Internet giant, Google on Monday joined Nigerians in marking the nation’s 58th Independence celebrations with a Doodle on the homepage of its website.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports a Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements, and people.
“Today’s Doodle celebrates the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Africa’s most populous country) which is a place as big as it is culturally diverse.
“Mixing cultures is one of the hallmarks of this West African country. Over 500 languages are spoken here, some dating back more than 4,000 years.
“Independence Day is all about national integration, as the nation commemorates its declaration of independence from the British Empire in 1960.
“The green and white flag flies in all 36 Nigerian states: green standing for agriculture, white for peace and unity,” Google noted.
Nigeria marked the 58th Independence in colourful parade at the Eagle Square, Abuja, after a 7-year hiatus.
President Muhammadu Buhari took the salute as military and para-military organizations held a colourful parade in commemoration of the nation’s Independence.
The event was the first full-fledged Independence Day parade since the celebration was marred by an explosion, which occurred near Eagle Square on October 1, 2010.
Google also send best wishes to Nigerians with the message: “Happy Independence Day to Nigeria and to the Nigerian diaspora worldwide. Long may you march to your own beat(s)! Happy 58th Independence Day Nigeria!”
Tag: Independence
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Google marks Nigeria Independence Day 2018
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![[Photos] Independence: Buhari receives Kumuyi in Aso Rock, says 'my morale is boosted'](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Kumuyi-Buhari-I.jpg)
[Photos] Independence: Buhari receives Kumuyi in Aso Rock, says 'my morale is boosted'
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that the visit by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi to the Presidential Villa, Abuja has boosted his morale.
He also noted that God did not make any mistake by creating 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “God did not make a mistake when he created over 250 different ethnic groups, and decided to put them in a place called Nigeria,’’
President Buhari said that Nigerians must appreciate God for bringing everyone together.
“We must appreciate God for bringing us together. He knows what he was doing. He didn’t make a mistake,’’ the President noted.
Describing Nigeria as “a great country’’ endowed with human and natural resources, President said: “We have challenges in trying to get people to understand us.
“With my experience as a governor, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, I thought I had seen it all, but Nigeria has a way of going at its own speed.
“My morale is raised by your visit. I very much appreciate it.’’ he added
President Buhari recalled what he described as Pastor Kumuyi’s “intellectual achievements’’ as a scholar and university lecturer before going into full time ministry, adding that he was “excited a great deal’’ for the General Superintendent’s acceptance of government’s invitation to preach the sermon at the country’s 58th independence anniversary.
“Thank you very much,’’ the President said.
In his remarks, Pastor Kumuyi, who leads one of the country’s largest Pentecostal churches, said it was an honour to be received by the President on a busy day as October 1.
He told the President that he appreciates the government.
“Please remain focused and courageous and do what is right. Not everyone will support you publicly, but we are praying for you so that your tenure will be one of progress and prosperity for the country.’’
The General Superintendent was accompanied by his wife, Esther, Pastor Samuel Afuwape, Pastor Chike Onwuasoanya and Pastor Seyin Malomo, the Chaplain of Aso Chapel. -
Nigeria at 58: Entertainment divas set social media ablaze with glamorous pictures
As Nigerians take to their various social media handles to express their opinions on how Nigeria has fared in the last 58 years, your favourite celebrities are setting social media ablaze with their various colourful pictures.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoY9N6LgFTA/?taken-by=cossyojiakor
Cossy Ojiakor
Nigerian actress and singer, Cossy in her usual controversial nature took to her Instagram page to recount how Nigeria has fared. She added panache to the post with a provocative picture.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYKtjjDzil/?taken-by=omonioboli
Omoni Oboli
Award winning actress and filmmaker, Omoni Oboli wishes Nigeria a happy independence despite the scuffles and economic disparity the country has experienced.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYZsS4hjci/?taken-by=lillyafe
Lily Afegbai
Svelte actress and model, Lily Afegbai was clad in the national colours, showing off class and sex appeal in the pictures shared on her Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYeCK-BDXR/?taken-by=antolecky
Anto
BBNaija’s Anto spiced things up, showing off her sexy and erotic picture on Instagram. The picture has generated a myriad of reactions on social media.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoX00MRlHqF/?taken-by=chiomakpotha
Chioma Akpotha
Outspoken Nollywood actress, Chioma Akpotha in her Independence day message preached unity amongst everyone in the country
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Nigeria @58: Gov. Wike berates APC FG for ignoring ideals of Independence
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that for over three years, the APC Federal Government has done nothing to advance the ideals of independence except failures, excuses, intimidation, insecurity, stealing of elections and weakening of democratic institutions.
