A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
By Benjamin Njoku The outgoing President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Sunday, said that the outcome of the country’s Presidential Election, which held on the 7th of December and won by Mr. Nana Akuffo Dankwah, was the will of the people of Ghana.
Mahama who lost the election to Dankwah, however, promised not to do anything that will undermine the government of Dankwah.
Speaking at the well-attended Ovation Carol which held, Sunday, at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mahama said that he has 'moved on beyond being president' and re-emphasize that what happened was what the people of Ghana wanted, and it should not be toiled with.
While reiterating his desire to see Ghana continue to grow, the outgoing President said, "Next year, Ghana will be 60 years, and we expect to be where the people who started this journey in the last 250 years are'.
Speaking further, the President said, Ghana and Nigeria seem to be like birds of the same feather, "where whatever happens in Ghana or is happening in Ghana, also happens in Nigeria."President John Dramani Mahama
"I wish our new President all the best and will not do anything to undermine his administration. Government is a continuum, I tried to restructure our economy and I believe a new government will continue from where we have stopped and recognize the sacrifice we made," he said.
He described the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Bashorun Dele Momodu as a agent of positive change , adding that both him and Chief Michael Adenuga, the Chairman of Globacom Group, who he said he gave the highest award in Ghana for bringing to Africa to Glo network, when the environment did not present the atmosphere to do that.
Mahama, who spoke to the admiration of the mammoth crowd stated that he would hand over power on January 7, 2017, adding that Nigeria and Ghana seem to have become some sort of 'twins' where what happens to one happens to the other. He was speaking of the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his.
The outgoing President was later inducted into the Ovation Hall of Fame by Bashorun Dele Momodu in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Segun Osoba, for his contribution to African unity and King Sunny Ade for his contribution to the growth of African music. Also, the music producer, OJB Jezreel was remembered at the event for his contribution to the growth of Nigerian music. His family was invited on stage, while Dele Momodu urged well meaning Nigerians to endeavour to support the late music producer and singer’s family.
Other performers were Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Iyo, Abiodun Koya, Eniola, L. A.X, SHiiKANE, Zeynab Abib from Benin Republic,Niniola, Ruby & Pearl, Olu Jazz, Simi, Ranti, Dee Aja from Ghana, and sponsored by GLO.
Previous editions of the event had featured top rated artistes such as Don Jazzy, Wiz Kid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Waje, Yemi Alade, Eva Lordiah, Patoranking, D'Prince, Efya, Stonebwoy, 4×4, Praye, Wutah, Sammie Okposo, Abiodun Koya, Becca, Sarkodie, Okyeame Kwame, Mafikizolo, Irene Logan, Wiyaala among others.
The event was streamed live on different parts of Africa and Europe via satellite: HipTv, AIT, GHOne Tv, while the Europe audience was made provisions for on BEN TV. This year edition which was sponsored by telecom company Glo saw special dignitaries, celebrities and fans of good music in attendance.
A brainchild of Chief Dele Momodu, Chief Executive Officer of Ovation Group of Companies, The Ovation Carol 2016, was birthed in 2007 with the purpose of showing appreciation to God at the tail end of every year.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – A coalition of some Abuja-based civil society organizations under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, on Monday faulted the Senate for calling for the sack of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal, describing the lawmakers’ action as a way of getting back at President Muhammadu Buhari whose anti-corruption war has seen some high-profile Nigerians including allies of the senators as ‘guests’ of the anti-graft agencies.
Coordinator of the coalition, Okpokwu Ogenyi, who spoke on behalf of sister-organizations alleged that the upper chamber as presently constituted, lacks the moral right to indict anyone.
He insisted that the Senate’s report on the SGF fell short of unbiased expectations as its content was mere blackmail targeted at President Buhari as a way to avenge the ongoing travails of the principal officers of the Senate who are either being investigated or being tried by anti-graft agencies.
He said, “we charge the Nigerian Senate to stop playing politics with sensitive national issues, especially her deliberate attempts to mislead Nigerians at all time in their subtle attempt to discredit Mr. President’s anti-graft war by blackmailing his associates.
“It is no longer news that the National Assembly especially the present Senate as constituted has derailed from its primary function of law making to a mere blackmail of the executive and its persons perceived very sensitive to the day to day running of its activities. They are continuously being castigated on daily bases by the senate, with a view painting Mr President’s war on corruption in bad light.
“The report of the senate Ad-hoc committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East which claims that a contract was awarded to a company which Mr Babachir Lawal was the signatory and a director was false and should be discarded.
“As civil society bodies, we went into a private investigation and discovered that Mr Lawal upon assumption of office resigned from the Board of Rholavision Engineering Limited on the 28th of August, 2015 and relinquished his shares and as a director of the same company, the letter was written on his letter-headed paper. On the 26th of October, 2015, the Same BabaChir David Lawal (SGF) wrote a letter to Eco Bank Plc requesting for a change of signatory which the bank honoured.
“We have equally resolved as Nigerians not to fold our arms as this new trick of the National Assembly portends danger to the ongoing anti-corruption war of Mr President as they have proved to be visible enemies of Nigeria, working against the Nigerian State. We shall always stand on the part of the truth.
“As responsible Nigerians, we appeal to the Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Mr BabaChir David Lawal not to be distracted by the Senator Shehu Sani led ad-hoc committee’s frivolous report. We are aware that it was doctored just to smear your good image and that of Mr. President before the world”, he posited.
A group of ex-militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Development Movement, NDDM, has commended the Federal Government and the Ministry of Niger Delta over the appointment of Mr Tikari Danjuma as the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Riverine Protection Programme.
