will ever willingly watch a movie in which the main theme is dancing, and if a man shall happen to view such a movie it is only acceptable if its with a girlfriend.
50. Only acceptable time when a man is allowed to cry:when a heroic dog dies to save his master.after being struck in the testicles with anything moving fast than 7 mph.When your date is using her teeth.The day Anna Kornikova chooses a husband.
51. If a bet is made, and the challenge is completed, then the bettor may recoup his money by immediately completing a more daring challenge. If he refuses the challenge or chooses not to propose one, then and only then, must the money be paid.
52. Masturbate often. (exception: if your roommate is due back within the hour).
53. If a hot girl shall happen to pass by while you are in an arms reach of your buddy, you must, and will, tap him on the shoulder to make him aware of the babe.
54. A man's shoes may not intentionally match any other article of clothing on his body.
55. No comment shall ever be made to a man about how much he is sweating. In fact, there is no need bring notice to any body part which he may be sweating from.
56. No man shall ever allow anyone to speak ill of The Simpsons or any Rocky movie. (Exception: Rocky V).
57. You have not made any mistake if you find that there are extra pieces after reassembling or assembling an object. In fact, you have just found a way to make that object more efficient.
58. There are is never an occasion in which any shirt without buttons may be tucked in. (Exception: when you are participating in a organized sporting event)
59. Unless you are under the age of 11 or wearing a bathing suit, DON’T wear whitey tighty's. It still escapes all reasoning as to why they even make them in adult sizes.
60. Any object thrown with reasonable speed and accuracy, MUST be caught.
61. No man shall ever keep track of, or count, the amount of beers he has had in a night.
62. Under no circumstances may two non-related men share a bed or anything which can be perceived as a mattress.
63. In an empty room, car, ect., a man can not ask another man if he is mad because he isn’t talking.
64. If you jiggle more than twice, your playing with it.
65. A man shall never help another man apply sun tan oil.
66. The guy who wants something the most is responsible for getting it.
67. If your friend says "Lick my nuts" as a way to put you down, don't try to be funny by saying "OK" and moving your head towards his crotch, two homosexual references in a row are just plain scary...
68. If you say ouch, you are a pussy!
69. It is the God given duty of every man to assist any other man that may be in need of assistance in obtaining every guys dream- girls.
* With every set of laws, there are appropriate punishments. If any man shall happen to break any one of these codes, he will be found guilty, and will, for 24 hours from the time of the violation, be considered NOT A MAN. During this time he will not be referred to in any masculine way, and he shall bear the name Princess!!!!!!!!!!
-Shaxx04 b0y!
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
SCAVENGERS AND THE PURPORTED EL-RUFAI\MODIBBO RIFT
By Shagari Sumner Sambo
Idle minds as the saying goes often find themselves as willing tools in the hands of the devil without their own knowledge and consent atimes or else how can one explain the recent upsurge in some persons who have in the past few weeks inundated the media with all sorts of allegations bothering on the purported tarnishing of the image of erstwhile minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Seeking recognition and bearing various nomenclature, these idle minds like vultures seeking devoured flesh where there is none have suddenly decided to in the absence of the devoured flesh created an abattoir where they can stay put before their putrid and much-awaited delicacy is brought to the slaughter slab for onward mastication.
As a young journalist, I have come to observe that a particular question keeps haunting me anytime I go through the dailies and it goes thus: Why do Nigerians have such a great penchance for personality worship of government officials and politicians - whether in power or out of power? The answer according to many critics is not far-fetched as government is big business in Nigeria and the lifewire of a multitude of politicians and their suckers who feed and depend largely on monthly allocations dished out by Abuja to the various administrative and political offices spread across the federation which they most times occupy illegitimately as the case is today.
Taken by the hand through the world of officialdom called government by a tiny elite of officious bureaucrats who have over the years mastered and consolidated the art of treasury looting, these politicians and public office holders are shown the way to the till and how to safeguard it after dipping their hands into it. Having gone through this process once or twice during their tenure without much hullabaloo from the lethargic public, these politicians thus end up building political dynasties that revolve round their personalities and project themselves as untouchables and supposedly big men to which the rest of us must bow to - if we are to be reckoned as “existing”.
