American needs to refocus on education.....

By The Editor-in-Chief

Like most watchers of the current political climate, we have all become accustomed to the usual spin, each political cycle, about how the creation of jobs is central to the growth of the economy.

Who would disagree with such an assertion you might ask, but then when you begin to think the whole thing through, you come to the realization it is not as simple as just creating jobs.

The truth most politicians like to avoid is that there are in fact jobs out there. The problem though is that this country continues to lack the Intellectual Capital needed to meet the growing capacity needs of these mostly technical and medical opportunities.

That a country of the magnitude and influence of the United States has to import medical practitioners (doctors and nurses) and technology professionals, speaks volumes of the apparent dearth in the country's key Intellectual Capital base.

The fact remains that America needs to refocus its attention on education and ensure that children are steered towards professions and occupations, that will allow the US maintain its competitive edge, while retaining its leadership position in the world.

When you have a society where "American Idol" is the top rated program on television, that pretty much sums up where the country's focus is.

That athletes and entertainers remain not just the top earners in the American society, but also shape the cultural and moral tenor of the nation, is quite disturbing.

Most of the revered athletes and entertainers lack the moral compass to shape the direction of their own homes, much less society at large.

It is incumbent upon our political, social and other leaders to help this nation have the right conversations we need to have. America must return back to the basics and stress the importance of education at all levels.

Government does not and will never create jobs. The former can however be a catalyst in helping to create the right environment that would engender a spirit of excellence, through education and innovation.

The journey begins now and our leaders must have the courage to tell the American people the truth.... improve yourself if you want to live a better life!

Megyn Kelly..... "the gift that just keeps on giving....."

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Okay Megyn, just a little too much information now. Please see for yourselves.

The perils of Lugard's colonial experiment and why Nigeria must remain one regardless of our differences

Nigeria's Founding Fathers (L-R; Awolowo, Bello, Zik, Balewa)

By The Editor-in-Chief

History shows that most of the nations that failed to address their religious and ethnic differences at the core, are either in armed conflict (Congo DR) or have since disintegrated – Yugoslavia, Sudan, Eritrea (from Ethiopia) and even the former Soviet Union (USSR) are prime examples. 

December 31st 2013 – January 1, 2014, may thus represent the last hours of corporate existence for an amalgamated Nigeria, if one is to go by recent events, including unguarded utterances of former leaders such as ex-military dictator, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. 

But long before then was this quote: “Since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any signs of willingness to unite…. Nigerian unity is only a British invention” – Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was reported by the TIME MAGAZINE of October 10, 1960 to have opined. He (Tafawa Balewa) believed there was no basis for a united Nigeria, as it was only a wish of the British. 

According to F. D. Lugard, "the British needed the Railway from the North to the Coast in the interest of British business. Amalgamation of the South (not of the people) became of crucial importance to British business interests. Hence, the North and the South needed to be amalgamated". 

The reasons Lugard gave in his dispatches are as follows: "The North is poor and has no resources to run the protectorate of the North. They have no access to the sea; and the South has both human and natural resources". 

Britain did not desire the ultimate union of Northern and Southern Nigeria. Between  between 1914 and 1960 (a period of 46 years), the British only allowed minimum contact between the people of Northern and Southern Nigeria, as it was not in the British interest that "the North be allowed to be polluted by the educated South". 

A leading Nigerian legal luminary, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) recounted not long ago, “I entered Parliament on December 12, 1959. When the North formed a political party, the northern leaders called it Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). They didn’t call it Nigeria Peoples Congress. That was in accordance with the dictum and policies of Lugard. When Aminu Kano formed his own party, it was called Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) not Nigerian Progressive Union. Indeed, these elements have not changed! 50+ years later, we are still being confronted with the same parochial interests from the North and the South, but mostly the North. 

One of the architects of British colonialism in Africa, Nigeria to be precise, the late Harold Smith stated rather bluntly in a recent interview; ”‘Our agenda was to completely exploit Africa. Nigeria was my duty post. When we assessed Nigeria, this was what we found in the South; strength, intelligence, determination to succeed, well established history, complex but focused life style, great hope and aspirations… the East is good in business and technology, the West is good in administration and commerce, law and medicine, but it was a pity we planned our agenda to give power “at all cost” to the northerner. They seemed to be submissive and silly of a kind. Our mission was accomplished by destroying the opposition at all fronts. 

The West (Southwestern Nigeria to be precise - The Yoruba) led in the fight for the independence, and was punished for asking for freedom. They will not rule Nigeria! Harold Smith confessed that the Census results were announced before they were counted. Despite seeing vast land with no human but cattle in the north, we still gave the north 55 million instead of 32 Million. This was to be used to maintain their majority votes and future power bid. He stated that the West without Lagos was the most populous in Nigeria at that time but we ignored that. The North was seriously encouraged to go into the military. According to him, they believe that the South may obtain western education, but future leaders will always come from military background. Their traditional rulers were to be made influential and super human. The northerners were given accelerated promotions both in the military and civil service to justify their superiority over the southerners. Everything was to work against the South. We truncated their good plan for their future. 