National Coordinator of NDDM, Mr Paul Toruwei, who spoke recently through the Public Relations Officer, said: "The appointment of Danjuma, as National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Riverine Protection Programme and Mr Collins Oturubo, as the Delta State Coordinator, are the most welcome developments of the moment. They are qualified for their respective positions and they will perform very well to the expectation of Niger Deltans and the country as a whole.
"We implore the government to take advantage of the peace building efforts of the duo and their determination to protect the oil facilities in Niger Delta.”
Northern group under the umbrella of North-East Youth Peace & Empowerment Initiative, NEYPEI, Monday, described the call by the Senate for the removal of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, as unjustified and should be disregarded.
Manu and Babachir
The National President, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, in a statement, said that the allegation of abuse of office by the Senate adhoc committee is an interim report which must not be used to nail Lawal.
Kyari said: "The award of contracts to his cronies and members of his family was only based on an interim report of Senate adhoc committee.
"We state that the Senate should wait for the full report on the misuse of powers by the office of the SGF before taking the necessary actions because it is premature to conclude and call for his suspension".
The group regretted what it described as the calculated campaigns of calumny launched against many illustrious sons of the North-East extractions serving in the present administration, saying they have been found to be untrue at the end.
Abubakar stressed that part of the campaign against indigenes of the zone also manifested last week in the refusal of Senate to confirm the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of EFCC.
The group urged the Senate to reconsider its decision as Magu had contributed a lot to the fight against corruption in the country as his record in the EFCC indicate.
The statement added: "The political appointees from the North-East region are people of integrity and efforts should not be made to distract them from their daily efforts to rebuild the North-East devastated by the activities of the Boko Haram. "We understand that all the allegations leveled against them are not genuine and we call on President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to disregard call to remove the SGF from office pending the proving of the allegations against him.”
Abuja – The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika, says the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, will be closed for six weeks in February and March 2017 for total repairs on the runway.
Sirika told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that the closure was to allow Julius Berger carry out total re-construction on the badly damaged airport runway.
He said that while the runway would still be put to use under the six months of rehabilitation, the six weeks would allow the mid section of the runway to be reconstructed.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstruction through the emergency procurement procedure for work to commence.
This, according to him, is because of the centrality, economy and the importance of Abuja to the general administration of the country.
He said government could not afford to close down Abuja airport for a long time as palliative repairs had been ongoing at the runway in the last three months.
"From start to finish of the runway, it will take six months. However, we will be using the runway almost throughout the period except for about six weeks when the runway will be closed.
"That is when we are going to do the mid-section of the runway. "The government has accepted the design done by the contractor. The runway will last for than 10 years on completion early next year'', he said.
Sirika said Abuja bound passengers from any part of the world will use Kaduna airport as alternative during the six weeks closure to passengers.
He said arrangement had been finalised with Kaduna State, adding that while the federal government will provide buses to convey the passengers to Abuja, the state government will provide security.
According to him, it will cost government substantial amount of money "but we think that palliative approach is wrong because three years down we will come back to do the same repairs.
"Therefore, we decided to go for the bigger option which is to do structural repairs if the runway which will take about six months to complete'', he said.
On the Bilateral Air Agreement with other countries, Sirika said government had signed BASA with 18 countries that Nigerians frequently visites and do business with.
The MOUs, he said, would give Nigeria the opportunity to operate air services with 18 countries. "With this, we have the freedom to fly and land safely in other air space and this will assist in opening our market.''
ASABA—A member of the House of Representatives representing Ika North-East/Ika South federal constituency, Mr. Victor Nwokolo, has empowered over 500 indigent persons with cash and items worth millions of naira.
Presenting the items, which include 18 milling machines, both manual and fabricated, 15 generators, 10 tricycles for the disabled, 56 motorcycles, 18 electric and manual sewing machines, 15 hair dressing saloon equipment and five block moulding machines, two patrol vans for the two local government areas of Ika, and three security motorcycles to the anti-cult group, Nwokolo said that the gesture was to appreciate the people for their support for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration and other elected officers of Ika origin.
He assured the people that the empowerment programme would continue until the current economic situation improves.
CALABAR—NON- DREDGING of the channel of the Calabar Port, Cross River State, 10 years after it was privatized, is a critical limiting factor for the non-utilization of the full potentials of the port as bigger vessels cannot berth there.
Group General Manager of ECM Terminals, Mr Dayo Balogun, operators of the port, told Vanguard in Calabar, during the presentation of the ISO 9001 certification to the company by ISO agent, yesterday, that the company took over operations at the port after it signed agreement with the Federal Government that the port would be dredged from its present six metres to 10.5 metres to allow bigger vessels to berth at the port but this is yet to be done.
"Non-dredging of Calabar Port to its advertised 10.5 metres is the critical limiting factor that is affecting its potential to function optimally and harness all its capabilities 10 years after privatisation which is a breach of the agreement the Federal Government signed with ECM Terminals," he said.
Abuja – Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development says N328 million is earmarked to purchase 38 Nissan Hillux vehicles for 36 states and the FCT to improve mining surveillance.
The minister said this at the unveiling of the vehicles on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the Federal Government had set aside the utility vans for field inspection and monitoring of mining operations across the country.
"The overall purpose for purchasing the vehicles was to ease mobility, enhance in-field analysis and facilitate effective discharge of mines inspectorate services.
"The vehicles are made available to improve other regulatory duties of the technical departments of the ministry,'' Fayemi said.
