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Putting it straight, if Jose Mourinho was Nigerian, there is no way he would escape Buhari’s anti-corruption war — either by being locked up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or being labelled in the media as corrupt.

Having seen his side easily defeated on home soil last month in a UEFA Champions League tie against Jeventus, Mourinho’s post-match address posited that he needed to spend more to be at the level of the likes of Juventus, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. No one will fight the Portuguese over what he believes should move the club forward, but the question to ask him is: how much more will he need to spend to take United to where they ought to be?

Mourinho has spent £388.89m since taking over the helm of coaching affairs at Old Trafford in May 2016. This falls short of that of neighbours City, who have spent £543.17m on recruiting players since the same period, level with Liverpool and Chelsea, both on £388.89m.

But unlike United, who generated just £85.3m from the sales of players from 2016, the trio of Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool have generated £144.46m, £277.65m, and £289.65m respectively. But let’s put all these aside, and take a look at how rational Jose’s belief that United still need to spend more.

A look at the 11 players Mourinho has signed since joining United since 2016, and how rational or irrational is his stance that the club needs to spend more.

Paul Pogba (£94.5m): The most expensive of Mourinho’s recruitments. Expected to lead the ship of United’s new era when he was signed back to the club from Juventus in the Portuguese manager’s first season at the club, Pogba instead turns up once in five weeks. So much can be — and has been — said about Pogba, but surmising everything in Scholes; words: “Pogba needs to use his brain a little more to become a top footballer.”

Romelu Lukaku (£76.23m): The Belgian has scored 32 goals in 65 appearances since joining the Club last summer, but his inability to score in big games, appalling first touch and a run of poor form of late has seen his ability as a player questioned by many. And in the words of Scholes, “I’m not sure if you are ever going to win the league with a goal-scorer like him".

Nemanja Matic (£40.23m): The only thing you can take a jibe at Matic for is his failure to unlock Pogba. Signed from rivals Chelsea last summer, Matic, arguably, has been the most decent of all Mourinho’s signing.

Eric Bailly (£34.2m): Showed some early good signs when he joined the club last season, but injury has kept the Ivorian in and out of the team. His form this season hasn’t done himself any justice, though.

Victor Lindelof (£31.5m): Struggled on arrival at the club last season, but his resurgence this season has made him one of the more important players at the club currently.

Fred (53.1m): With Matic’s failure to unlock Pogba, Fred came. Has he unlocked Pogba? He needs to find himself a place in the starting X1 first.

Diogo Dalot (£19.8m): Had an impressive debut against Young Boys in the Champions League, but he has been unavailable since then. Too early to judge the 19-year-old old; hopefully, he will be a good buy for the future.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£37.8m): He was the reigning Bundesliga player of the year when he moved to United in 2016, he could not replicate the same form for the Red Devils, and in the winter of 2017, he was used for the swap deal that brought Sanchez to the club.

Lee Grant (£1.53m): Brought in as the No.3 goalkeeper for United. He had his debut when Romero was sent off in the Carabao cup game against Derby, could not save United as they lost out to the Frank Lampard’s boys on penalties. Why spend over £1m on a 35-year-old goalkeeper whose surprise appearance against Derby might be the last competitive game for the club, when you can promote a young goalkeeper from the academy?

In between these nine signings are Zlatan Ibrahimovic (now with LA Galaxy) and Alexis Sanchez, who came in on free and swap deals respectively. Though United did not pay to sign any of them, they were both offered stratospheric contracts just to satisfy Mourinho. Scholes has a word to describe almost everybody at United presently, and in the case of Sanchez,”… I never saw him as a United player. I saw him as a bit selfish, someone who played for himself sometimes.”

Two things have helped Mourinho keep his job — he has built a relationship with some important ex-internationals, most notably, Gary Neville, who always throws his weight behind the 55-year-old, but blame the management for United’s woes. Secondly, the ex-players that are critical of him, he has decided not to pull a MOU on them — these are virtues that might have kept his predecessor Louis Van Gaal in the job.

With Mourinho’s persistent outcry over lack of signings at United, it looks like it will be a game of who goes first between Ed Woodward and the former Chelsea manager.