"I was very sorry for the Action Group (AG); it was too great a party by African standards. We planned to destroy Awolowo and Azikiwe well, the West and the East and sowed a seed of discord among them”. We tricked Azikiwe into accepting to be president having known that Balewa will be the one with power. Awolowo had to go to jail to cripple his genius plans for a greater Nigeria. ‘’Looking at the northern leaders now , If they have any agenda in Nigeria at all, sadly it is only for the North, and nothing for Nigeria…." 

According to Smith, Nigeria, a great nation, was crippled not because of military juntas or corrupt leaders alone but by the British and American fear of Nigeria's great future. He confessed, “The fear of the place that will be our ‘dumping ground’ really occupied our minds”. 

Some of the things he said were not new to Nigerians or to Africans as a whole, but hearing it from the horse’s mouth was quite revealing and established more reality zones. 

He finally submitted that the colonial masters did cause havoc while they were in Africa, and planted timed bombs when they finally left. What we see since independence, the administration of new internal colonial masters by fellow Nigerians holding sway in power is doing more damage to Nigeria. Instead of detonating the time bombs planted by the British, the North, through the likes of Buhari and Babangida, is planting mines. 

He added that ‘It was my duty to carry out all of the above and I was loyal to my country. 

Nigerians should try to be loyal to their country; leaders and followers alike. Love your country. You have got the potentials to be great again and the whole world knows this’. 

Perhaps, his last statement offers nothing but the much needed incentive for every Nigerian to place the interest of Nigeria above their own personal interests and allow this great nation to finally realize its inherent potential, for the benefit of Africa and the civilized rest of humanity. 

While it is encouraging that President Jonathan recently called for a Sovereign National Conference, albeit limited, one needs to see the president assert himself more with regard to national security, corruption and over-all executive leadership, rather than play into the hands of ethnic and parochial jingoists from both the PDP and the newly formed APC.

If the APC is truly committed to providing "new leadership" with an emphasis on accountability, the party must shed the reputation it is quickly acquiring of being a new haven for disgruntled PDP old guards and former dictators, masquerading as reformists in the current political dispensation.

It is no longer about Arewa, OPC, MASSOB or any regional or ethnic delineations, but more about the need for real leadership that is committed to bringing about comprehensive and much needed change, to the halls of leadership in Nigerian politics.

It is irrelevant what the designs of the British and other Western nations are for Nigeria, as long as Nigerians realize that their destinies as a people are inexorably linked.

As Nigeria goes, so does invariably, the rest of Africa.

Failure is not an option.....

For the "must have a soda addicts" - What happens to your body when you drink a Coke? Watch.....

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In a nutshell, If you can’t completely remove "soft drinks" from your diet then make sure you drink it in moderation. And if you’re trying to get your kids off this stuff, have them try this cool experiment.

Former Abacha death squad leader challenges Obasanjo to public debate

Two peas in a pod - Abacha (left) and Al-Mustapha

CC Nigeria News

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, has challenged ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, to a public debate on any issue concerning Nigeria. 

The former leader of the dreaded strike force unit of the late military dictator, was reacting to news reports about portions of a letter written by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that snipers were being trained in North Korea.

He explained that he was not around when Obasanjo’s letter became public, but read about it in the media.

The former military officer said ex-President Obasanjo knows that he knows Nigeria as much as he (Obasanjo) knows the country. As such, he was ready to face the former President anywhere in the world to discuss Nigeria.

Al-Mustapha said “first of all, he (Obasanjo) did not mention me by name in his letter. Secondly, he knows that “I know Nigeria as much as he does, if he has something to tell me, I want him to come out and tell me straight.

“He should ask me or challenge me, I challenge him to (discuss) anything about Nigeria that he wants to talk about even long before he became Head-of-State (1976-1979), I am ready to meet him in public anywhere in the world”.

Responding to a specific question on allegations that he was privy to the on-going training of snipers, Al-Mustapha swore that there was nothing of the sort.

The former CSO said he is a Muslim and has over the years facilitated the recruitment of northerners into security agencies and has never been involved in anything to betray the north. But we would suppose that going by his antecedents and this uninformed statement, he has no qualms betraying Nigeria as he has shown in the past.

Al-Mustapha also said he has forgiven all those who harmed him during his travails. Interesting statement coming from someone who should actually be hauled before the International Criminal Court.

He observed that people who did not fear God find it difficult to understand how sincere he is when he said he has forgiven all.  

He accused an unnamed individual based in Kaduna, for spreading falsehood about his person and his activities.

According to him, from 1974 till date, there have been so many secrets that encouraged lies to cover the truth. This, he said could be cleared up if Obasanjo takes up the challenge to face him in public.