The personality cult of sycophants that seem to appear around such an individual as a result of his/her newly acquired power and wealth therefore helps to entrench him/her as a new member of the much-taunted elitist club of bigmanism who must be hero-worshipped by all and sundry.
While reacting to IBB”s recent claim of having fared better in governance than General Obasanjo, Dr Reuben Abati in an article titled “IBB can’t be serious”, Guardian, Friday January 25, 2008, explicitly captured IBB as one of those who have over the years instituted this personality cult worship philosophy when he outrightly stated that “…IBB was more interested in creating a cult of personality which he sustained recklessly with public funds”. He further opined that …“IBB was known as a ‘generous president’ who doled out money at will to buy loyalty. People flocked around him not because they wanted to make a contribution to statecraft but more because they were sure of getting their own share of the national cake”.
For a long time now, this personality cult worship has seeped so much into our marrows to the extent that when an individual heads a public institution, we no longer hear anything much about the institution itself again. Instead, the individual becomes the institution in view and is further personified into it by the lethargic public, as can be deduced from the Ribadu/Kuru course saga, which care less about institutional building probably as a result of the seeming failures of our democratic experiments over the years.
This personality cult worship among other factors may have been responsible for the high rate of these idle fellows, who have consistently bombarded the media in defense of Mallam El-Rufai, gaining sympathy from their kinds who have refused to look at issues arising from various procedural actions taken by the incumbent minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar. A point they should note however is that they can no longer fool us again as President Umar Yar’Adua’s strict adherence to the rule of law has permeated through the thoughts of right-thinking Nigerians and exposed the hypocrisy that was pervasive in General Obasanjo’s supposedly democratic government in which El-Rufai unfortunately found himself serving zealously.
In as much as one is not out to pour petrol on fire as we say in local parlance via defending Modibbo or castigating El Rufai for crying wolf where there is none, it will be beneficial to Nigerians however if the issues at stake are analyzed in the interest of good governance in the country and placed where there belong.
Right from the period the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Yar’Adua revoked the allocation of land along the Pedan Dam area of Asokoro on the premise that the said allocation, which was made to prominent politicians and businessmen including the president himself, sat on a green area as captured in the Abuja Masterplan, the former minister and his allies have not stopped inundating the media with all sorts of information and sound bites all aimed at exonerating him, El-Rufai, from an action which he later agreed to have undertaken but was said to have revoked the allocations before leaving office on May 29, 2007 - hence the accusation of Modibbo by the former of “playing to the gallery” in a recent chat with a national daily.
Former minister El-Rufai was also quoted by The Sun of November 23, 2007 to have said that “Modibbo has been my friend of 27 years. But he hasn’t been acting like a friend…”.Furthermore, in Sunday Punch, January 6,2008, Diran Onifade, Special Assistant (Communications) to Dr Modibbo in a full page advertisement written to clear the air on the matter and focus the debate on the issues rather than the personalities involved admitted that El-Rufai’s “friendship with the present minister goes back three decades”.
Now, if El-Rufai acknowledges that Dr Modibbo has been his friend for over three decades, does he or his admirers think that Modibbo will just out of the blues throw away his friendship of three decades to the dogs for political lucre and spoils of office especially when this is not his first or second ministerial appointment? Moreover, ministerial posts often come with some baggage attached such as the constant fear of Mr. President waking up on the wrong side of the bed to dissolve his cabinet or sack a particular minister without owing anyone much explanation. Having this at heart, how many will be willing to sacrifice their friendship (I like referring to friends as ones’own “permanent constituency”) of so long a magnitude for a short while of showmanship?
Anyone who understands the north very well will quickly acknowledge that friendship among northerners is often akin to the relationship that exists between blood-ties as the social networks there have over the years proven to be the most-knitted when it comes to Nigerians trusting themselves. This single act of extreme cordiality and brotherliness has over time been the binding glue that cements relationships among northerners irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political bloc to the admiration and jealousy of other geo-political zones and people. A direct result of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello’s untiring efforts at uniting a people of diverse history, tribes and religion together, this concept has thus become the political compass with which the north has consistently used as to chart her cause and to negotiate her political future within the Nigerian federation without causing much bickering amongst her diverse peoples.