He said the 37 vehicles would be shared among the 36 states and the FCT, while the remaining one would be left at the ministry for utility duties.Fayemi
Fayemi described the development as historic as according to him, "the ministry is for the first time since creation procuring such large fleet of vehicles for use.''
"The execution of these vehicles procurement project is therefore a clear demonstration of the commitment of this administration to our strategic goal of repositioning the mining sector for greater productivity.
"One of our objectives is to strengthen the ministry with the requisite capacity and capabilities to deliver on our mandate,'' he said.
Fayemi said that the procurement of these vehicles had successfully addressed the challenges of logistical support for field operations of the technical departments of the ministry.
"This development will result in the scaling up of the capacity of the departments for the effective discharge of statutory duties and functions such as prompt monitoring of all mining/quarrying operations,'' he said.
He said that the vehicles would help mines artisanal officers to have close monitoring of artisanal and small scale mining operations.
He added that the vehicles would ensure closer surveillance of the mines fields to identify and curb illegal mining activities.
"From January next year, I expect to start seeing the positive impact of this investment in terms of increased revenue generation, reduction in the number of illegal mining incidences,'' Fayemi said.
He urged the officers to use the vehicles strictly for the official duties.
Fayemi also inaugurated a 26-man Mining Implementation and Strategy Team (MIST) saddled with the responsibility to oversee and provide the leadership in the implementation of mining roadmap of the ministry.
The ministry on March 1 set up a multi-stakeholder committee with the mandate to script the roadmap for the development and growth of the sector.
The draft roadmap was submitted on March 31 and subsequently shared with state governors among others stakeholders for extensive validation process.
He said that a number of ideas that emanated from this validation process and submissions from states and sector operators were incorporated into the roadmap approved by FEC on Aug. 31
"I am indeed grateful to the members of the roadmap committee as well as other industry players who provided invaluable contribution toward the production and validation of the Roadmap.
"Our national mining growth strategy is now richer and the MIST is a key recommendation in the roadmap,'' he said.
The minister also urged the committee to identify key low cost and low hurdle actions to be implemented to speedily revive the mining sector, among others.
The committee is responsible for informing the secretariat and the implementation office on execution of actionable items and priorities contained in the roadmap.
Sokoto – The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, says President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to improving the lives of youths in the country.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Amina Shamaki, Lawal added that the Buhari-led government remained committed to improving the lives of young Nigerians to help them to realise their full potentials.
He spoke during the presentation of National Lottery Intervention Sports Equipment to 48 public primary schools across Sokoto State. SGF Engr Babachir David Lawal He added that sports remained a bridge builder aside its economic benefits.
"The government's interest in sports has encouraged the local manufacturing of sports equipment and products in Nigeria.
"To this end, I am pleased to acknowledge the production of international quality football by the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria in Kaduna State.
"I congratulate the beneficiaries of the intervention, including People Living with Disabilities.
"I am sure you are fully aware that this government is committed to improving the lives of young Nigerians in order to enable them realise their full potentials.
"Helping them to refocus their energies toward participating actively in sports will go a long way in boosting their morale and self esteem."
Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, Mr Habu Gumel, said the ceremony was simply a manifestation of the Presidents' commitment to sports development even at the grassroots.
Gumel added that the sports equipment will be distributed to all the states of the federation.
Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Adolphus Joe, represented by the State Coordinator, Alhaji Aminu Sule, said "lottery is one of the numerous ways of generating revenue for the government.
"Lottery is aimed at creating and redistributing wealth."
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar 111, represented by the Ciroman Sokoto, Alhaji Buhari Abubakar 111, called on individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, said sports improved the mental concentration and better academic performance of youths.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, represented by the Head of Service of Sokoto State, Dr Buhari Kware, said that getting children to participate in sports remained a priority of the administration.
He called for appreciation of the Buhari-led administration for setting the pace.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, recently wrote a letter to Mr Michel Forst, the UN Rapporteur on situation of human rights defenders on Senate's refusal to confirm Mr Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, claiming political and other concocted reasons for the said refusal.
It is the purpose of this piece to vehemently urge Mr Forst to ignore the letter in its entirety as it was written out of mischief and towards actualising narrow and self-serving purposes.
Let it be stated that in rejecting Ibrahim Magu's nomination, the legislative body acted within the ambits of the law and principles of democracy that permit it to act as a check on the executive.
The description of Magu by SERAP as "a human rights defender within the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of individuals, Groups and organs of society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom of 1998 (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders)", is nothing but a figment of the imagination of SERAP concocted to impose an anti-corruption chairman whose deliberate, vindictive and gross abuse of the rights of citizens under the guise of fighting corruption is not only well-documented but also legendary.
For example, a well known critic of the present day government, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, was illegally detained for a total of 91 days, 67 days in the first instance and then 24 days in the second. The arrests and detentions were done by Magu's EFCC with questionable warrants where there was any at all, and outright disregard to the constitution where there was none at all, making such arrests arbitrary, tortuous and designed to inflict trauma and wear down the victims to the extent of getting them hospitalized in the process.
To lend credence to the above, Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on November 14, 2016, upbraided the EFCC in open court for arresting Fani-Kayode in the court premises without a warrant and for detaining him illegally for 24 days without detention order from any court despite the court's earlier advice to the EFCC not to re-arrest the former minister since he was already on a court bail granted as far back as July 4.
Eventually, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, had to apologise to the court on behalf of the anti-corruption agency.
Also, Mr Ibrahim Magu's gross abuse of citizens' rights as EFCC chairman extends to innocent spouses and infants of suspects.
