Nigeria's Service Chiefs say plot to bomb Lagos was real

Admiral Ola Ibrahim - Nigeria's CJCS

From the CC GLOBAL DESK

The threat to bomb Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, reverberated in Abuja yesterday when service chiefs briefed the Senate on the spate of insecurity in the country. 

Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, led the service chiefs into the chamber after the public gallery was cleared. Led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Sa'ad Ola Ibrahim, Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (Army) Vice Admiral Ezeoba Dele (Navy), Air Marshal Alex Badeh (Air Force), and Mr. Ita Ekpeyong of the Department of State Security (DSS), they all briefed the Senate behind closed doors. The briefing took over six hours.

CC gathered that the service chiefs confirmed to bewildered senators that the plan by the terrorist group Boko Haram to bomb Lagos, was real. A source said: Security agents and stakeholders fear that should Lagos be hit, being the commercial nerve center of the country, there is no telling what the response from the South-West would be…" The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, was absent at the meeting.

He was initially represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Administration), Suleiman Fakai, who may have been rejected by the Senate. Already incensed that the IGP did not honour the invitation, Senate President David Mark reportedly wondered why the most immediate senior officer, the DIG (Operations) did not represent Abubakar at the briefing. Fakai told the Senators that the DIG (Operations) was at a meeting with a minister only to amend it later that he was also going to brief President Goodluck Jonathan.

Senators at the executive session told CC that this excuse may not have gone down well with Mark, who told Fakai that the Senate would not take kindly to the snub with a strong reminder that as an arm of government, it would no longer tolerate the manner in which its summons are treated. 

Fakai was said to have been ordered out of the chamber thereafter. One of the reasons Fakai may have been stopped from briefing the house may be because he was not equipped with any strategic paper or talking points to present before the Senate on what the police are doing to unravel the Boko Haram threat in Lagos.

It was gathered that in the schedule of appearance of service chiefs before the Senate, the IGP was listed first on the line to brief the lawmakers. Sources close to the Police Affairs Committee said the force had advance information about the Senate briefing and were advised to, at least, prepare some notes before coming to the chamber. But another version said that Fakai was allowed to brief the house after some pleas. 

He filed out of the chamber with the other service chiefs as the session ended, late afternoon local time. 

Speaking with newsmen after the session, Senate spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the meetings would become regular, adding that the chamber was satisfied with "the level of interaction with the service chiefs and their efforts in making Nigeria a safer place. 

"We devoted the entire plenary to an interaction with the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies in Nigeria with a view to finding out the problems and work with the different security agencies in Nigeria in order to resolve them.

"We are calling on Nigerians to cooperate with the security agencies to resolve the security issues." Asked whether the closed-door session discussed amnesty for Boko Haram, Abaribe replied: "Any other decision is a policy decision that would be taken by the Federal Government. 

The interaction is aimed at making sure that in the shortest possible time, the security issues will be resolved." The Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, it was further gathered, was directed to follow up on the briefing.

Increasingly irrelevant ICC drops case against Uhuru Kenyatta's ally

By DAVID K. SODEINDE - CC

Against the backdrop of increasing criticism by African countries as to why only African leaders seem to be the only ones being tried for alleged "crimes against humanity", the International Criminal Court (ICC) has dropped charges against Francis Muthaura, a co-accused of Kenya's presidential election winner Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr. Muthaura was accused of fueling violence after the 2007 election.

Lawyers for Mr. Kenyatta, who won last week's elections, said similar charges against him should now be dropped.

His trial is due to start in July.

Mr. Muthaura, a former civil service chief, was on the same side as Mr. Kenyatta during the disputed 2007 election, after which more than 1,000 people were killed and about 600,000 were left homeless.

Mr. Kenyatta is accused of organizing attacks on members of ethnic groups seen as supporting Raila Odinga against President Mwai Kibaki. President-elect Kenyatta maintains his innocence and has denied the charges.

There are strong indications that the decision to drop charges against Mr. Muthaura could have a bearing on the case against Mr. Kenyatta, who beat Mr Odinga, a distant relative of U.S. President Barack Obama and preferred choice of western leaders, in the just concluded presidential elections.

Both men (Muthaura and Kenyatta) were accused of developing a plan to get the feared Mungiki sect to attack ethnic Kalenjins, seen as supporters of Mr. Odinga in 2007.

But a key witness - like most of the so-called "witnesses" of questionable character and integrity, who had been due to testify that Mr. Muthaura had been present at a meeting where this plan was formulated, has admitted lying and taking bribes and so his evidence has been dropped.