From this context, one can thus conclude that the relationship between El-Rufai and Modibbo can be likened to that which exists between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his immediate predecessor Chief James Ibori who as biological cousins, have refused to allow politics to divide them - despite the looting and money laundering charges the latter is facing in the hands of the EFCC, as can be seen by Uduaghan’s unwillingness to indict or institute a probe against Ibori publicly for the wanton misuse of the state’s resources while in office. But despite his refusal to probe Ibori, the latter is presently cooling off in the gallows at Kaduna Prison as the federal authorities have allowed the law to take its cause based on procedural practices even without recourse to the latter’s alleged contributions of billions of naira to fund Mr. President’s campaign expenses.
Although El-Rufai did not go the way of Ibori as Minister of FCT, nevertheless one cannot but accuse him of high-handedness in government as some of his chief policies, in the midst of several good and courageous ones, were problematic in terms of conception and execution as such policies lacked input from indigenes and residents of FCT who were the primary target – a key factor in policy formulation.
Take the demolition exercise for example, it sounds absurd to hear that about 450 cases were instituted against the last FCT administration by indigenes and residents who felt unfairly treated by the exercise. One would have expected the former minister and his aides to have adopted Public Relations (PR) tactics and measures to solve the issues and engender acceptability of his desires and policies to make the city a befitting capital, but this they did not do. Public Relations here refers to the “management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or organization with the public interest and plans and executes a programme of action to earn public understanding and acceptance” – PR Newsletter. With this understanding, the present FCT administration would not have had this volume of cases at hand to cope with. One must therefore commend the new minister for opting for an out of court settlement to appease the aggrieved parties amicably. This is PR! As my lecturer Mr. Eze would always say in my days as an undergraduate in ABU.
The inability of the past FCT administration to think of the harsh effects of its disobedience to court orders (court ruling on Bullet Construction Company et al) and wanton demolition of properties thus led to the castigation of its head, El-Rufai, by the aggrieved public and this has continued to hunt the latter even after leaving office especially now that observance of the rule of law has been entrenched by the incumbent regime. Thus, this new era of rule of law may have necessitated certain actions to be brought to the public sphere by minister Modibbo which seemed blighting against El-Rufai not because he really intended to do that but because his “hands are tied” by the no-nonsense and straight-forward President Yar’Adua that he has as boss. This may not have been the case were he to be serving under a lawless government like that of General Obasanjo since a friend in need is a friend indeed as the popular saying goes.
Therefore, one cannot but laugh when one comes across such write-ups in the media like “Who wants to pull El-Rufai down” ThisDay, January 13, 2008 among other vocalizations that tend to portray the incumbent minister, Dr Modibbo, as betraying his friend of about three decades through a preconceived smear campaign orchestrated by him and his media team to stop El-Rufai from being nominated for a higher political appointment. This smacks a lack of total understanding of how the FCT system operates as they have failed to consult the constitution or pretend not to be aware that the powers of the minister of the territory is derived from the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which clearly states in Sections 299 and 301 that technically, the President of Nigeria is the governor of Abuja, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is the cabinet for the territory while the National Assembly is its legislature.
If this is the case, then it means that Modibbo is just a representative of President Yar’Adua who often tells him what to do, just like Obasanjo often told El-Rufai what to do, when the need arises. Thus, if President Yar’Adua has made known his mind to adhere strictly to the rule of law by reversing certain policies viewed by the public as undemocratic and unbearable, how can Modibbo then say he would not implement the order because his friend of 27 years is affected .This would of course cost him his job.
However, one feels, and it is apparent, that Modibbo is a tactical team player who has decided to work head-on with the president while sametime finding subtle ways of making sure that the lid protecting some of El-Rufai’s policies does not get totally blown up or uncovered but instead amended or integrated.