On Monday, October 17, 2016, Femi Fani-Kayode's wife, Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode was stopped from withdrawing from an account operated by her, and was subsequently detained by the bank on the orders of EFCC despite carrying her infant with her while awaiting to be taken away by the commission until Peter Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti State, came to their rescue hours later.
These are just very few instances among the many issues of gross violations of rights of citizens by the anti-corruption agency under the guise of fighting corruption.
Apart from this, Mr Magu has mastered the art of deploying compromised media outfits to declare Nigerians under its radar guilty long even before such persons are arrested. This is usually done to create a leeway, harass, intimidate, detain and torture their victims without much resistance from CSO's the media and members of the public. Such detained citizens become helpless as lies after lies are churned out against them in the media while they remain incarcerated and unable to refute the campaign of falsehood against them. By the time they face prosecution, their images and reputations are mortally battered and nearly irredeemable even if the courts eventually find them innocent.
It is nauseating and an insult to the sensibilities of human rights watchers all over the world, how SERAP has condescended so low to defend the indefensible and make excuses for the inexcusable! How could SERAP "believe that the action taken by the Senate of Nigeria and other agencies of government apparently working with them undermines and violates Nigeria's international obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of the citizens, which eventually creates a duty for the government to establish efficient and independent anti-corruption mechanisms" when Mr Magu himself is known to be a gross abuser of people's rights?
It is unfair of SERAP to accuse the Senate of not offering Magu an opportunity to fair hearing. Even if this is so, SERAP should have availed itself the opportunity of seeking redress in the court rather than run to the UN for a matter that can be handled by our courts.
Rather than attempt to vilify the Senate on this score, they should be commended for saving Nigeria and Nigerians from a man of vindictive tendencies who has no respect for our laws and who acts according to his own whims and caprices just to settle political scores with perceived enemies of government and members of the opposition thereby giving the day's government continued avoidable bad publicity.
Let SERAP be asked if they are aware that despite petitions with overwhelming copious and cogent evidence against some members of the current administration and ruling party, none of such indicted persons have been invited for questioning by Magu's EFCC not to talk of prosecuting them.
Example of such people who have petitions against them lodged with Mr Magu's EFCC but which Magu has consistently ignored, neglected and or failed to act upon include Mr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation among others, while the likes of Timipre Sylva and the late Abubakar Audu were cleared to contest elections as governors in their respective states.
It is laughable that while SERAP makes desperate attempts to clear Magu of any association with a corrupt person, it claimed the property Magu is currently occupying was not paid for by one retired Commodore Umar Mohammed who himself is being investigated for corruption by a sister security agency but by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA).
This is not only shameful but also disgraceful!
Mohammed was said to have paid N40m for the property and lavishly furnished it with another N43m.
Even if we decide to agree with SERAP that the property was paid for by the FCDA and not Mohammed, the question is, when did it become the function of the FCDA to pay for and furnish properties for public officials? That is corruption in itself as it puts Magu in a position of conflicting interest. For Magu to have accepted such 'gift' from a government agency or any person or institution at all shows that the man is not fit to head our anti-corruption agency or any other office of responsibility.
Accusing the Senate of being political with the confirmation of Magu despite the preponderant abundance of acts unbecoming of a public official is to unfairly put the Senate in bad light.
The Senate has not asked for the EFCC to be scrapped, they have merely asked that another citizen with high moral standards and respect for our laws and rights of citizens without compromising his/her function be appointed. This, to the right thinking Nigerian, is indeed what needs to be done.
So, rather than condemn the Senate, they should be commended for a job well done and for saving Nigeria and Nigerians from the continued embarrassing slips and persecutions of citizens and affront to our constitution.
This same Senate also about the same time with Ibrahim Magus's confirmation, recommended that one of the most powerful forces in the Buhari administration, Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the government of the federation, be sacked and prosecuted for allegedly diverting huge sums of money meant for internally displaced persons (IDP's) who are being ravaged by hunger, disease and squalor. One wonders why SERAP has taken up the defence of Magu while ignoring the issue of funds meant for IDP's but allegedly diverted by Lawal. The question is, whose interest is SERAP serving?
That SERAP would travel this infamous road to ignominy is a confirmation of what Nigerians have since known: the dearth and death of CSO's in Nigeria since May 29, 2015!
Jude Ndukwe is a social commentator. He wrote from Abuja.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-A total of N288.6 billion of looted funds in the previous regime of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has so far been recovered by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze has said.
This was even as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma has allayed fears over the non approval of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF by the National Assembly before the presentation of the 2017 budget estimates last week.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed also admitted that the Social Intervention Scheme otherwise called N-Power jobs piloted by the Federal Government has not performed fairly well.
The officials spoke while fielding questions from Journalists at the 2017 Budget Breakdown organized by the Ministry of Budget and Planning at Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday.
Akabueze said: “A total of N288.6 billion. This includes N97.6 billion which is equivalent of $220 dollars expected from the swiss, part of what is called Abacha loot recovery. Then it also includes N72 billion that has already been received in recent cases of loot recovery. And a balance of N90billion.
“Other expected recoveries that are at an advanced and reasonable stage that we feel comfortable and confident that they would come through in 2017 and so they have been reflected in the budget.”
Udoma on his part said that the National Assembly which already had both the MTEF and the budget would work on them at their own pace.
He also underscored the determination of the government to pull Nigeria out of recession.
He said: “With respect to the question about the MTEF, the national assembly has the MTEF which has been updated. And they have the budget, so everything is with them. So, they will determine how they treat it. I am sure the sequence will be they do the MTEF before they do the budget. But everything is with the national assembly.