Five windows, 11 players, and £388.89m spent, in the Woodward’s interest, send Mourinho to Nigeria, he needs to visit the EFCC office.

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Fadahunsi Ola Disable advertisements : 
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SOC Okenwa

Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has finally written and released the much-expected book on his stewardship and other presidential experiences. Having left power in a blaze of glory way back in 2015, magnanimously conceding defeat in a gentlemanly responsible manner to the man that electorally battered him, President Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan is apparently enjoying himself in his peaceful retirement and basking in the euphoria of having 'survived' Aso Rock -- that is, if what Reuben Abati, his former SSA on Media and Publicity, had told a flabbergasted nation about the 'devils' and 'demons' that inhabited the place of power was to be taken seriously into account! 

GEJ, as he is fondly called, turned 61 recently and he used the auspicious occasion to launch a book about his years in power entitled: 'My Transition Hours'. The book was officially presented to the public penultimate Tuesday. And the event witnessed a full house of who-is-who in Nigerian politics in Abuja.

Dignitaries (including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Federal Government who represented the reclusive President Buhari, the ruling APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, retired Generals and former Heads of state Yakubu Gowon and Abdusalami Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki etc) came from far and near to honour the man from Otuoke town in Bayelsa State who made history (positively and negatively) as an incumbent President defeated soundly by the opposition. And as a sitting President who acknowledged his defeat by calling and congratulating the victor thereby setting a positive precedent in a 'do-or-die' politics Nigeriana (apology to OBJ).

The launch of the book attracted ovation from the different personalities present for the modest man from the Niger Delta oil-rich region whose presidential trajectory is a study in providential favour. GEJ's political rise to and fall from the top was a classical tale of 'goodluck' and divine favour. During the book presentation Jonathan visibly basked in the euphoria of the glorious moment as one speaker after another extolled his patriotism and democratic ideal. Of course we cannot agree more that Jonathan is both a patriot and democrat. 

However, we cannot disagree less that he came, saw but never conquered the Nigerian infrastructural and developmental malady. Destiny smiled at him but he messed up with the uncommon opportunity he had to make Nigeria great again. Few men in the history of the world had been so blessed!

Days after the book's presentation controversy has trailed its contents. It would appear that the GEJ narrative did not go down well with some prominent political players during his giddy stay in Aso Rock. First to fire a salvo towards Jonathan after reading the book for certain misrepresentation regarding the Chibok girls' abduction saga was the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima. He lampooned Jonathan via a statement for trying to exonerate himself from the Chibok ugly incident while blaming others including himself the Governor. Governor Shettima described the book as "a presidential tale by mid-day, a mere fiction devoid of facts".

The Executive Governor of Borno State was obviously livid that Jonathan never revealed the content of the presidential panel that investigated the Chibok abduction imbroglio which he said was submitted to him but about which he never did anything until he left office. Shettima may have had his own side of the story to tell someday but we hold that there was political dimension to the Chibok saga. The Borno Chief Executive cannot escape blame for the irresponsible way and manner he handled the Boko Haram kidnapping exploit in his volatile state. He was aloof quite like Jonathan and cared less because none of the girls was his daughter or relation! Shettima even jetted off to the US in the middle of the Chibok 'rapture'!

And following Shettima's strongly-worded dismissal of 'My Transition Hours' the ex-Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation under Jobnathan, Bello Adoke, equally puntured the 'falsehood' Jonathan peddled when he said that he took the crucial decision of phoning Buhari and congratulating him even when the comprehensive result of the poll was yet to be fully announced. Jonathan had given the impression that Adoke, Osita Chidoka, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and his ex-aide on Domestic Affairs were not favourably disposed to his conceding defeat. On the contrary however Adoke submitted that they were the ones 'pressurising' GEJ to rapidly acknowledge his defeat to douse the tension in the land then.

The former Minister and AGF concluded that someday in the near future he would be writing his own book to present the issue in a true manner. What he was saying in essence was that GEJ never single-handedly took the decision to recognise his electoral fall from power but a collective thing involving others with him at that moment in time in the nation's history. 