Mr. Kenyatta's lawyers have argued that the evidence being relied on by prosecutors at the ICC is utterly flawed and as such there is no credible evidence against the newly elected Kenyan Chief Executive.

Mr. Muthaura was among six people who were originally charged by the ICC - two others, Hussein Ali and Henry Kosgey, had charges against them dropped earlier.

Mr. Kenyatta contested the March 4th election, despite being charged. He said he was innocent and vowed to clear his name in court.

He won with 50.07% of the vote, compared with the 43.31% for Mr Odinga.

Mr. Odinga is challenging the result in court, claiming it was marred by irregularities.

In 2007, he lost to Mr. Kibaki, who is now stepping down at the end of his two terms.

Mr. Kenyatta backed Mr. Kibaki during the 2007 election.

His running mate in last week's election, William Ruto, supported Mr Odinga in 2007.

Mr. Ruto is also due to stand trial at The Hague for orchestrating violence against supporters of Mr. Kibaki in 2007, but he has also strongly maintained his innocence.

Weekly Divine Word

From the CC DEVOTIONAL DESK

Psalm 89 - Amplified Bible (AMP)

This scripture speaks to the incontestable surety of God's divine covenant with His own.... Your enemies shall surely be defeated!

¹ I will sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.

² For I have said, Mercy and loving-kindness shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness will You establish in the very heavens [unchangeable and perpetual].

³ [You have said] I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant,

⁴ Your Seed I will establish forever, and I will build up your throne for all generations. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

⁵ Let heaven (the angels) praise Your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones (the holy angels).

⁶ For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the mighty [heavenly beings] can be likened to the Lord,

^{7 A God greatly feared and revered in the council of the holy (angelic) ones, and to be feared and worship-fully revered above all those who are round about Him?}

⁸ O Lord God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord? And Your faithfulness is round about You [an essential part of You at all times].

⁹ You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves arise, You still them.

¹⁰ You have broken Rahab (Egypt) in pieces; with Your mighty arm You have scattered Your enemies.

¹¹ The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them.

¹² The north and the south, You have created them; Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon joyously praise Your name.

¹³ You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, Your right hand is soaring high.

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

¹⁵ Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance!

¹⁶ In Your name they rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.

¹⁷ For You are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment], and by Your favor our horn is exalted and we walk with uplifted faces!

¹⁸ For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹ Once You spoke in a vision to Your devoted ones and said, I have endowed one who is mighty [a hero, giving him the power to help—to be a champion for Israel]; I have exalted one chosen from among the people.

²⁰ I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him,

²¹ With whom My hand shall be established and ever abide; My arm also shall strengthen him.

²² The enemy shall not exact from him or do him violence or outwit him, nor shall the wicked afflict and humble him.

²³ I will beat down his foes before his face and smite those who hate him.

²⁴ My faithfulness and My mercy and loving-kindness shall be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted [great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon him].

²⁵ I will set his hand in control also on the [Mediterranean] Sea, and his right hand on the rivers [Euphrates with its tributaries].

²⁶ He shall cry to Me, You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!

²⁷ Also I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.^(C)

²⁸ My mercy and loving-kindness will I keep for him forevermore, and My covenant shall stand fast and be faithful with him.

²⁹ His Offspring also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

³⁰ If his children forsake My law and walk not in My ordinances,

³¹ If they break or profane My statutes and keep not My commandments,

³² Then will I punish their transgression with the rod [of chastisement], and their iniquity with stripes.

³³ Nevertheless, My loving-kindness will I not break off from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail [to lie and be false to him].

³⁴ My covenant will I not break or profane, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.

³⁵ Once [for all] have I sworn by My holiness, which cannot be violated; I will not lie to David:

³⁶ His Offspring shall endure forever, and his throne [shall continue] as the sun before Me.

³⁷ It shall be established forever as the moon, the faithful witness in the heavens. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

³⁸ But [in apparent contradiction to all this] You [even You the faithful Lord] have cast off and rejected; You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.

³⁹ You have despised and loathed and renounced the covenant with Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

⁴⁰ You have broken down all his hedges and his walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

⁴¹ All who pass along the road spoil and rob him; he has become the scorn and reproach of his neighbors.

⁴² You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all his enemies rejoice.

⁴³ Moreover, You have turned back the edge of his sword and have not made him to stand in battle.

⁴⁴ You have made his glory and splendor to cease and have hurled to the ground his throne.