“We are determined to bring succor to our people. The only way is by taking strong actions to change the current trajectory of the Nigerian economy.
To get out of the recession and bring the country back on the path of growth, government must find the resources to spend on infrastructure, and to spend to reflate the economy”.
On his part, the Minister of State for Budget, Ahmed said that the social intervention programme encountered teething problems even as she believed that the issues would be completely solved in the 2017 budget to meet the objective of the scheme.
The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described as `unrealistic political dream,' the claim that nine PDP governors support Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction.
Prince Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led faction, made the remark in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Adeyeye said that the party's attention was drawn to a statement credited to Ahmed Gulak, an aide of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff that up to eight PDP governors were in support of Sheriff's group.
"We naturally wouldn't have dignified Gulak and his cohorts with a response but silence could be misinterpreted as admission of the lies of this pathological liars.
"We are amused by Gulak's claims.
"Since the 21st May 2016 convention which held in Port Harcourt, Ali Modu Sheriff and his renegade band have never missed any opportunity to blame the governors for the problems of the party.
"Only last week their self appointed Deputy National Chairman Cairo Ojugboh was still castigating the governors for the party's woes at a press conference.
Sheriff-Makarfi
"Why attack those who are supporting you?''
Adeyeye said that if Gulak wanted to be taken seriously, he should name those governors who were supporting his group.
He added that Gulak should also disclose the type of support his group received from the governors.
"On the other hand, it may be a case of political hallucination (where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside their mind).''
Adeyeye said maybe Gulak actually meant the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors who are their sponsors and not PDP Governors.
"The whole world knows that these are paid agents of the APC being used to destabilize our great party.
"We make bold to say that all PDP governors are fully in support of the Care Taker Committee which they and other stakeholders created
"Gulak should wake up from his dream and come to the world of reality,'' Adeyeye said.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said all is now set for the launch of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in broadcasting in Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister announced this in Abuja on Monday during the tour of key facilities of Pinnacle Communication Limited, the signal distribution for the Abuja DSO.
“We are impressed by the speed, commitment and passion of Pinnacle to this project and we have come here to ensure that no stone is left unturned to ensure smooth Digital Switch Over in Abuja on Thursday,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said 30 free channels will be available for Abuja residents upon the switch over on Thursday and that over 450,000 Set-Top Boxes have been provided for the flag-off.The Control Room at Pinnacle Communications, Signal Distributors for Abuja Digital Switch Over
“It’s a revolution in the broadcasting ecosystem as far as Nigeria is concerned because not only are we going to have better clarity and audio but the average resident of FCT who is in possession of our Set-Top Box will have 30 free channels from news, entertainment, music….This is going to open a new vista for content,” he said.
The Minister expressed confidence that within 3 years of the digital transition, 1 million jobs will be created in the development of television content, technical services, software development, as well as the installation and repair of Set-Top Boxes for over 24 million TV households, among others.
The Minister said even though the Digital Switch Over will not take place in one fell swoop across the country, the Federal Government remains resolute in its commitment to meeting the 2017 deadline for the DSO.
Also speaking at the Call Centre of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), he said the government is equally concerned about customers’ satisfaction, which informed the setting up of the Call Centre where subscribers can call to make inquiries or complaints for prompt response.
Alhaji Mohammed, who was accompanied by the NBC Director General, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, and the Chairman of DIGITEAM Nigeria, Mr. Edward Amana, inspected facilities at the Monitoring Room, Transmission Station and the Call Centre.
The Pilot Scheme of the DSO was launched in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016
A Turkish policeman crying “Aleppo” and “Allahu Akbar” shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey at an art exhibition in Ankara on Monday, in what Moscow termed a “terrorist act”.
Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting, which occurred on the eve of a key meeting between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict.
Dramatic television footage showed the man — dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie — waving a gun and gesturing in the air at the Ankara exhibition hall where the veteran diplomat was opening a show of Russian photographs.
The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been “neutralised” in a police operation inside the hall after 15 minutes of clashes.
“Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.
“We qualify what happened as a terrorist act,” she added. “The murderers will be punished.
“Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out,” she added.
The mayor of Ankara Melih Gokcek identified the attacker as a Turkish policeman. The Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker — named as M.M.A. — worked with anti-riot police in Ankara.
Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, speculated on his official Twitter account that the policeman may be linked to the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia’s role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.
The United States condemned the attack, while British ambassador Richard Moore paid tribute to a “quietly spoken, hospitable professional.”
Erdogan phoned Putin to brief him about the attack, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said.
– ‘People fleeing’ –
The shooting took place at the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara where most foreign embassies are located including Russia’s mission.
“It happened during the opening of an exhibition,” Hurriyet correspondent Hasim Kilic, who was at the scene, told AFP.
“When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador,” said Kilic.
“He said something about Aleppo and ‘revenge’. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again,” he added.
Images showed the ambassador standing up to speak at a lectern at the opening of an photo exhibition called “Russia from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka” showing images from Russia’s far west to its far east.
He stumbles and then crashes to the ground after being shot, lying flat on his back as the besuited attacker brandishes the gun at terrified onlookers.
The man shouts “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) and then talks about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic, the images showed.
Switching to Turkish, he then says: “Don’t forget about Syria, don’t forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable”.
– ‘Crucial meeting’ –
Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for human rights violations in Aleppo with thousands turning out for protests outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul.
But political relations have warmed, with intense contacts between the two sides in recent days to ease the situation in Aleppo.
Turkey and Russia saw relations plunge to their worst levels since the Cold War last year when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian war plane over Syria.