Addressing Rivers people during the 58th Independence Day Anniversary at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on Monday, Governor Wike said that the APC Federal Government has deliberately damaged the National Assembly, the Judiciary, and the security agencies.
He said: “After over three years in power, the Federal Government has done nothing to advance the promise of independence except failures, excuses, intimidation, insecurity, stealing of elections and weakening of democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, the Judiciary, and the security agencies.
“These are difficult times and our nation is on the edge. Democracy is at the crossroads and good governance in abeyance. ”
He regretted that the poor governance style of the APC Federal Government has led to the destruction of the nation’s economy and the impoverishment of Nigerians.
“The economy has remained comatose and is reported receding yet again, with associated economic consequences and hardship on ordinary Nigerians. Never in our history have Nigerians been subjected to untold sufferings as a result of the direct, erratic and ill-conceived economic policies and decisions of the Federal Government.
“Under their watch, our beloved country is now certified as the world headquarters of abject poverty with over 87 million people living below 2 dollars per day”, he said.
Governor Wike urged Nigerians to use the forthcoming 2019 General Election to vote in a leadership that will drive the Federal Government in the right direction.
He said:”We need leaders that would not interfere with our collective rights to live as free citizens and pursue our goals and dreams in peace, security and happiness.
“As 2019 beacons with promise, I hope Nigerians will all rise up to the challenge of leadership and vote for the candidate that would restore our faith in the promise of independence.”
In Rivers State, Governor Wike stated that his administration has translated the New Rivers Development Blueprint into reality through meaningful projects and programmes.
He said: “Today, we are delivering on all our core priorities: our economy is stronger, creating jobs and attracting new investments; our schools are getting better for our children; our healthcare system is delivering better services and our communities are safer.
“Indeed, everyday brings home the progress we have collectively made, the transformational projects we have delivered, the changes in our rural areas and above all, the fact that our State is steadily moving towards the promise of a new Rivers State with boundless opportunities for all.”
The 58th Independence Anniversary Celebration was marked by parade by the Police, Para-Military Organisations and Schools.
Victorious organisations were rewarded with prizes presented by dignitaries.
Highpoint of the celebration was the release of the peace pidgeons by the Rivers State Governor and the inspection of parade.
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Independence: Nigeria will rise to glory again – Oyedepo assures
The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, (Winners’ Chapel), Dr David Oyedepo, says Nigeria will rise again to glory.
Oyedepo made this assertion in a satellite telecast of the church’s special prayer session for the nation at 58, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Abuja.
“It was made known to me via divine revelation in 1979, while I was praying for the well-being of the country.
“The good news is that Nigeria will rise again to glory and honour,” Oyedepo assured.
The Bishop urged his congregation to continue to pray for peace and prosperity of the nation.
NAN reports that prayers were also made for God to intervene and direct the government to make policies that would be to the benefit of the people and the country.
Bishop said during the special service that everyone in power is a caretaker and should not see it as a private enterprise in other not to be kicked out by God into the forest.
The cleric warned leaders at all levels of government against being insensitive to the feelings and sufferings of Nigerian masses, urging them to repent and have value for the lives of citizens, who are God’s creations and people.
According to him, if they do not repent after this warning they would fall down for the sake of the nation.
“Those in leadership should not allow God to kick them into the forest and if they do not key into this warning of today so many of them will not live to see 2019.
“No agent of the devil will cause problems for this nation any more,” he said.
He, however, said that Nigeria is set for a turn around and the hidden treasures of any nation dwells in the hands of the believers.