The presidency was not left out of the fury over what transpired during and after the presidential poll of 2015 as narrated by the very man at the centre of it all. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, had issued a strong statement denouncing Jonathan for saying in the book that corruption was worse now than under his leadership! And again for giving himself credit for the Single Treasury Account (TSA) initiative as well as Biometric Verification Number (BVN), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPS). Shehu had dutifully countered Jonathan on those scores scoring his administration poor on fiscal prudence and arguing further that it served no useful purpose initiating an idea without the political will to implement same.

But by far the most pungent put-down of GEJ and his book came from Zainab Duke-Abiola, the obscure wife of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola. The woman dismissed the book as "monumental manipulation of historical facts and figures" going on to slam same as "a pseudologia fantastica"! For the widow: "Jonathan said corruption is not stealing and thereafter flagged off the looting spree of the treasury, which ultimately plunged Nigeria into recession when he left. Jonathan will go down in history as Nigeria’s worst political mistake". 

 Disagreeing with Jonathan on his submission that Boko Haram, Chibok girls' kidnapping crisis and the former American President, Barack Obama and ex-British PM David Cameron worked against his re-election bid Mrs Abiola blamed his presidential failure squarely on his "gross incompetence and ineptitude".

Besides, the leading online news portal, 'SaharaReporters' based in the US, had exclusively reported online that the book had an original and fake versions! Could it be that Jonathan was not the original author of the book? Who wrote the fake version? Or could we believe then that literary swindlers are out to swindle Ebele and make money out of his presidential prerogative?

For some critics who had read the book the literary effort by the Ijawman was not a masterpiece in any stretch of imagination expected of an ex-leader with such academic accomplishment. For so-called PHD holder to have written what Gov. Shettima and Zainab Duke-Abiola described condescendingly in an unflattering manner betrayed intellectual laziness on the part of GEJ.

Yet his intellectual predicament could be understood. Goodluck Jonathan has never been known, in and out of power, to be charismatic, intellectually sound and eloquent! He is not the American Obama, the French Macron or the Canadian Trudeau. Neither is he the Nigerian Soyinka or the late Achebe. Jonathan is wholly made in Nigeria and as such a 'Naija' product he could not have given what he did not possess in terms of wittiness and grittiness of intellectualism or radicalism. His parental and environmental background must have played a major role in the formation and trajectory of the GEJ we know.

Conclusively it seems from the look of things lately that Jonathan is indeed happy with himself, enjoying the bliss of retirement, convinced supremely that he had delivered on the mandate Providence had placed upon him following the tragic demise of the late Umaru Yar'Adua, his ex-principal. And the one subsequently conferred on him by Nigerians (rigging or not!) He is conveniently blaming every other person but himself for his manifest failures occasioned mainly by his spineless disposition and meek attitude. 
He is clapping for himself as it were like a lunatic in the market-square with one hand! His 'Transition Hours' appears to be a presidential tale fraught with alleged inaccuracies and revisionist conclusions. It has failed to impress anyone, not the least those who should know better.

SOC Okenwa
soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr

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Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, has been released from Police custody.

He was arrested on November 28, 2018 while leading a protest to demand the neutrality of the Police in the forthcoming general election. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Police Arrest Deji Adeyanju While Leading Protest In Abuja 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

Adeyanju was picked up alongside two others by armed policemen stationed in front of the Force Headqaurters in Abuja.

The Police had arraigned him for "criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituent authority and breach of law and order" in relation to "posts on his Facebook page", among other offences. See Also ACTIVISM Police Arraign Deji Adeyanju For 'Criminal' Facebook Posts 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

He was released at about 7pm on Monday and was received by members of human rights groups, one of who told SaharaReporters: "He has been released and he is high spirits, hale and hearty."

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Deji Adeyanju, Convener of Concerned Nigerians, has been released from Police custody.

He was arrested on November 28, 2018 while leading a protest to demand the neutrality of the Police in the forthcoming general election. See Also Breaking News BREAKING: Police Arrest Deji Adeyanju While Leading Protest In Abuja 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

Adeyanju was picked up alongside two others by armed policemen stationed in front of the Force Headqaurters in Abuja.