⁴⁵ The days of his youth have You shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

⁴⁶ How long, O Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? How long shall Your wrath burn like fire?

⁴⁷ O [earnestly] remember how short my time is and what a mere fleeting life mine is. For what emptiness, falsity, futility,and frailty You have created all men!

⁴⁸ What man can live and shall not see death, or can deliver himself from the [powerful] hand of Sheol (the place of the dead)? Selah [pause, and calmly consider that]!

⁴⁹ Lord, where are Your former loving-kindnesses [shown in the reigns of David and Solomon], which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?

⁵⁰ Remember, Lord, and earnestly imprint [on Your heart] the reproach of Your servants, scorned and insulted, how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many and mighty peoples,

⁵¹ With which Your enemies have taunted, O Lord, with which they have mocked the footsteps of Your anointed.

⁵² Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.

Yes, it was indeed a red card.....

From the CC SPORTS DESK

It was another great game yesterday at Old Trafford between two giants of European football, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Please watch the video here and the replays will clearly show that Nani's red card was indeed justified as it was dangerous play, regardless of the player's "intent" (whatever that means by the way).

Madrid was the more positive and tactically superior team over the two legs and thoroughly deserved the victory.

"I actually think he's made the right call," Keane said on ITV. "Whatever people are getting upset about it -- anytime I was sent off in my career, I always thought 'Did I give the referee a chance to send me off?' And if the answer was 'yeah' then it was out of your hands. And I think the referee's actually made the right call. And everyone's upset about it and they're slightly unlucky, but it's dangerous play. Whether he meant it or not is irrelevant."

Northern Nigeria Islamic leader calls for amnesty for war criminals and perpetrators of genocide

Sultan of Sokoto - Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III

By ADEDEJI O. ADEGOKE - CC

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, himself a former soldier and head of a presidential security unit that guarded former military dictator General Ibrahim Babangida in the late 1980s, has sensationally called on President Goodluck Jonathan to grand unconditional amnesty to members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Abubakar spoke before an Islamic group in Kaduna, a city on the fault line between the north and Nigeria's largely Christian south that has seen thousands killed in recent years in fighting between the two faiths. The sultan said that while conversations should continue among Muslims about how to encourage peace, President Goodluck Jonathan should consider offering a peace deal to stop the fighting.

"We want to use this opportunity to call on the government — especially Mr. President — to see how he can declare total amnesty to all combatants without thinking twice," he said. "If the amnesty is declared, the majority of those young men who have been running would come out and embrace that amnesty."

Though Abubakar did not speak in specifics, others have suggested offering an amnesty deal in lines with one previously given to militants in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta in 2009. That deal offered cash payments and job training to fighters in return for them giving up their weapons and halting attacks on foreign oil companies. The sultan is the highest ranking official so far to endorse such a plan for Islamic extremists, many of whom fight as part of Boko Haram and its splinter groups.

The 2009 amnesty deal, however, did not stop attacks in the delta, nor halt the rapidly growing theft of crude oil from pipelines there that has caused serious environmental damage. The militants there also attacked the commodity that fills the nation's coffers while typically not killing civilians. Meanwhile, Boko Haram is blamed for killing at least 792 people last year alone, according to an Associated Press count, and its attacks occur hundreds of miles away from the nearest oil well.

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram's leader, has dismissed previous offers for a peace deal and recently threatened the life of a man who claimed to be a group leader negotiating for one. The group is fighting to free its imprisoned members and install an Islamic government over Nigeria, a multi-ethnic nation of more than 160 million people.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege," has conducted its guerrilla fight across Nigeria's north over the last two years. The group's command-and-control structure remains unclear, though it appears to have sparked several splinter groups. The Sultan's call may also give credence to the claim by most political and intelligence experts in Nigeria that the northern ruling class is actually the back-bone behind Boko Haram and the continued murder of innocent civilians in the north, who just happen to be of a different faith and ethnicity.

A group of men claiming to belong to Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven French tourists from northern Cameroon late February — a first for the group. Meanwhile, a Boko Haram splinter group known as Ansaru has claimed the recent kidnappings in northern Nigeria of seven foreigners — a British citizen, a Greek, an Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino — all employees of a Lebanese construction company called Setraco.

Despite the deployment of more soldiers and police to northern Nigeria, the central government has been unable to stop the killings. Meanwhile, human rights groups and local citizens blame both Boko Haram and security forces for committing violent atrocities against the local civilian population, fueling rage in the region. This could however not be further from the truth as these so-called human rights groups seem to either be unable to fully understand the complex nature of the problem or choose not to.