“God have a plan for a dramatic turn around for Nigeria. The hidden treasure of any nation is in the hands of the believers.
“Nigeria shall be healed and the wounds have been cured because Nigeria is not a private business of anybody but a God’s own nation,” he said.
The Bishop warned his congregation that whenever they find themselves in power that should humble themselves because no one owns the nation.
Oyedepo said that when the wicked rules the people mourn, adding that there is wickedness at the highest level in the nation.
He made reference to the Bible, Daniel 4:29-33, the cleric said that King Nebuchadinazzar of Babylon refused to repent of his evil deeds and was humbled by God, turned into beast and sent to the wilderness for seven years.
According to Oyedepo, some people have said that this state and nation belong to me, it is my father’s heritage and private enterprise, who told you? Be warned!
“Our God removes kings and set up kings. Anyone that will not allow this nation to rest will be laid to rest.
“No one voted for Joseph but God set him aside for special works, God remains God of strange works and of strange acts,” he said. -
Nigeria@58: Saraki Congratulates Nigerians, Urges More Vibrant Citizens' Participation in Governance
Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 58th Independence Anniversary and urged them to ensure a more vibrant, constructive and patriotic citizen participation in the governance of the country.Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that one of the key reasons for the non-realization of the dreams of the founding fathers who fought for the nation’s independence from the colonial governement was because the citizens failed to seize control of the fortunes and future of the country while allowing sentiments to determine the choice of leaders and what national objectives should entail.“At this point when democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, all Nigerians should use the occasion of the 58th Independence Anniversary to redefine what should constitute the Nigerian dream, rally round that dream, support leaders who are capable and competent to realize that dream.“Citizens should stop abandoning politics and political choices to politicians and manipulative elements who invoke only religious, ethnic and geo-political sentiments to impose leadership who are only supported for the purpose of serving the interests of those who put them in office.“Nigerians should re-dedicate themselves to the ideals of defining their personal interests in line with how it helps the realization of national objectives. Our national objectives should simply be to build a united, peaceful, economically strong, internationally respected country, with robust military, well motivated work-force, ambitious youth and fulfilled citizens.“These ideals are what we should rally our people around. The people should not allow government officials and politicians to continue manipulating them in pursuit of narrow interests. It is only manipulation that will allow voters to ignore the competence, experience, suitability and temperament of aspirants for public office and rather focus on where he comes from, how he worships his God and how much he is ready to dole out.“Today, as we celebrate our 58th Independence Anniversary, Nigerians should vow that the leader who will lead the country when it is celebrating its Diamond jubilee anniversary must be one who would have set this country on the path of genuine socio-economic development and political greatness.“Our people should stop being complacent. The best amongst us should be the one leading the rest. Voters should be ready at all times to intervene when government is derailing from the national objectives or placing personal or group interest above national interest. Never again, must we allow leaders who behave as emperors, maximum rulers or messiahs and cabals created by them to seize control of government and its machinery.“With a vigilant citizenry that is well informed and involved in monitoring government acitivities, officials and programmes, the prospect of good governance and improved standard of living for all Nigerians is bright and guaranteed.“At this point, let me congratulate all Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s independence anniversary and pray that our country will continue to exist in peace, with unity among the various groups and continuous development of the various parts. Happy anniversary, Nigerians”, Saraki stated. -
17 shot dead, several injured as Cameroon Anglophone protest for independence
Police and the military in Cameroon have shot dead at least seventeen Anglophone people as members of the community continue protesting for independence from the majority Francophone nation.
The unrest took place Sunday on the anniversary of Anglophone Cameroon’s independence from Britain in the country’s English-speaking regions.
Five prisoners were killed in the jail where they were being held in the town of Kumbo.
Donatus Njong Fonyuy, mayor of the town said a fire erupted in the jail and soldiers shot dead five prisoners at around 6 a.m. (0500 GMT).
“We don’t know what caused the fire in the prison … But five prisoners were killed by soldiers. Two were wounded by bullets and are at the hospital,” said the official, adding that two civilians were also injured in the incident.
Reports said soldiers shot dead a demonstrator in the same town after he attempted to raise the blue and white flag of the Ambazonia separatist movement in the local chief’s palace. Two demonstrators who had raised the flag were also shot and wounded around midday.