The Police had arraigned him for "criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituent authority and breach of law and order" in relation to "posts on his Facebook page", among other offences. See Also ACTIVISM Police Arraign Deji Adeyanju For 'Criminal' Facebook Posts 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

He was released at about 7pm on Monday and was received by members of human rights groups, one of who told SaharaReporters: "He has been released and he is high spirits, hale and hearty."

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A Coalition of Human Rights Organisations have raised the alarm over threat to the life of Deji Adeyanju, an activist who was arrested for leading a protest tagged  #PoliceNotPoliticianProtest last week. 

The group disclosed this at a press conference held in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Raphael Adebayo accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and other interests of "punishing Deji Adeyanju".

"It will be recalled that Adeyanju and other critics of the government had recently lambasted the Vice-President over a scam of $5.8billion, which was allegedly approved by the latter for an intervention in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, while chairing the governing board of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Adeyanju has also become a loud voice in calling out the government of the day over perceived injustice and failure to fulfill electoral promises," Adebayo said.

He noted that Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams, arrested alongside Adeyanju have been released after meeting the bail conditions set by the magistrate, Aliu Kagarko of Karshi Area Court.

"We have been able to gather that names of different individuals and groups have been compiled for this wicked onslaught and evil plot, which is said to have been primarily devised for members of our OurMumuDonDo Movement, starting with Deji Adeyanju. To be specific, there is an active threat to life against members of OurMumuDonDo group and some fearless activists in the country," he added.

The group, comprising OurMumuDonDo Movement, Concerned Nigerians, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution and Mad Connect, called on well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to "hold the Nigerian government responsible should a strand of hair get missing from Deji Adeyanju's body or any one among the group".

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A Coalition of Human Rights Organisations have raised the alarm over threat to the life of Deji Adeyanju, an activist who was arrested for leading a protest tagged  #PoliceNotPoliticianProtest last week. 

The group disclosed this at a press conference held in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Raphael Adebayo accused Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and other interests of "punishing Deji Adeyanju".

"It will be recalled that Adeyanju and other critics of the government had recently lambasted the Vice-President over a scam of $5.8billion, which was allegedly approved by the latter for an intervention in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, while chairing the governing board of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Adeyanju has also become a loud voice in calling out the government of the day over perceived injustice and failure to fulfill electoral promises," Adebayo said.

He noted that Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams, arrested alongside Adeyanju have been released after meeting the bail conditions set by the magistrate, Aliu Kagarko of Karshi Area Court.

"We have been able to gather that names of different individuals and groups have been compiled for this wicked onslaught and evil plot, which is said to have been primarily devised for members of our OurMumuDonDo Movement, starting with Deji Adeyanju. To be specific, there is an active threat to life against members of OurMumuDonDo group and some fearless activists in the country," he added.

The group, comprising OurMumuDonDo Movement, Concerned Nigerians, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution and Mad Connect, called on well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to "hold the Nigerian government responsible should a strand of hair get missing from Deji Adeyanju's body or any one among the group".

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Sowore Intervenes as Military Men Maltreats Nigerian Citizens

The Nigerian Army have been called upon to concentrate on their duty of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria, rather than harass civilians.

The call was made by Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), when he rescued five men from harassment by men of the Nigerian Army along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In the viral video which captured the incident on social media, Sowore is seen approaching the scene of the incident after which he said: “My name is Omoyele Sowore, a presidential candidate in the 2019 elections. I saw that Nigerians are being made to lie on the street and I want to find out what happened”.

Explaining the situation, a Lieutenant who is also a priest in the Army and was overseeing the harassment said: “As you can see, that’s our convoy. These idiots where driving behind the vehicle and even when they blew the siren, all of them, these old men, kept following us. We were going out; we are going to pick a big man, and all of them were just charging behind”.

In his response, Sowore said: “I completely understand. You are military officers going to pick someone, so my advice to you is that can you make them sit down because of the dignity of their human person. I am worried about the dignity of their person. My advice to you is that you use the Police”.