They stand on opposite sides of the Syria conflict with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad.
But the rhetoric has warmed considerably since a reconciliation deal was signed earlier this year and a Russian and Turkish-brokered accord has helped the evacuation of citizens from Aleppo in the last days.
The attack comes a day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, Assad’s other key ally, were to hold unprecedented tripartite talks on the Syria conflict in Moscow.
The Syrian foreign ministry in Damascus denounced the murder as a “despicable crime”, state news agency SANA said.
Cavusoglu learned of the news while on the plane to Moscow, Turkish television said.
A Turkish official on Monday denied Ankara had forged any secret “bargain” with Moscow over the future of Syria, despite the improving cooperation that led to the deal for evacuations from Aleppo.
Born in 1954 in Moscow, Karlov was a career diplomat who had began his career under the USSR in 1976. He was Russian ambassador to North Korea from 2001-2006.
By Chinedu Adonu ENUGU-LEADERSHIP of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has frowned at the planned official visit of President Buhari to Enugu on Thursday, December 22, 2016, saying that on no account should he set his foot on Biafra Land.
The group which described him as a killer said that he has killed a lot of Biafrans during the civil war and has even killed many more after and for that reason should not come to Biafraland unless he is willing to release all detained Biafra restoration agitators.
A statement signed by IPOB spokesmen, Barr. Emma Mmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya respectively, posits that both Buhari and the South East governors or Igbo leaders that welcome Buhari to Biafraland will get the ire of IPOB, pointing out that such people will have themselves to blame.
They are dead serious and have threatened to die with Buhari should he set his foot on any Biafraland while the agitators are still in detention. Buhari
The statements reads in part: “The Indigenous People of Biafra ,IPOB, have received information that Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari who committed treason on December 31, 1983, and was rewarded with Nigeria's presidency after 32 years, will be visiting Enugu-Biafraland on the 22nd of December, 2016. We assert that inviting a killer and persecutor of Biafrans to our land is an insult to the memory of those killed by Muhammadu Buhari.
Russia's Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was killed on Monday in the capital, Ankara, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments carried by State News Agency TASS.
"Today is a tragic day for Russian diplomacy,'' Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said.
Turkish media outlets report that Karlov was giving a speech at an art exhibition when he was shot in the back.
Turkish Newspaper Hurriyet cites a photographer from the scene as saying the gunman shouted Islamist slogans and spoke about the situation in the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo.
By Eyobong Ita WARNING: The following information may sound crazy or confusing to you, especially if you already know that real estate billionaire Donald Trump is president-elect of the United States of America. However, pay close attention and you'll learn a lot about the enigma called Electoral College.
Yes, the American people voted on November 8 to elect Trump as the next president of the United States, despite Hillary Clinton winning more votes than Trump – Clinton actually won more than two million votes than Trump. So how can Trump win if she had more than two million votes than he did? Well, Trump won more Electoral College votes, which by the constitution of the United States are far more important than the popular votes Clinton won. Even if Clinton had received one billion votes more than Trump, she still would not have won. See, I told you it sounds crazy! Just stay with me, there's more.
Remember in my previous columns I informed you about 538 Electoral College votes? That number represents the two senators in each state of the 50 states of the Union, and the House of Reps members in each state, which varies depending on the number of their congressional districts. By virtue of being the nation's capital, the District of Columbia a.k.a. Washington, D.C. also gets three votes. Although D.C. is not a state and therefore not entitled to congressional representation, that allotment is what it would have had if it were a state.
So on election night, those states Trump won translated into 306 Electoral College votes, against Clinton's 232. The minimum votes to win the U.S. presidential election is 270. So does this mean Trump is the next U.S. president? Actually no. At least not yet. Not until the Electoral College votes Dec. 19 to decide who the next president of the United States would be. Aha! Now you're confused. Very confused, right? You're not alone. Believe it or not, many Americans don't even understand how this Electoral College system works. They just vote and think that's it. Wrong!
Here's what you need to know. Let's call this "lecture" U.S. Presidential Election 101. The Electoral College is not really a college or university. Simply put, it is a process of electing the president of the United States of America by 538 people known as Electors. These are the people who actually elect the president of the United States of America. The framers of the U.S. Constitution were worried that any charismatic candidate could wow the populace and get elected president.
The electors then have the sole right to determine if that candidate is fit to serve as president. The electors exercise that authority on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December after a presidential election. On that day, they are constitutionally required to assemble in each of their state capital to vote for the president and vice president, respectively. In this year's U.S. presidential election, that day is Monday, Dec. 19. The votes of at least 270 electors (yes, that magic number again!) are needed to elect the President and Vice President of the union. Their votes are the only ones that count, according to the U.S. Constitution. This means that Trump's victory or the millions of votes cast for Clinton on November 8 doesn't mean squad. Whoever the required majority of these electors vote for, automatically wins the election.
Historically, the electors usually vote for whoever won the "symbolic" Electoral College votes in the general election. To protect the general election votes of the people in their states, 26 states in the union and D.C. require the electors (either by law or party pledges) to vote for the candidate that won the election in those states. However, the electors still have the constitutional right to vote for a different candidate, including someone who did not even contest the election. Double crazy, right!
By the way, in case you're still wondering why anyone should win the popular votes and still lose the presidency, Clinton is not the first victim of the Electoral College system. As recently as 2000, former Vice President Al Gore won the popular votes but lost the Electoral College votes (and the presidency) to then Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who went on to serve two terms as president. Before Gore, two other candidates were victims of Electoral College. Samuel Tilden and Grover Cleveland also won the popular votes in the 1876 and 1888 elections, but lost the presidency via Electoral College to Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison, respectively.