Security forces attempted to block pro-independence marchers from entering the city of Buea, a major hub of protests. Witnesses said one protester was killed in the clashes on the edge of the city.
A similar protest was held in Bamenda where young men brandishing improvised secessionist flags clashed with security forces. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters trying to march on the regional governor’s office. There was no account of casualties in Bamenda.
Security was high in Buea and Bamenda as military helicopters circled overhead and businesses remained shuttered for the entire day. Troops from the Cameroonian army’s Rapid Intervention Brigade, a unit known for its fight against the militants of Nigeria-based Boko Haram group, were also deployed in the two cities. There were also reports of gunfire although it was not clear whether they targeted the protesters or were only fired in the air.
In anticipation of the protests in English-speaking regions, authorities had ordered Cameroon’s border with Nigeria closed for the weekend. All gatherings of more than four people had been banned and movement between different parts of the region had been forbidden.
Police and the military have yet to comment on the shootings that led to deaths Sunday. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security forces were taking restraint in dealing with the fresh bout of violence.
“We won’t use violence unless there is major cause. There are numerous risks, even terrorist risks. We’re keeping calm,” said the source.
The months-long protests are viewed as a sign of increasing dissatisfaction with President Paul Biya’s 35-year rule.
Biya said the acts of violence, “regardless of their source and their perpetrators”, were deplorable.
“Let me make this very clear: it is not forbidden to voice any concerns in the Republic. However, nothing great can be achieved by using verbal excesses, street violence, and defying authority,” the president wrote on his official Facebook account.
Cameroon, a former German colony under the name of Kamerun, was divided between the allied French and British victors at the end of World War One.
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Why we shunned Ajimobi’s Independence celebration programme – Olubadan, NLC
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the leadership of Oyo State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have why they did not attend the Oyo State Independence celebration programme held at the state in commemoration of the nation’s 57th Independence anniversary.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the event, which held at the Main Bowl of Lekan Salami Sports Complex at Adamasingba in Ibadan, the state capital, was attended by members of the State Executive Council (Exco), heads of ministerial and extra-ministerial boards, agencies and corporations.
Others in attendance are security chiefs, including, police commissioner, the General Officer Commanding the 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, High Court judges and members of the House of Assembly.
Traditional rulers at the event included the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Balogun of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin and the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Olubadan’s reserved seat was unoccupied throughout the period of the programme.
In a similar the NLC members were equally absent at the ceremonial march past.
The Olubadan said he would not have attended an event to which he was not invited.
The monarch’s media aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said though he was not at the palace yesterday, but he was not aware of any invitation as at 11 a.m on Saturday he left the place.
Oloko said if the palace did not get the government’s invitation to attend a programme that would hold less than 24 hours later, why would anyone expect the monarch to honour it?
But when told that a source had hinted that the monarch’s invitation was delivered at 11 a.m on Saturday, the aide said he was not aware of such invitation at the same time he left the palace.
He said: “I have not been to the palace today (Sunday) but I can tell you that at 11 a.m when I left the palace yesterday (Saturday), no invitation had been delivered to the palace from the state government.
“But when I get to the palace, I will find out if any invitation was delivered to the palace. But come to think of it, if no invitation had been delivered to the monarch as at 11 a.m (on Saturday), which was barely 24 hours to an event, then what are we talking about?”
NLC State Chairman Waheed Olojede said labour unions would not have attended the programme since the government did not invite the workers.
The union leader, who said he confirmed if the situation is the same with the sister arm, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), added that both groups found it unbelievable that the government could organise such an event without inviting the workers.
According to him, the workers had no bad blood with the state government but had supported the administration all along, despite being owed months of salaries and emoluments.
He said the unions could have used the event to discuss with the government the workers’ outstanding salaries and emoluments since they had been supporting the government without complaints on the matter.
Olojede urged the government to have a rethink of how they treat the workers noting that the workers must be seen as the engine room of any system and backbone of any success they want to achieve.
The union leader warned that using labour as mere tools by those in government would no longer be tolerated by the leadership of the workers.