Narrating his account of the incident, Sowore said: “We were returning from the Redemption Camp, when we saw grown men being made to lie on the street while being harassed. One had suffered a cut to his arm, so I immediately stopped and asked what was wrong. They said they where going to pick a big man and the men were driving too closely behind them.

“You see this is the problem with our Army. Instead of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria, they are harassing civilians. When they found out we were recording the incident, they physically attacked our team members, but I stood my ground and they eventually freed the men. Turns out they had seized the identity cards of the men who were OPC members and were already planning to lock them up at a detention facility. It is wrong. The civilian population should be managed by the Police, even if they have committed an offence. Why are people made to lie in the dust for traffic offences? Don’t we have laws?"

He called on Nigerians to always speak up against injustice, confront the situation and record such incidents so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

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Sowore Intervenes as Military Men Maltreats Nigerian Citizens

The Nigerian Army have been called upon to concentrate on their duty of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria, rather than harass civilians.

The call was made by Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), when he rescued five men from harassment by men of the Nigerian Army along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In the viral video which captured the incident on social media, Sowore is seen approaching the scene of the incident after which he said: “My name is Omoyele Sowore, a presidential candidate in the 2019 elections. I saw that Nigerians are being made to lie on the street and I want to find out what happened”.

Explaining the situation, a Lieutenant who is also a priest in the Army and was overseeing the harassment said: “As you can see, that’s our convoy. These idiots where driving behind the vehicle and even when they blew the siren, all of them, these old men, kept following us. We were going out; we are going to pick a big man, and all of them were just charging behind”.

In his response, Sowore said: “I completely understand. You are military officers going to pick someone, so my advice to you is that can you make them sit down because of the dignity of their human person. I am worried about the dignity of their person. My advice to you is that you use the Police”.

Narrating his account of the incident, Sowore said: “We were returning from the Redemption Camp, when we saw grown men being made to lie on the street while being harassed. One had suffered a cut to his arm, so I immediately stopped and asked what was wrong. They said they where going to pick a big man and the men were driving too closely behind them.

“You see this is the problem with our Army. Instead of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria, they are harassing civilians. When they found out we were recording the incident, they physically attacked our team members, but I stood my ground and they eventually freed the men. Turns out they had seized the identity cards of the men who were OPC members and were already planning to lock them up at a detention facility. It is wrong. The civilian population should be managed by the Police, even if they have committed an offence. Why are people made to lie in the dust for traffic offences? Don’t we have laws?"

He called on Nigerians to always speak up against injustice, confront the situation and record such incidents so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

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The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) has demanded the immediate trial or release of Sani Baban-Inna, the Aide-De-Camp of Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Baban-Inna, who has been in the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) for 65 days, was accused of using Mrs. Buhari’s name to defraud persons to the tune of N2.5 billion.

Aisha Buhari had claimed that Baban-Inna, a Chief Superintendent of Police, received huge donations from politicians and business people on her behalf and then kept the cash to himself. See Also Corruption Aisha Buhari: It's True My ADC Defrauded A Lot Of People But I Didn't Order His Arrest 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

Although there were claims that he had been released, it turned out that the family member who earlier disclosed that he had been released was "misinformed".

Baban-Inna has remained in the custody of the DSS since September 2018.

CLO, therefore, called on the DSS to "revisit the case file thoroughly, meticulously go through it, and most respectfully and godly, find reason to either charge him to court or expressly release him for a case lacking in merit”.

The group expressed displeasure on the continuous detention of Baban-Inna.

Another pressure group, Committee of Concerned Friends and Associates of CSP Muhammad Sani Baban-Inna, said it learnt that the allegations against the policeman were concocted to frame him by one Mukhar Abdullahi, a superintendent who works with Mrs. Buhari in Abuja.

“In the frame-up plot, we also have Hajiya Hadiza Dahiru Abba, a.k.a. Aunty Mata and Usman Halilu,” the committee of friends claimed.

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The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) has demanded the immediate trial or release of Sani Baban-Inna, the Aide-De-Camp of Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Baban-Inna, who has been in the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) for 65 days, was accused of using Mrs. Buhari’s name to defraud persons to the tune of N2.5 billion.