The question is, why would the votes of these 538 electors supersede the entire votes of the people? Well, one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, explained that the "immediate election (of the President) should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station. We cannot trust the decision to the people themselves. Rather, a "small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations." Sounds like Hamilton believed that the electors are the "wise people" while the populace who voted in the general election are "morons" incapable of making the right decision.
Fast forward to December 19, 2016. What if neither Trump nor Clinton receive at least 270 votes of the electors? That's when Congress plays kingmaker in what is known as Contingent Election. In this circumstance, the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the President is elected by the House of Representatives, and the Vice President elected by the Senate. In the House, the President is elected from among the three candidates who received the most electoral votes. In this case, that would be Clinton, Trump and Gary Johnson. Each state's delegation casts a single vote for President and vice president.
The votes of at least 26 states are required to elect, but D.C. does not participate in contingent election of either the President or Vice President. There is a precedent, though. It first happened in the 1824 election when the House elected John Quincy Adams president over Andrew Jackson – who actually had more popular and Electoral College votes than Adams, but fell short of the minimum required Electoral College votes, so Congress had to decide.
Henry Clay, one of the candidates in that presidential election, also was the speaker of the House at the time, but could not vote for himself, so he voted for Adams against Jackson. President Adams later "rewarded" Clay by appointing him to the prestigious cabinet post of Secretary of State. (In Nigeria, we call that "you rub my back, I rub yours.") In the 1836 election, Martin Van Buren won the Electoral College vote and the presidency, but his controversial running mate, Col. Richard M. Johnson – who claimed to have killed a Native American chief, and committed the abominable act (at the time) of living openly with a black woman, among other controversies – failed to win the required Electoral College votes. The Senate had to elect him as Van Buren's vice president.
One more thing. The next president of the United States will not be officially known until January 6, 2017 when a Joint Session of Congress convenes at 1 p.m. The Vice President (who is officially the president of the U.S. Senate) opens the votes from each state in alphabetical order.
He passes the votes to two from the House and two from the Senate to announce the results. House tellers include one Representative from each party and are appointed by the Speaker. At the end of the count, the Vice President then declares the name of the next President. If no one earned the required votes to be elected, that's when the House and Senate vote for the next president and vice president, respectively.
Folks, the Electoral College system really is crazy. That's probably why no other country on earth has adopted this process. For crying out loud, if the people's votes don't really count, is the U.S. presidential election really a democracy?
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor A Nigerian Naval officer has been honoured in the United Kingdom for exhibiting rare enthusiasm and commitment to his training at the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).
Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Abdulrahman Buniyamin was presented with a ceremonial sword by General Sir Gordon Messenger, Royal Marines, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff during the final passing-out-parade held at BRNC on 16 December 2016. Among the VIP guests invited to attend the parade was Brigadier General Gbolahan Oyefesobi, the Defence Advisor at the Nigerian High Commissioner.
The sword is sponsored by the Britannia Association, the College Alumni, and also recognises the Cadet who improved the most during training. Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Abdulrahman Buniyamin presented with a ceremonial sword by General Sir Gordon Messenger, Royal Marines, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff .
SLt Buniyamin trained at the College between February and October 2015, completing the 30-week initial naval training course alongside his UK counterparts. Through hard work and dedication he overcame initial difficulties to meet the standards required of him, putting in extra hours of study and foregoing his free time for private tutoring.
During his time at the world-renowned College SLt Buniyamin achieved a Royal Yacht Association Powerboat Level 2 qualification and became known as the first to volunteer for any extra task.
SLt Buniyamin, who is currently serving on the Nigerian Navy ship Burutu, said: "I am very happy to receive this prize. I put in my best effort for every activity, be it assessed or not assessed. My knowledge has improved by being here, which has made me a better naval officer back at home."
BRNC is a modern military College steeped in traditional values. In 2016 the College provided initial naval training for nearly 500 cadets destined for careers in the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary or overseas naval and defence forces. In addition the Royal Naval Leadership Academy has provided professional development courses for almost 6,000 Officers and Ratings across the Service. Members of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Cadet Forces have also had extensive use of the facilities at the College.
As part of the UK's commitment to Nigeria, a resident British Military Advisory and Training Team in Nigeria coordinates an expanding programme of UK support in capacity building for the Nigerian Armed Forces. A Liaison and Support Team provides specific guidance and medical provision.
Some 2,000 Nigerian military personnel have received UK training prior to deploying on operations in the North East. Several thousand more have benefited from UK specialist military training.
More than 300 UK military personnel provided training to the Nigerian Armed Forces this year (2016). This is more than double the number of UK personnel who deployed to Nigeria on training tasks in 2015.
Erdogan phones Putin after killing of Russian ambassador.
The Russian ambassador to Ankara died Monday after being shot in the Turkish capital, the foreign ministry in Moscow said, describing the incident as a “terrorist act”.
“Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.Tayyip-Erdogan
“We qualify what happened as a terrorist act,” she said. “The murderers will be punished.
“Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out.”
The gunman, identified by the Ankara mayor as a Turkish policeman, shot the ambassador at an Ankara art exhibition, shouting “Aleppo” and “revenge”.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been informed.
The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia’s role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.
The passing of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, (1925-2016) fondly known as Kabiyesi by his friends and associates has given an opportunity to revisit and reflect on the importance of the concept of omoluabi within the Yoruba social, cultural, philosophical, and religious worldview. I have read most of the tributes and requiems for Baba.