In conclusion, I would advise Modibbo himself to be careful with the way and manners he goes to the press to reveal certain information that he would have ordinarily intimated his friend long before bringing it to the public domain because it is now apparent that the former is piqued to the extent of thinking that he (Modibbo) has closed the doors of friendship to him. All these media war should be settled amicably through a genuine and persuasive means of communication that would help rekindle those good old days between both and give their spouses lesser issues to worry about.
On his part, El-Rufai should stop expending all his energies on contacting his media friends, spin doctors and so-called admirers from shoring up for him through sentimental journalism and media gimmicks as they will lead him no where – ask Nuhu Ribadu. Instead, they will end up creating a deep rift between him and Modibbo so that they will continue to benefit from the ensuing brouhaha especially as scavengers – which they are indeed. In this season of political reconciliation – especially between formerly hard-stance politicians like Umar Ghalli Na’Abba, Abubakar Rimi and Kwanwanso et al, El-Rufai should be courageous and bold enough to reconcile with some sections of the public, friends and political associates he may have trampled upon during his tenure as BPE DG and FCT minister under General Obasanjo’s babacratic or is it demoncratic government?
#Any response to this article of mine should be sent to my mail box which you can easily get from my homepage above.
A Professor at a lecture in Indian was explaining marketing concepts to the Students:-
1. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:"I am very rich. Marry me!" - That's Direct Marketing.
2 You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says:"He's very rich. Marry him." - That's Advertising.
3 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her Telephone number. The next day, you call and say:"Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." - That's Telemarketing.
4 You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (ofthe car)for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say:By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" - That's Public Relations.
5 You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you andsays:You are very rich! Can you marry! me?" - That's Brand Recognition.
6 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - That's Customer Feedback.
7 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:"I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - That's demand and supply gap.
8 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?"and she goes with him - That's competition eating into your market share.
9 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say:"I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. - That's restriction for entering new markets.
-Courtesy of Ismaila Mohammed (Ismy)
1. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:"I am very rich. Marry me!" - That's Direct Marketing.
2 You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says:"He's very rich. Marry him." - That's Advertising.
3 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her Telephone number. The next day, you call and say:"Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." - That's Telemarketing.
4 You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (ofthe car)for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say:By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" - That's Public Relations.
5 You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you andsays:You are very rich! Can you marry! me?" - That's Brand Recognition.
6 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - That's Customer Feedback.
7 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:"I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - That's demand and supply gap.
8 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?"and she goes with him - That's competition eating into your market share.
9 You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say:"I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. - That's restriction for entering new markets.
-Courtesy of Ismaila Mohammed (Ismy)
Monday, 18 February 2008
FOLLOW UR DREAMS
In every stage of life,
there needs to be a target;
what one is aiming at,
what one wishes to achieve,
And what one works towards getting.
What is your target now?
Before you make a good start,
You really need to answer that question first to yourself,
So as to know what you are aiming at and therefore work towards it.
But one thing is still not clear,
I bet you've never thought about it.
WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?
In all your days,
what do you want in other to be satisfied in life? Just one thing.
Think about this and it'll suprise you,
you can hardly find an answer.
we all want to have a place in this world
we all want our voices to be heard
every one wants a chance to be someone.
we all have dreams we need to dream
sweeter than any star we can reach
cos when we reach and find such,
we know we've found someone or something "tyt".
we hold the world's most priceless thing-LIFE.
We all have our respective dreams
and I have mine too.
However,action, they say, speaks louder than word
therefore as for me i'll wait till tomorrow
though a singer said tomorrow may never come
perhaps he views it from another angle
but i'll wait cos i know tomorrow refers to the future
for then my dreams will be evidenced in concrete forms and
it wouldn't have been a mere wish
nor hallucination anymore.
-Amy/Shaxx04
In every stage of life,
there needs to be a target;
what one is aiming at,
what one wishes to achieve,
And what one works towards getting.
What is your target now?
Before you make a good start,
You really need to answer that question first to yourself,
So as to know what you are aiming at and therefore work towards it.