Aisha Buhari had claimed that Baban-Inna, a Chief Superintendent of Police, received huge donations from politicians and business people on her behalf and then kept the cash to himself. See Also Corruption Aisha Buhari: It's True My ADC Defrauded A Lot Of People But I Didn't Order His Arrest 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

Although there were claims that he had been released, it turned out that the family member who earlier disclosed that he had been released was "misinformed".

Baban-Inna has remained in the custody of the DSS since September 2018.

CLO, therefore, called on the DSS to "revisit the case file thoroughly, meticulously go through it, and most respectfully and godly, find reason to either charge him to court or expressly release him for a case lacking in merit”.

The group expressed displeasure on the continuous detention of Baban-Inna.

Another pressure group, Committee of Concerned Friends and Associates of CSP Muhammad Sani Baban-Inna, said it learnt that the allegations against the policeman were concocted to frame him by one Mukhar Abdullahi, a superintendent who works with Mrs. Buhari in Abuja.

“In the frame-up plot, we also have Hajiya Hadiza Dahiru Abba, a.k.a. Aunty Mata and Usman Halilu,” the committee of friends claimed.

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One in three women experience violence in their lifetime, across all social status, class, race, country or age group.

More than a third of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives in Nigeria. Research indicates that the cost of violence against women could amount annually to around 2 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP). This is equivalent to $1.5 trillion.

In a populous country like Nigeria with over 180 million people where 60% are female, cases of domestic violence are rampant. Many women and children exposed to violence in Nigeria are also victims of physical and emotional abuse, and are at serious risk of long-term physical and mental health problems. They have also been reported cases of rape, trafficking, kidnapping, suicide caused by domestic violence.

Domestic violence manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms, encompassing intimate partner violence (battery, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide); sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment); human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation); female genital mutilation; and child marriage.

To break this cycle and to reduce the cases of domestic violence in the generations to come, we have to implement programmes that are effective and help violent perpetrators get the knowledge and help they need to not create the next generation of violent individuals in their children.

Rehabilitation programmes that emphasise self-reflection, self-control, empathy, and which build resilience, can allow them offer their children love, concern and tenderness instead. That way, even in times of economic strain, people will have the psychological understanding and coping skills to avoid turning to violence. The collective efforts of all stakeholders will contribute enormously to reducing this epidemic in our country.

To commemorate this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the United Nations urged people to "stand in solidarity with survivors and survivor advocates and women’s human rights defenders who are working to prevent and end violence against women and girls".

"Our duty is not only to stand in solidarity with them but also to intensify our efforts to find solutions and measures to stop this preventable global scourge with a detrimental impact on women’s and girls’ lives and health," it said.

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On Thursday, September 13, 2018, Mrs Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin was featured as Nigeria’s first CNN Hero — a television special created by CNN to honour individuals who make extraordinary contributions to their communities.

Ten people are selected and after a month of voting, one is selected as the CNN Hero of the year. Asides the spotlight received, this individual will get a prize of $100,000 to continue their work. 

Abisoye has earned accolades within and outside Nigeria for her efforts to use technology to educate girls in Makoko, a slum in Lagos.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of SaharaReporters, are just a few of the notable personalities that have thrown their weight behind Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin for her efforts.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who received Abisoye, the founder of Pearls Africa Foundation at a meeting recently, urged Nigerians to vote for her.

In his remarks on meeting Abisoye, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo tweeted: "Last week, I met a delegation from Pearl Africa Foundation led by Abisoye Ajai Akinfolarin. This foundation helps disadvantaged girls in Nigeria gain necessary technology skills and confidence. I honestly believe the work the foundation does is outstanding. Incidentally, Abisoye has also been nominated as CNN Hero of the year. To win, she will need our help. Follow the link and vote for her and the outstanding work she is doing with young ladies in Nigeria".

In a post on her Instagram handle a few weeks back, Mrs. Aisha acknowledged the efforts of Abisoye, an IT specialist who had to quit her job in order to fill the gender gap to see more women participating in IT development. She congratulated Abisoye for her efforts in promoting “the well being of the [underprivileged]”.