All of them testify to his character, temperament, and sensibilities. He exemplified and embodied some of the essential traits of a quintessential omoluabi. He was a renaissance man and he was a rebel with a cause.
He bequeathed to the Yoruba race an alluring sense of grace and dignity. He was a public intellectual, devoted churchman, elder statesman, consummate legal practitioner, passionate federalist, ardent conciliator, and an indomitable rock of the progressive tradition of Yoruba politics. My esteemed mwalimu in the academic study of religion (religionswissenschaft), Jacob Olupona said this about him:
"More than any other person I know in his generation, he commanded tremendous respect and love among my peers and colleagues. Indeed, he embodied the spirit of inspiration and hope for the new Nigeria we are all still hoping for." It seems to me that his life provides a unique opportunity to ponder on the Yoruba paradigm and perspective on personal character and moral virtues.
A cursory look at the Nigerian landscape reveals that it is confronted with a plethora of challenges. Concerning these perplexing problems, Yoruba people will say that: Melo la fe ka ninu eyin adepele: meaning that these problems are legion, interwoven, and intricate. In his reflection on the fundamental challenge confronting the Nigerian state and society, Bolaji Idowu, a doyen of the Methodist Church of Nigeria once remarked that:
"We are finding ourselves today in a world in which things, rather than persons, matter, where 'efficiency' is being regarded as of more importance than personal character, and where human beings are being seen as mere functions of the world."
This remark bemoans the instrumentalist understanding of humanity. Apart from this perennial assault on a wholesome understanding of being human; we can say that certain forces such as globalization, unfettered individualism, toxic ambition, and nonchalant attitude continue to undermine some of the social, cultural, and religious norms that have traditionally contributed to people's well-being and wholeness.
We have been inexorably ushered into a brave new world in which external variables such as power, wealth, and social status have triumphed, and in some cases eroded the cultivation of personal virtues and moral goodness. Nonetheless, it is gratifying to note that many well-meaning Nigerians ranging from artists, public intellectuals, political, and religious leaders have offered remarkable insights into the relevance and raison d'etre of omoluabi in the Nigerian social space and civic life.
It does not mean that these people have the perfect panacea to the country's condition; but they have sensitized the nation to the crucial need to craft new narratives and models to move it forward. They all agree that along the line, something has ominously gone wrong.
It sounds like a confessional time within the country. It is time to acknowledge our missteps as a nation and chart a new course. Mahatma Ghandi once remarked that: "Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away dirt and leaves the surface brighter and cleaner." An African proverb also rightly states that "If you close your eyes to the facts, you learn through accidents."
My thesis in this short article is that by reclaiming some of the virtues of omoluabi, many ills of our broken world can be ameliorated. I argue that human beings who act out of compassion, altruism, empathy, and love are contributors to the moral good of humanity and community.
In the study of religion and culture, there is a universal affirmation of the cultivation and practice of good character. It is the crimson thread that runs through world religions. This is an enduring theme that straddles the boundaries of being and non-being. It is one of the perplexing paradoxes of human existence which Thomas Hobbes has described as "nasty, brutish, and short."
The task of maintaining an ontological balance between the two competing claims of being and non-being continues to feature prominently in philosophical and theological discussions. The central point of my reflection is to identify some of the fundamental contributions of the concept of omoluabi to the overall human flourishing and wholeness of Yoruba societies.
This is an urgent task with the Nigerian body polity. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked that: "Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.'" We don't want the story of the Yoruba race to be analogous to the proverbial case of Omoye who shamelessly ran naked into the market square; alas, it was too late to put any clothing on her!
The Yoruba principle of omoluabi valorizes virtues such as honesty, sound character, diligence, loyalty, decorum, wisdom, and self-restraint. Baba Adebajo Faleti described an omoluabi as a gentleman. This perspective resonates with what Confucius described as a Chuntzu (ideal man) and Aristole's notion of a magnanimous man.
The principle of omoluabi also enjoins people to deeply think about the consequences of their actions for eni ti ko fe wo akisa, kii ba aja se ere e gele—if you don't want to end up in tatters, don't play rough with a dog.
This saying underscores the fact that actions have their karmic consequences. I need to emphasize that it is important to reclaim and salvage some of the cultural virtues and etiquettes within the Yoruba society in particular and in the entire Nigerian nation as a whole; we don't need the United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to tell us this.
This should be considered a non-negotiable aspect of our humanity and sense of being. Isn't it true that a river that forgets its source will run dry? This rhetorical musing affirms the urgency of cultural and ethical repositioning in Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba. The need to uphold some life-affirming principles in any society is both paramount and essential.
I vividly recall my family's visit to the Vatican in the summer of 2015. During the exciting and tortuous tour of Vatican's massive complex, I could not but marvel at how the Catholic Church decided to preserve some of the impressive artworks, sculptures, relics, and paintings from Roman antiquity.
This was a deliberate decision on the part of the Church to preserve some of the salient elements that will contribute to the integrity, story, and authenticity of the Christian faith. This was not simplistic syncretism; rather, it was an effort in creative contextualization and pragmatism.
I will conclude by affirming that change in any society is not actualized by mere rhetoric and pontification. Rather, it requires conscious actions and implementation. It involves structured orthopraxy and pragmatic programming.
Change is not actualized by mere empty and abstract talk, but by concrete actions. You learn how to cut down tree by actually cutting it down. Transformation starts with embracing personal responsibilities.
Abo oro la n so fun omoluabi… a word they say is enough for the wise!
Akintunde E. Akinade
Akintunde E. Akinade is a Professor of Theology at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar.
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