On Monday night, witnesses say suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked Gwoza, a village in northeastern Borno state about 135 kilometers (80 miles) from the state capital Maiduguri. Gwoza resident Umaru Yahuza said the fighting targeted a bank and the police station in the village and that gunfire lasted throughout much of the night. Yahuza said residents awoke to find corpses in the streets.

The Nigerian government must not give in to the unrealistic demands of liberal human rights groups and other individuals or groups (foreign or domestic), who have a hidden agenda, one which is not and will never be in the best interest of the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan must stand firm as the civilized world is watching.

Real get the best of Barça again in the latest El Clásico installment

From the CC SATURDAY SPORTS DESK

An under-strength Real Madrid beat Barcelona for a second time to finish a great week ahead of their much-anticipated Champions League return leg with Manchester United on Tuesday.

Barcelona put out an almost identical side to the one that lost on Tuesday, with the exception of Cesc Fàbregas and the injured Xavi Hernandez, who made way for Thiago Alcantara and David Villa.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso were all absent from the starting XI for the club's second Clásico in five days, as goals from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos gave them a third win against Barça from six matches this season.

Despite Madrid having the weaker side out, they were the first to draw blood after six minutes. Morata picked the ball up on the left wing, beat a placid Dani Alves and delivered a low ball across the box which Benzema tapped in from just a few yards out at the far post to give Madrid the lead.

Barça sought an immediate response but created few chances despite having more possession. 

They were however level on 17 minutes through none other than the irrepressible Lionel Messi.

It was Messi's 39th goal of the current La Liga season and his 18th in a Clasico, drawing him level with fellow Argentine Alfredo Di Stefano as the player to score the most goals in this legendary fixture.

Madrid then sought to regain the lead as Ronaldo headed a free-kick by Modric just over the bar.

Real's pressure soon paid off when Luka Modric sent in a corner and Sergio Ramos rose above the Barca defence to head the ball into the back of the net in the 81st minute. 

That was all the scoring to be had as Madrid once again got one over their bitter rivals in a span of just 5 days.

Madrid's win has cut the gap between them and their adversaries to 13 points after another morale boosting victory over the Catalans at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Bill Clinton, much like Obama administration, wrong to 'justify' Boko Haram's heinous acts of terrorism against the Nigerian people

By DAVID K. SODEINDE - CC

Recently, former U.S. President and rather frequent visitor to Nigeria (at the behest of the rich and powerful), Bill Clinton, waded  into the ongoing unrest in the northern part of the West African behemoth, where Islamic extremists, namely the notorious Boko Haram sect, continue to wreck havoc on the social and economic climate there.

Much like President Barack Obama recently stated as well, President Clinton, while speaking at the annual ThisDay awards ceremony in the Southwestern city of Abeokuta, blamed the continued unrest and acts of terrorism on the "extreme poverty" in Northern Nigeria.

While one would ordinarily not blame Mr. Clinton for this rather simplistic assertion, it would however have been more prudent for the former president, much like the current occupant of the White House, to at least attempt to better understand the intricacies and nuances of the Nigerian political climate, from a historical perspective, before making statements that have absolutely no iota of truth attached to them.

For close to 53 years of Nigeria's existence as a sovereign nation, the northern oligarchy, with the overt as well as subtle acquiescence of the Nigerian Military, has presided over the affairs of that nation for approximately four decades. During that period, the northern power structure through the military, has imposed the most corrupt and tyrannical leadership on the people of Nigeria.

A roll call of these afore-mentioned kleptocrats and dictators would include the likes of retired Generals such as Muhammadu Buhari (who is actually suspected of being the master-mind behind Boko Haram), Ibrahim Babangida (he essentially treated the national treasury as his personal bank account and was a renowned drug baron) and Sani Abacha (the ruthless dictator that murdered the winner of the freest and most democratic elections in the history of Nigeria, Moshood K. Abiola), just to name a few. Combined, these three northern kleptocrats alone, ruled over Nigeria for longer than any one or combination of southern leaders have ever presided over the affairs of that West African country.

The question then becomes this. With so much wealth and power in the hands of the northern oligarchy in Nigeria for close to 40 years of Nigeria's 53 as a sovereign nation, what exactly did this people do for the northern masses?

The answer to that is a simple one, absolutely nothing! Instead, while southern governors and administrators embarked on education and other society-building initiatives, geared towards lifting up the masses in their domain (mostly the southwest), the northern leaders preferred to engage in the politics of entitlement, laced with religious and ethnic bigotry.