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) also urged his teeming supporters on social media to vote for Abisoye.

Praising her efforts, Sowore said: “We cannot keep having people like you out there doing amazing work and it is like the stars of people like you are being dampened. Please vote for this lady. She is doing amazing work”.

Fela Durotoye, presidential aspirant of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) was also full of praises for Abisoye, whom he described as the kind of person he would like to honour with a national award when he becomes the President of Nigeria.

In an interview on Arise Television, Fela said: “It is when we have more people like us that are holding hands together that is when we will build a great new Nigeria. It should not be CNN that is coming to recognise our own. We recognise and honour Abisoye Akinfolarin. We thank God for her. Thank God for what she is doing with the Pearl Foundation, but it should not just be CNN.

On his part, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) said: “We see you, we hear you and we appreciate you. Met Abisoye-Akinfolarin, a CNN Hero who is making her mark in our society by empowering young girls to turn their dreams into reality”.

Voting is still on and you can vote today and tomorrow by following this link: https://ift.tt/2dWevmU

Technology News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2PinHkN

On Thursday, September 13, 2018, Mrs Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin was featured as Nigeria’s first CNN Hero — a television special created by CNN to honour individuals who make extraordinary contributions to their communities.

Ten people are selected and after a month of voting, one is selected as the CNN Hero of the year. Asides the spotlight received, this individual will get a prize of $100,000 to continue their work. 

Abisoye has earned accolades within and outside Nigeria for her efforts to use technology to educate girls in Makoko, a slum in Lagos.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of SaharaReporters, are just a few of the notable personalities that have thrown their weight behind Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin for her efforts.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who received Abisoye, the founder of Pearls Africa Foundation at a meeting recently, urged Nigerians to vote for her.

In his remarks on meeting Abisoye, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo tweeted: "Last week, I met a delegation from Pearl Africa Foundation led by Abisoye Ajai Akinfolarin. This foundation helps disadvantaged girls in Nigeria gain necessary technology skills and confidence. I honestly believe the work the foundation does is outstanding. Incidentally, Abisoye has also been nominated as CNN Hero of the year. To win, she will need our help. Follow the link and vote for her and the outstanding work she is doing with young ladies in Nigeria".

In a post on her Instagram handle a few weeks back, Mrs. Aisha acknowledged the efforts of Abisoye, an IT specialist who had to quit her job in order to fill the gender gap to see more women participating in IT development. She congratulated Abisoye for her efforts in promoting “the well being of the [underprivileged]”.

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) also urged his teeming supporters on social media to vote for Abisoye.

Praising her efforts, Sowore said: “We cannot keep having people like you out there doing amazing work and it is like the stars of people like you are being dampened. Please vote for this lady. She is doing amazing work”.

Fela Durotoye, presidential aspirant of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) was also full of praises for Abisoye, whom he described as the kind of person he would like to honour with a national award when he becomes the President of Nigeria.

In an interview on Arise Television, Fela said: “It is when we have more people like us that are holding hands together that is when we will build a great new Nigeria. It should not be CNN that is coming to recognise our own. We recognise and honour Abisoye Akinfolarin. We thank God for her. Thank God for what she is doing with the Pearl Foundation, but it should not just be CNN.

On his part, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) said: “We see you, we hear you and we appreciate you. Met Abisoye-Akinfolarin, a CNN Hero who is making her mark in our society by empowering young girls to turn their dreams into reality”.

Voting is still on and you can vote today and tomorrow by following this link: https://ift.tt/2dWevmU

Technology News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2PinHkN

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Some Nigerians in the Diaspora have said the reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is an impostor known as Jubrin from Sudan is "mischievous".

In a statement on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) said those behind the rumour need "psychiatric attention".

A statement by Francis Adeka, on behalf of the group, read: “The claim is being bolstered with a poor rendition and understanding of scientific procedures like cloning, face transplant among others, which proves that those that are carrying this fake news need mental intervention.