He said: “Labour sees no reason to attend the Independence Day anniversary since the government also saw no reason to invite us.
“We have been supporting the government, despite having salaries and emoluments outstanding with the government.
“I spoke with my counterpart in TUC and I discovered the situation was the same. The workers would have used the opportunity to intimate the government of our welfare and outstanding salaries but the government decided to shut us out.
“There is no bad blood between the workers and the government. As such, we are surprised that no invitation was extended to the workers.
“However, on behalf of the leadership of the workers’ union, I congratulate the workers on the occasional of the Independence Day anniversary.
“We also call on government structures to begin to have a rethink of how they treat workers. We must be seen as engine room of every system and the backbone of any success they might want to achieve.
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57 years of drug addiction – Ken Tadeferua
By Ken TadeferuaPresident Muhammadu Buhari gave his Independence Day Speech today, the occasion of the 57th year since our country wrestled freedom from British colonialists in 1960. He looked stronger and healthier even if frail still.We are happy that the resources and prayers of we the people contributed in no small measure to getting our President back on his feet. We also praise God Almighty for His multiple mercies and loving kindness.However, I write here today, not about Buhari’s health but of the country’s wellbeing in the past 57 years of Independence and to ask the question: What are we celebrating today as a country? Buhari gave us some answers in what I distilled as three key parts of his Independence speech which we shall proceed pronto to examine.Part One: BellyachingThere were only three references in his speech to some parts of the past 57 years. The first was a terse bellyache: “the country has gone through trials and tribulations.” The second is his persistent wail that he inherited a country which revenues from 2.1 million barrels a day at average oil price of $100 per barrel from 1999 was squandered with social and physical infrastructure neglected.So he says for the umpteenth time and after two years as President that: “We were left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit.” The third is yet another usual recourse to his civil war experience, an emotional blackmail as is the wont of our ex-military generals, to deter groups seeking to secede from the country. There was no word on achievements, if any, over the past 57 years to celebrate.Part two: AggrandizementThis part took no less than 90 percent of the President’s speech. It was a litany of supposed achievements by his party and government to restore security, re-diversify the economy and fight corruption.Boko Haram’s terrorism has been reduced, he said, to “cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.” But not immediately wiped out as the Party promised during the presidential campaigns, even with controlled reports on attacks and carnage. He adds that his government supports security agencies to deal with kidnapping, robberies as well as herdsmen/farmers violence. Despite bloody attacks and killings over the years not one herdsman or is it farmer is being tried for murder.It is interesting that in crowing over his government’s fight against corruption, he listed the processes and reforms undertaken in the war but no mention of convictions and nothing about total value of stolen loot recovered so far. Perhaps those hard facts and core statistics of the fight need to be shrouded in opaque mists.But in rolling out his administration’s economic scorecard, the President waxed in figures and specifics. His agricultural Anchor Borrowers Program released N43.92 billion through the central bank to 17 participating institutions, 223,000 hectares of farmland cultivated and it has 200,000 small farm holders in 29 states. Also the price of 50kg bag has dropped to N5,500 from N13,000.A minimum of 10,000 jobs has been created. Inflation has dropped. Electric power has surged to 7000 megawatts. Foreign exchange is down from N525 to N360 per dollar. The government has supported states with N1.641 trillion to pay salaries, among others. But I do recall the government’s wrong headed forex control policy that caused rates to balloon and the buckets of dollars now being thrown at the forex market to keep rates down. I also recall ballooning national debts.As for the 10,000 jobs reportedly created, if even true, we must admit that we haven’t gotten started in an economy of millions of unemployeds and corporations still downsizing and offloading employees in their thousands. On the matter of food prices and electric power, I leave that to Nigerians. We know the drill.It is of great note that the speech makes no mention of the grinding problems of the great majority of citizens 57 years after independence: of harrowing poverty, terrible healthcare and lack of basic social amenities. Over 100 million living below poverty line and not one kind word for them in the speech. There is no mention of industry nor of industrial growth nor the impact of the capital votes of the past two years budgets.Part Three: FreedomsIt was such an irony that as the military sweeps across the country with armored tanks and automatic weapons, jackboots, dancing pythons and crocodiles, in a civilian democracy, our President is talking about freedoms. He said: “Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom, complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions.” Really?But in the same breath he thunders against “highly irresponsible groups that call for dismemberment of the country” while curiously declaring that calls for restructuring is proper in a legitimate debate. If folks can call for restructuring why must calls to secede (read as morbid dismemberment) be highly irresponsible? Is it not even more grossly irresponsible that calls for restructuring by discontented sections of the country has, for decades, been ignored and dismissed with open contempt? When the President declares: “We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy,” are we still talking about democratic freedoms? I doubt.But then our President also declares that in spite of our trials and tribulations: “October 1st is always a day for celebrations.” I beg to strenuously disagree. I will return shortly to explain why. But first, let us do a brief detour.I doubt many Nigerians realize the country is on a nonstop psychedelic roller coaster from professionally administered cocktails of hallucinogenic drugs by our leaders. Such is the consistent potency of the drugs that we in our highs, even with our wings brutally ripped off, still touch the sky.