Jesse Owens' Nazi conquering gold medal sells for record amount at auction

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A gold medal won by the legendary American Olympic athlete, Jesse Owens has sold at an auction for a record $1.5 million. 

Owens symbolically won the Gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin much to the chagrin of Adolf Hitler who had hoped to use the games to further promote his Nazi propaganda of Aryan supremacy. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions on antibacterial soaps.....

CC Healthwatch

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that antibacterial chemicals in soaps and body washes may pose health risks.

It proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to prove such soaps are safe and more effective against infection than plain soap and water.

Recent studies indicate an ingredient in such products could scramble hormone levels and boost drug-proof bacteria. 

The proposal rule does not apply to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and products used in healthcare settings.

Manufacturers have until the end of 2014 to submit the results of clinical trials on their products, the FDA said. The new regulations would be finalized in 2016.

"New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits," Colleen Rogers, an FDA microbiologist, wrote in a statement.

Certain ingredients in such products - such as triclosan in liquid soaps and triclocarban in bar soaps - may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the agency added.

Such products may also have "unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern", according to the statement.

Recent studies of such chemicals on animals have shown they may alter hormones, the FDA said, but such results have not yet been proven in humans.

"Because so many consumers use them, FDA believes that there should be clearly demonstrated benefits to balance any potential risks," the statement added.

If the FDA's proposed rule is finalized, companies would be required to provide data to support their product's health claims.

If they cannot, the products would be reformulated or relabeled in order to remain on the market.

In March of this year, a federal appeals court approved a lawsuit by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council, aimed at forcing the FDA to review the health impacts of triclosan.

Former WWE publicist fired from IAC after racist Tweet

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Former WWE publicist, Justine Sacco has been fired from her job as a publicist with IAC following a racist tweet (see below).



Sacco’s post remained on Twitter most of the day Friday because she was on a flight from London to South Africa. The response on the social media website was swift — the tweet generated the hashtag #HasJustineLandedYet, which became a trending topic Friday night. Not only that, but someone purchased the domain JustineSacco.com, which redirects to the Aid for Africa website.

Upon landing, Sacco, who was IAC’s senior director of corporate communications, first deleted the tweet and then her entire Twitter account.

IAC, which owns over 150 Internet brands, released a statement Saturday confirming that Justine Sacco had been fired. The company also removed Sacco’s name from its website.

“The offensive comment does not reflect the views and values of IAC. We take this issue very seriously, and we have parted ways with the employee in question,” the statement read.

“There is no excuse for the hateful statements that have been made and we condemn them unequivocally. We hope, however, that time and action, and the forgiving human spirit, will not result in the wholesale condemnation of an individual who we have otherwise known to be a decent person at core.”

Justine Sacco joined IAC in September 2011 after working as a publicist at WWE. Twitter user @Zac_R said he was at the airport when Sacco landed and spoke to her father, who is a wealthy South African businessman. 

Her father said he decided to raise his daughter in the United States because South Africa was too racist.”

George Zimmerman, his painting and blood money on eBay....

A very young Trayvon Martin (Trayvon Martin Family)

By Israel O. Jemibewon

Bidding on eBay for a painting by George Zimmerman, whose 2012 murder of a black teenager, Trayvon Martin sparked both national and global outrage, neared $100,000 on Tuesday in an online auction that ends Sunday.

The signed patriotic blue-hued portrayal of the Stars and Stripes flag is overlapped with the words "God, One Country, with Liberty and Justice for All" in typewriter font.

Think for a moment in the irony of the latter "Liberty and Justice" for all considering he has permanently denied that to Trayvon Martin. That he even mentions the name of an "All Knowing God" who despises "those that shed innocent blood" should further make anyone with even the slightest ounce of human decency, shudder at the thought of such an intellectual/moral misadventure.

Zimmerman, 30, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida, fatally shot Martin on February 26, 2012 as the 17-year-old unarmed high school student was walking home with iced tea and candy.

More recently he faced arraignment next month for allegedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend, before she dropped the charges.

Said by his lawyers to be deep in debt, Zimmerman noted on his eBay listing that he created his debut canvas using house paint donated by a friend.

Good thing he did not use the blood of his victim as a canvas overlay, but then again, he is looking forward to a huge payday drenched in same.

CC, as a matter of policy, will not provide a link or any imagery that supports this despicable activity and even more telling is the support for the exercise, by those who have contributed financially to it. 

Jaguar's retort to Mercedes-Benz's new unofficial mascot.....

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Pretty sure Mercedes-Benz saw this coming as would not expect such a savvy brand to walk right into such a predictable rebuttal.

While Jaguar is a class brand, it might want to work on shedding its "scheduled breakdown" reputation before taking pot shots at its rivals.

See the videos (below) beginning with the one from Mercedes that led to the Jaguar jab. Just love it when "snubs" argue with one another.