“The fake claim would have been considered humorous, but for the fact that it has attained the first position of the most ridiculous and hare-brained in the annals of conspiracy theories. It is a story meant to prey on the gullible by reason of limited mental capacity, whose numbers seem to be increasing on daily basis. Sadly, those peddling the fake news about cloning have even lesser mental capacity than the people they are deceiving.

“The leading organisation on cloning was categorical in stating that gene cloning is the most common type of cloning done by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). NHGRI researchers have not cloned any mammals and NHGRI does not clone humans."

The group further stated that proponents of the fallacy are using a "1997 Sci-Fi thriller, Face/Off, as prop in their illogical argument saying there has been a face swap between Buhari and Jubrin".

“In the medical world, there has been a handful of partial and full face transplants, but the recipients of the face transplant look nothing like the donors; and of course the new faces come with some level of distortion with the risk of rejection for which the patients take a cocktail of mediation for life,” the statement read.

“Even more childish is the flipping and reversing of photographs of President Buhari to claim that one version is right-handed, while the other is left-handed, which is a photo trick that is achievable with the most basic photo editing software.”

Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2zGozKZ

Some Nigerians in the Diaspora have said the reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is an impostor known as Jubrin from Sudan is "mischievous".

In a statement on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) said those behind the rumour need "psychiatric attention".

A statement by Francis Adeka, on behalf of the group, read: “The claim is being bolstered with a poor rendition and understanding of scientific procedures like cloning, face transplant among others, which proves that those that are carrying this fake news need mental intervention.

“The fake claim would have been considered humorous, but for the fact that it has attained the first position of the most ridiculous and hare-brained in the annals of conspiracy theories. It is a story meant to prey on the gullible by reason of limited mental capacity, whose numbers seem to be increasing on daily basis. Sadly, those peddling the fake news about cloning have even lesser mental capacity than the people they are deceiving.

“The leading organisation on cloning was categorical in stating that gene cloning is the most common type of cloning done by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). NHGRI researchers have not cloned any mammals and NHGRI does not clone humans."

The group further stated that proponents of the fallacy are using a "1997 Sci-Fi thriller, Face/Off, as prop in their illogical argument saying there has been a face swap between Buhari and Jubrin".

“In the medical world, there has been a handful of partial and full face transplants, but the recipients of the face transplant look nothing like the donors; and of course the new faces come with some level of distortion with the risk of rejection for which the patients take a cocktail of mediation for life,” the statement read.

“Even more childish is the flipping and reversing of photographs of President Buhari to claim that one version is right-handed, while the other is left-handed, which is a photo trick that is achievable with the most basic photo editing software.”

Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2zGozKZ

Some Nigerians in the Diaspora have said the reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is an impostor known as Jubrin from Sudan is "mischievous".

In a statement on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) said those behind the rumour need "psychiatric attention".

A statement by Francis Adeka, on behalf of the group, read: “The claim is being bolstered with a poor rendition and understanding of scientific procedures like cloning, face transplant among others, which proves that those that are carrying this fake news need mental intervention.

“The fake claim would have been considered humorous, but for the fact that it has attained the first position of the most ridiculous and hare-brained in the annals of conspiracy theories. It is a story meant to prey on the gullible by reason of limited mental capacity, whose numbers seem to be increasing on daily basis. Sadly, those peddling the fake news about cloning have even lesser mental capacity than the people they are deceiving.

“The leading organisation on cloning was categorical in stating that gene cloning is the most common type of cloning done by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). NHGRI researchers have not cloned any mammals and NHGRI does not clone humans."

The group further stated that proponents of the fallacy are using a "1997 Sci-Fi thriller, Face/Off, as prop in their illogical argument saying there has been a face swap between Buhari and Jubrin".

“In the medical world, there has been a handful of partial and full face transplants, but the recipients of the face transplant look nothing like the donors; and of course the new faces come with some level of distortion with the risk of rejection for which the patients take a cocktail of mediation for life,” the statement read.

“Even more childish is the flipping and reversing of photographs of President Buhari to claim that one version is right-handed, while the other is left-handed, which is a photo trick that is achievable with the most basic photo editing software.”

Politics News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2zGozKZ