We are so stimulated with opioids of deception, our consciousness is always euphoric like the frog lolling lazily in water heated gently until boiling point when the ecstatic frog is boiled nicely to death.Today, October 1, 2017, messages of happy independence, of joy, of hope and even strange words of pride are pouring forth across the media in celebration of 57 years of independence. But here’s the bitter truth and reason why I strenuously disagree agree with the Independence Day fest. The celebration is a huge farce, the produce of mass ecstasy, of ingesting too much magic mushrooms of propaganda and lies.We ought declare this day, indeed all of October, a month of mourning, of sober reflections and atonement. We ought pour ashes on our heads and wear garments of shame.For we have forsaken God Almighty to worship a god we made with our own hands: money. We have built massive factories which production lines churn out millions of dirt poor citizens every year. We bellow Allah and Jehovah and go on “holy” pilgrimages but we have no milk of human kindness so that the weak and defenseless are crushed.Our greed and wickedness has ruined everything: morals, values, education, healthcare, electric power, roads, water supply etc. Our young gambol in crime: kidnapping, robberies, advanced fee fraud, cyber crimes, prostitution. When they protest against the tribalism, hate, joblessness driving them to despair, fear and terror, we send in the army to swipe their noisy, snotty noses of rage in mud and then we hail the new colonialists who still use military force to shut up civil disobedience.Look at the country. See the stadiums, colleges, universities, roads, ports, factories, businesses, steel complexes, airlines and all that was managed to be built with oil money, everything. All in shameful dilapidation. Most are white dinosaurs leering scornfully at the celebration of 57 putrescent years. Today, bitterness froths at the corners of mouths and unity is frayed like a rag buffeted by Sirocco winds. Yet we celebrate. Indeed we are high on drugs.Six years after independence in 1960, Nigeria social and economic indicators were climbing the charts of growth, besting comparatively, today’s great nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia among others. But our politicians squabbled instead of building shared core values to glue the nation as one. Tribal and regional devils tore up the sinews of nationhood.Then the army came in with guns and coups. Nigeria stopped growing. It is today a stunted hippopotamus. Since 1967, when soldiers consolidated hold on political power until today, Nigeria has been ravaged, raped and reversed into deep throes of underdevelopment. Hordes of rogue elders and leaders, military and civilian, who pillaged the country and who still steal, taught Nigerians to steal.Shameless men who dumped values and compassion and fed citizens with the bile of religious, tribal, regional hatred. They raid the treasuries and like foolish slaves expend their national wealth on luxury splurging: private luxury jets and yachts. They transfer billions of the nation’s money into their personal offshore bank accounts, into real estates in their former colonial master’s country. They live criminal lifestyles of the idle rich. Such idiocy.This country is riotously managed mostly by the same group of ex-military generals. The men who continue to force their failed perception of governance down our throats, their jaundiced view of civil liberties, democratic freedoms and national unity as murderous burdens on us. They define their destruction of mores and values as basis for communal coexistence. They continue to rule directly or by proxy but their produce is corrosive and corrupting.They have perfected the art of deception and vile propaganda, such as large numbers of Nigerians love to hear in their ignorance, lack of attention to details, unquestioning partisanship and mob thirst for blood. These vile propaganda, untruths, manipulation of the facts and fake promises, from since coup plotting days, to deal with institutionalized corruption over the decades are the cocktails of hallucinogenic drugs that keeps us on a psychedelic roller coaster through the past decades.We are fed consistently these drugs of James Bond style stories of arrested corrupt elites to seized stolen loot to claims of huge jobs creation