But one thing is still not clear,
I bet you've never thought about it.
WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?
In all your days,
what do you want in other to be satisfied in life? Just one thing.
Think about this and it'll suprise you,
you can hardly find an answer.
we all want to have a place in this world
we all want our voices to be heard
every one wants a chance to be someone.
we all have dreams we need to dream
sweeter than any star we can reach
cos when we reach and find such,
we know we've found someone or something "tyt".
we hold the world's most priceless thing-LIFE.
We all have our respective dreams
and I have mine too.
However,action, they say, speaks louder than word
therefore as for me i'll wait till tomorrow
though a singer said tomorrow may never come
perhaps he views it from another angle
but i'll wait cos i know tomorrow refers to the future
for then my dreams will be evidenced in concrete forms and
it wouldn't have been a mere wish
nor hallucination anymore.
-Amy/Shaxx04
A page in this book "History of the Internet" described the theorized Internet-Supercomputer invented by Emeagwali.
CNN Calls Emeagwali:A FATHER OF THE INTERNET
Asking: "Who is theFather of the Internet?" is like asking: Who invented the supercomputer that gave rise tothe Internet.
In reality, no one individual invented the Internet alone. It has many fathers, as well as mothers, uncles, and aunts.
It was not even born at one place or time. Instead,it grew organically and incrementally, following trails that are non-intersecting.
Take the trail of Philip Emeagwali, whom CNN called"A Father of the Internet."
Emeagwali theorized that 65,000 computers around the Earth could forecast the weather. His theoretical supercomputer, with 65,000 nodes, is known today as the Internet.
Using 65,000 processors,he invented a formula that inspired the reinvention of the supercomputer as thousands of electronic brains that occupies the space of four tennis courts.
Bill Clinton explained, in a televised speech (as president) that Emeagwali's formula helped give rise to the age of information.
Yet his invention is one that, unfortunately, few of us recognize.
Certainly, inventions such as this deserve better. After all, can you send your email without computers and the Internet?
Theorized Internet-Supercomputer invented by Emeagwali.
Emeagwali's Discoveries Helped REINVENT THE SUPERCOMPUTER
The word "computer" was coined 700 years ago. If history repeats itself, the supercomputer of today will become the computer of tomorrow.
Emeagwali's discovery of a formula that enables supercomputers powered by 65,000 electronic brains called "processors" to perform the world’s fastest calculationsinspired the reinvention of supercomputers - from the size and shape of a loveseatto a thousand-fold faster machine that occupies the space of four tennis courts,costs 400 million dollars a piece,powered by 65,000 processors and that can perform a billion billion calculations per second.
Emeagwali solvedthe most difficult problemin supercomputingby reformulating Newton’s Second Law of Motion as 18 equations and algorithms; then as 24 million algebraic equations; and finally he programmed 65,000 processors to solvethose 24 million equations at a speed of 3.1 billion calculations per second.
Emeagwali's 65,000 processors, 24 million equations and 3.1 billion calculations were three world records that garnered international headlines, made mathematicians rejoice, and caused his fellow Africans to beam with pride.
When Emeagwali won the 1989 Gordon Bell prize, the “Nobel Prize of Supercomputing,” then-president Bill Clinton called him “one of the great minds of the Information Age.” The New African magazine readers ranked him ashistory's greatest scientist of African descent.
Emeagwali is the Most Searched-For Scientist
Emeagwali is the World's Top Scientist Internet poll of 300 million daily searches proves it.
Clinton Calls Emeagwali a "Great Mind" Excerpt from his White Housetelevised speech:
"One of the great minds of the Information Ageis a Nigerian American named Philip Emeagwali.
He had to leave school because his parents couldn't pay the fees.He lived in a refugee camp during your civil war. He won a scholarship to university and went on to invent a formula that lets computers make 3.1 billion calculationsper second. (Applause.)
Some people call him the Bill Gates of Africa.(Laughter and applause.)
But what I want to say to you is there is another Philip Emeagwali -- or hundreds of them -- or thousands of them -- growing up in Nigeria today.