The last time Nigeria had a southern president, the northern governors and their allies decided to impose the strictest of Islamic tenets on their people - Sharia. What was and is still ironic as well as unfortunate about this is that the law only seems to apply to the underprivileged and disadvantaged masses of the north, while their leaders wallow in the abundance of stolen wealth and egregious ostentation.

It would be prudent for Western leaders to at least do their due diligence and have a more polished understanding of events, rather than inject undue propaganda into sensitive matters affecting sovereign nations..... unless of course they have a hidden agenda.

Barack Obama’s "new approach" and it's potential risks

UNITED States (U.S.) President Barack Obama’s first term was marked by complaints from his liberal base that he had been too conciliatory toward Republicans. And now, with his second inauguration just around the corner, analysts are asserting that Obama is acting as if he believes he has a big mandate for his next term and hence what they termed his "new combative approach" to governance.

The latest indication to this was his decision to defy a concerted campaign against his choice for defence secretary. Moreso, the Democratic president, re-elected in November, unveiled a more combative approach during the end-of-year “fiscal cliff” taxes and spending drama, exploiting disarray in Republican ranks that underscored Washington’s legislative dysfunction. Obama also showed a “get-tough” strategy in his determination to pursue gun control after last year’s massacre of school children by a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut.

According to analysts in a report by Reuters, Obama’s recent actions reflect the growing confidence of a president who, without the need ever to seek re-election, now feels freer to stand up to a new Congress.

However, some critics said Obama now runs the risk of overreaching when he should instead be building Republican bridges to resolve the next looming budget confrontation.

Obama’s latest assertive move came on Monday when he nominated Chuck Hagel as defence secretary, setting up a Senate confirmation battle with critics who have attacked the former Republican senator’s record on Israel and Iran. His refusal to bow to Hagel’s opponents, including pro-Israel groups, neoconservatives figures and some of Hagel’s own Republican colleagues, signalled that the president would not allow a top Cabinet candidate to be derailed again.

Last month, Susan Rice, Obama’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, dropped out of consideration for secretary of state after taking heavy criticism from some Republican lawmakers over her account of the September attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya that killed the American ambassador.

With Hagel’s recent nomination for the post of Defense Secretary, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham – one of Rice’s critics – called it an “in-your-face” nomination by Obama.

A former Obama aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this was an opportunity to lay down a clear second-term marker - “no more Mr. Nice Guy, no more pushovers” – as a message to political friends and foes alike.

“This is clearly a president who feels somewhat unencumbered by electoral politics, thinks he has political capital to spend, and is not wasting any time about it,” said Costas Panagopoulos, a political scientist at Fordham University in New York.

The White House is confident that Hagel can weather the storm and win confirmation in the Democratic-led Senate since presidential picks for senior security posts are rarely denied.

But Republican strategist, John Feehery, said Obama was taking a gamble that could backfire, especially in light of resistance from some of the president’s fellow Democrats to Hagel, a maverick moderate Republican. He bonded with Obama in the Senate over their mutual opposition to the Iraq war.

“The president is betting a big percentage of his chips,” Feehery said. “Presidents do tend to over-read their mandates sometimes. The question is whether that’s the case now.”

Hagel’s nomination is coming on the heels of a New Year’s Day deal that averted economic calamity when lawmakers agreed to prevent huge tax hikes and government spending cuts.

The agreement handed a victory to Obama, who had promised before the election to address budget woes in part by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. His Republican antagonists were forced to vote against a core tenet of their anti-tax conservative faith.

Obama and Congress must agree by the end of March on increasing the $16.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling, the fate of $85 billion in delayed automatic spending cuts and passage of a bill to fund the government after a temporary measure expires.

Obama has vowed not to negotiate over the debt ceiling, demanding that Congress raise it without drama. His aides have made clear they believe the U.S. public would blame Republicans – not Obama – if the nation is forced into a debt default that he has said would be “catastrophic” for the world economy.

“This is overreach — hubris — for sure,” Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, said of Obama’s refusal to negotiate.

Obama’s tough talk on the next round of fiscal hurdles could also limit his ability to push forward on other legislative priorities such as immigration reform and gun control.

The shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school put gun control high on Obama’s second-term agenda. He appears to be determined to take advantage of a public backlash against gun violence.

The White House is weighing a far broader approach than just reinstating a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, The Washington Post recently reported.