and poverty alleviation, and boy, do we sniff the drugs. We get so high that even in our poverty we hail our oppressors for giving us hope which never comes. Hope has not come in 50 years and is not likely to come.Poverty will continue to mushroom, health, power, water, roads will remain jokes. Corruption will remain unabated. The socioeconomic structure mocking equity and allowing rogue leadership will be in place. But the common peoples, addicts of their drugs, will continue to die unsong and in penury.All the same, if in spite of all of the above, you still wish to be high on the psychedelic drugs, then do take this one: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. -
Nigeria @57: Unforgettable happenings in Nigeria [1960- 2017]
As Nigeria marks its 57th independence anniversary today, TheNewsGuru.com has compiled some of the major happenings in the country, between October 1, 1960 which marks the birth of Nigeria as an Independent nation till date.
1. July 1960: Sir Adesoji Aderemi became 1st African and Nigerian to be appointed a Governor in the Commonwealth. He became Governor before Nigeria got her independence.
2. October 1, 1960: Nigeria gained independence from Britain with Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Nnamdi Azikiwe as President.
3. February 11 & 12, 1961: People of Northern and Southern Cameroon went to the polls to decide on joining the newly independent Nigeria or the French territory of Cameroon. The South voted to leave Nigeria and the North decided to join Nigeria.
4. October 1, 1963: Nigeria finally cuts its remaining ties with Britain, marking the birth of the First Republic.
7. December 30, 1964: The first national elections held in independent Nigeria.
8. January 15, 1966: A military coup deposed the government of the First Republic. Tafawa Balewa, Premier of Northern Nigeria Ahmadu Bello and Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, were assassinated. *9. January 16, 1966: The Federal Military Government was formed, with General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi acting as Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Federal Republic.
10. July 29, 1966: A counter-coup by military officers of northern extraction deposed the Federal Military Government. Aguiyi-Ironsi and Adekunle Fajuyi, Military Governor of the Western Region, were assassinated. Lt.Col. Yakubu Gowon became President.
11. 1967: Genocide against people of Eastern Nigerian origin claimed the lives of thousands, mostly Christians in the North. This triggered a migration of the Igbo back to the East.
12. May 27, 1967: Gowon announced further subdivision of Nigeria, into 12 states.
13. May 30, 1967: Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, declared his province an independent republic called Biafra, triggering the Civil War, which lasted for 2 years, 6 months, 1 week and 2 days.
14. January 8, 1970: Ojukwu fled into exile. His deputy, Philip Effiong, became acting President of Biafra.
15. January 15, 1970: The Biafra war ended, leaving nearly two million people dead. Effiong surrendered to Nigerian forces.
16. 1971: Nigeria joined the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
17. January 22, 1973: A plane crashed in Kano, Nigeria, killing 176 people.
18. May 22, 1973 22: The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was introduced.
19. July 29, 1975: General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown in a bloodless coup. General Murtala Mohammed, became the Head of State.
20. February 13, 1976: General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated on his way to work. He was succeeded by General Olusegun Obasanjo.
21. August 11, 1979: Shehu Shagari won election to the Executive Presidency of the American-style Second Republic.
22. October 1, 1979: Shagari was sworn in as President.
23. March 5, 1980: Mrs Folake Solanke became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
24. September 1983: In Nigeria’s second national elections, Shagari was re-elected president.
25. December 31, 1983: Major-General Muhammadu Buhari led another military coup and overthrew the government of Shagari.
26. August 27, 1985: General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) took over power in a bloodless coup.
27. 1987: Babangida postponed the date of return to civilian rule from October 1990 to October 1992.