I thought about it when I was driving in from the airport and then driving around to my appointments, looking into the face of children. You never know what potential is in their mind and in their heart; what imagination they have; what they have already thought of and dreamed of that may be locked in because they don't have the means to take it out.
That's really what education is. It's our responsibility to make sure all your children have the chance to live their dreams so that you don't miss the benefit of their contributions and neither does the rest of the world."
More info: biography, blogs, articles, pictures, and photo essay.
The Georgetown office of emeagwali.com
CNN Calls Emeagwali:A FATHER OF THE INTERNET
Asking: "Who is theFather of the Internet?" is like asking: Who invented the supercomputer that gave rise tothe Internet.
In reality, no one individual invented the Internet alone. It has many fathers, as well as mothers, uncles, and aunts.
It was not even born at one place or time. Instead,it grew organically and incrementally, following trails that are non-intersecting.
Take the trail of Philip Emeagwali, whom CNN called"A Father of the Internet."
Emeagwali theorized that 65,000 computers around the Earth could forecast the weather. His theoretical supercomputer, with 65,000 nodes, is known today as the Internet.
Using 65,000 processors,he invented a formula that inspired the reinvention of the supercomputer as thousands of electronic brains that occupies the space of four tennis courts.
Bill Clinton explained, in a televised speech (as president) that Emeagwali's formula helped give rise to the age of information.
Yet his invention is one that, unfortunately, few of us recognize.
Certainly, inventions such as this deserve better. After all, can you send your email without computers and the Internet?
Theorized Internet-Supercomputer invented by Emeagwali.
Emeagwali's Discoveries Helped REINVENT THE SUPERCOMPUTER
The word "computer" was coined 700 years ago. If history repeats itself, the supercomputer of today will become the computer of tomorrow.
Emeagwali's discovery of a formula that enables supercomputers powered by 65,000 electronic brains called "processors" to perform the world’s fastest calculationsinspired the reinvention of supercomputers - from the size and shape of a loveseatto a thousand-fold faster machine that occupies the space of four tennis courts,costs 400 million dollars a piece,powered by 65,000 processors and that can perform a billion billion calculations per second.
Emeagwali solvedthe most difficult problemin supercomputingby reformulating Newton’s Second Law of Motion as 18 equations and algorithms; then as 24 million algebraic equations; and finally he programmed 65,000 processors to solvethose 24 million equations at a speed of 3.1 billion calculations per second.
Emeagwali's 65,000 processors, 24 million equations and 3.1 billion calculations were three world records that garnered international headlines, made mathematicians rejoice, and caused his fellow Africans to beam with pride.
When Emeagwali won the 1989 Gordon Bell prize, the “Nobel Prize of Supercomputing,” then-president Bill Clinton called him “one of the great minds of the Information Age.” The New African magazine readers ranked him ashistory's greatest scientist of African descent.
Emeagwali is the Most Searched-For Scientist
Emeagwali is the World's Top Scientist Internet poll of 300 million daily searches proves it.
Clinton Calls Emeagwali a "Great Mind" Excerpt from his White Housetelevised speech:
"One of the great minds of the Information Ageis a Nigerian American named Philip Emeagwali.
He had to leave school because his parents couldn't pay the fees.He lived in a refugee camp during your civil war. He won a scholarship to university and went on to invent a formula that lets computers make 3.1 billion calculationsper second. (Applause.)
Some people call him the Bill Gates of Africa.(Laughter and applause.)
But what I want to say to you is there is another Philip Emeagwali -- or hundreds of them -- or thousands of them -- growing up in Nigeria today.
I thought about it when I was driving in from the airport and then driving around to my appointments, looking into the face of children. You never know what potential is in their mind and in their heart; what imagination they have; what they have already thought of and dreamed of that may be locked in because they don't have the means to take it out.
That's really what education is. It's our responsibility to make sure all your children have the chance to live their dreams so that you don't miss the benefit of their contributions and neither does the rest of the world."
More info: biography, blogs, articles, pictures, and photo essay.
The Georgetown office of emeagwali.com
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