A working group led by Vice President Joe Biden is seriously considering measures that would require universal background checks for gun buyers and track the movement and sale of weapons through a national database, the newspaper said.

Obama promised in an end-of-year interview with NBC to put his “full weight” behind a package of gun control measures this year, and he signaled a willingness to take on the National Rifle Association gun lobby despite the political risks.

The president is also calculating that he may finally be able to make good on his promise to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. He hopes to capitalise on sentiment within the Republican Party that it must reach out to Latinos who voted heavily for Obama after tough comments on illegal immigration by Republicans.

Obama also is showing signs he will take a hardline on issues of war and peace. He meets Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the White House this week and is expected to press for immunity from prosecution as a condition for allowing even a relatively small contingent of U.S. troops to stay behind in Afghanistan after the 2014 drawdown.

Nigeria's key player doubtful for game against Catalonia XI on Wednesday

A fan of the Super Eagles of Nigeria

Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor is doubtful for Wednesday’s Africa Nations Cup warm-up game against Catalonia. The Eagles managers were yet to hear from the player in Faro, Portugal today as the team prepared for Tuesday flight.

“We are still waiting words from Nosa at the moment, so we cannot say he will be in Catalonia or Faro for the game,” a team official said.

However, Celtic’s Rabiu Ibrahim is expected to link up with the rest of the squad when the team arrive in Spain early on Tuesday.

Ibrahim was expected to have arrived in Faro earlier, but delays in his flight schedule meant he was advised to join the team in Spain instead of travelling to Portugal, where the team are camping for the African competition.

Ibrahim and Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche will be the last two players to join up with the Eagles before the game.

Wednesday’s match against Catalonia selected that is managed by Dutch legend Johann Cryuff will be played at the home of La Liga side Espanyol starting at 9pm Nigerian time.

While the Eagles are training to beat the rest of Africa, the Catalonians are making strong political statement with the game.

Catalonia matches gather together every year more people than any other European team for just a friendly match. And right now Catalonia is living a very special social and political moment. The new Catalan government, with the support of the main parties has just announced that 2014 is the year when a referendum for independence will be held.

A vast majority of Catalonia’s population (over 2 million votes) supports the new Government goal and, according to last election votes and recent polls, most citizens wish to become a new European and independent state. The Spanish state strongly opposes to the referendum but Catalans seem very determined to do it.”

Barcelona stars, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Victor Valdés, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué are expected to feature for Catalonia.

Nigeria's Super Eagles will return to their training camp in Portugal after the game, from where they will leave for South Africa to take part in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Nigeria launches African version of Monopoly

The first African city edition of the famous board game Monopoly has been launched in Lagos.

The Nigerian metropolis is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

The board's layout was unveiled at an event in Lagos City Hall, with the manmade Banana Island named as the upmarket equivalent of Mayfair in the London edition.

Makoko, the slum on stilts over the city's lagoon, is the cheapest property for sale on the Lagos board.

Nimi Akinkugbe, the head of Bestman Games which is producing the Lagos edition, told Nigeria's Guardian newspaper ahead of the launch that suggestions for the Mayfair spot were "a hot topic".

Banana Island, which got the coveted position, is an artificially created island where the very wealthy reside.

Some properties on the island sell for about $8m - and it would cost about $150,000 a year to rent a flat there, he says.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Murtala Muhammed International Airport and several hotels are other properties on the board.

Many of the squares are sponsored by banks and shopping centres and even the Lagos state government appears, while some major landmarks like Tinubu Square, the New Afrika Shrine nightclub, Third Mainland Bridge and the National Theatre have been left out, our correspondent says.

Other aspects of the game have been tailored for Lagos, like the "Go To Jail" cards, which read: "Go to jail. Go directly to Kirikiri jail," referring to the city's maximum security prison.

One of the Chance cards issuing a fine quotes a phrase regularly used by police officers: "Park! Park! For reckless driving pay a fine... and register for retraining."

Another reads: "For attempting to bribe a law enforcement agent, pay a fine."

Some of the new traffic laws introduced by the Lagos state government, and the punishments for various offences, have also been included in the game.

"You've been caught driving against traffic. Report for psychiatric evaluation," one card reads.

The Monopoly game was developed in the US, originally based on streets in Atlantic City. A London version of the game was produced in 1935.

"Lagos is the first African city to have its Monopoly. Two countries in Africa have theirs, Morocco and South Africa. But there's no city that has its own customized edition," Ms Akinkugbe told the Guardian.