28. 1988: Government reduced fuel price subsidies as part of its austerity program. In response, transporters raised their prices by 50-100 per cent and the rest of the population, especially students, went on strike – fuel prices were lowered again.
29. 1988: Government increased the number of states in Nigeria to 21 (from 19). Later on, it was further increased to 30.
30. October 1989: Babangida’s government refused to legalise 13 independent political parties. Instead, government founded the Social Democratic Party (SDP) (Centre-left) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) (Centre- right) as the only legal political parties.
31. September 1991: Administrative reform produced nine new states and 140 additional local government areas. The date for transition to civilian rule was pushed back again, to January 2, 1993.
32. 1991: Government reversed itself and allowed ‘old breed’ politicians to take part in presidential politics.
33. 1992: Census figures showed that Nigeria had become Africa’s most populous country; with 88.5 million people (Egypt was second with 52 million). Nigeria’s GDP was second in Africa ($35 million to South Africa’s $90 million), but per capita income was only $395.
34. October-November 1992: Babangida cancelled the presidential primaries, banned leaders of both parties, and pushed the date of the presidential election to mid- 1993.
35. March 1993: New primaries yield Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Bashir Othman Tofa as presidential candidates for the SDP and NRC respectively.
36. June 12, 1993: Presidential elections were held and businessman, Chief Abiola of the SDP, took unexpected lead in the early returns.
37. June 23, 1993: Babangida gave reasons for annulling the results of the Presidential election. At least 100 people were killed in ensuing riots.
38. August 26, 1993: Babangida ‘stepped aside’ and named an interim government, headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
39. October 1993: The youthful group, Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD), hijacked a Nigerian airliner to Niger in order to protest official corruption.
40. November 17, 1993: General Sani Abacha, Defence Minister in the Interim Government seized power.
41. June 11, 1994: Abiola proclaimed himself president, was arrested and charged with treason. Army suppressed riots and strikes that broke out his arrest.
42. July 1995: Former President Obasanjo was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a secret military tribunal for alleged participation in an attempt to overthrow the government.
43. November 10, 1995: Writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight members of his Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People were hanged for murder. Commonwealth suspended Nigeria. Arms and visa restrictions were imposed by the United States, European Union and South Africa.
44. May 11, 1996: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president, died.
45. June 8, 1998: General Sani Abacha died unexpectedly of a heart attack as he was poised to stand as the sole candidate in the August presidential elections.
46. June 9, 1998: Abubakar was sworn in as Nigeria’s eighth military ruler, by the Provisional Ruling Council. He promised to relinquish power on May 29, 1999.
47. July 7, 1998: Moshood Abiola died in detention before he could be released in a general amnesty for political prisoners. Rioting in Lagos led to over 60 deaths.
48. August 31, 1998: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became the first major party to launch itself.
49. May 29, 1999: Former Military Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, was sworn in as Nigeria’s democratically elected civilian President.
50. November 20, 2002: More than 200 people died in four days of rioting stoked by Muslim fury over the planned Miss World beauty pageant in Kaduna in December. The event was relocated to Britain.
51. August 14, 2008: Nigeria hands over the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to neighbouring Cameroon under the terms of a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling.
52. May 5, 2010: President Umaru Yar’Adua died after a long illness. Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan, already acting in Yar’Adua’s stead, succeeded him.
53. December 24, 2010: Christmas Eve bomb attacks near central city of Jos killed at least 80 people. Attacks claimed by Islamist sect, Boko Haram, sparked clashes between Christians and Muslims. Some 200 were killed in reprisals.
54. March, 29, 2015: General elections held and for the first time in history an opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari of the APC defeated an incumbent president.
55. May 7: President Muhammadu Buhari embarks on his second medical vacation abroad and only returned after spending 104 days in the UK.
56. June 6, 2017: Arewa Youths issue quite notice to Igbo living in the North to leave the region by October 1, 2017.
57. September 14, 2017: The army storms the country home of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Afaraukwu, Abia State, claiming it is part of their ‘Operation Python Dance II’. The separatist leader has not been seen since then.