SCENES/PICTURES/PHOTOS FROM THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF BENIN, EDO, NIGERIA

The making of a Scholar: THE RECENT POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN EGYPT AND ITS ...

2012-11-18T01:40:00.001-08:00

The making of a Scholar: THE RECENT POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN EGYPT AND ITS ...: BY WISDOM IYEKEKPOLO A SEMINAR PAPER PRESENTED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, B...

Obama vs. Romney: Enter the silly season --CBC News

2012-10-26T07:23:00.001-07:00

The U.S. election campaign appears to have entered the so-called silly season, launched by a combination of offending tweets, October surprises and other assorted campaign-related controversies.

There are, of course, the usual reports of voting irregularities and accusations of voter fraud. In Florida for example, the FBI is investigating after Republicans claimed more than two dozen prominent members of the party received a letter questioning their eligibility to vote, the Washington Post reported.

And in Ohio and Wisconsin, civil rights groups, claiming voter intimidation, forced the removal of billboards in black neighbourhoods warning that voter fraud is a felony, the Post reported.

Meanwhile, the attack ads are swarming in swing states. Extreme anti-Obama ads are popping up in the crucial swing state of Florida, including some accusing the president of being a Muslim, the New York Times reports.

As well, a new anti-Obama DVD is being dropped into voters’ mailboxes claiming the president is the love child of his mother and Frank Marshall Davis, a Communist Party loyalist, the Times reported, while also noting the DVD producer had previously claimed to have tracked down Elvis Presley in the witness protection program.

Supporters of Obama have released their own anti-Bain ads and those that portray Romney as an extremist on abortion, the Post reported.

Trump's card

But real estate mogul, birther and Romney supporter Donald Trump definitely ramped the silly season up earlier this week with his promise of a bombshell announcement that would change the course of the election.

Rumours swirled as to what the announcement could be, but in the end, there were no stark revelations, only a pledge by the Donald to give $5 million to the president's choice of charity if he released his passport and college records.

Democrats and Republicans alike yawned and mocked, both taking time to tweet shots at Trump.

Not to be outdone, celebrity lawyer and Obama supporter Gloria Allred hinted at her own October surprise — an attempt to help make public testimony given by Romney in 1991 regarding the divorce case of Staples founder Tom Stemberg, a supporter of Romney's.

Although a judge on Thursday granted that request, a gag order remained on Stemberg's ex-wife, who wants to give the public her opinion of Romney, but can't unless the order is lifted.

Also competing for attention has been controversial conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who has come under fire for tweeting that during the final presidential debate, she approved of "Romney's decision to be kind and gentle to the retard."

Mixed endorsement

Meanwhile there's the brewing controversy around Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock, who said pregnancies that result from rape are "something God intended."

Romney's campaign has said he disagrees with Mourdock's remark, which came in a debate Tuesday with his opponent, Representative Joe Donnelly. But Romney is standing by his endorsement of Mourdock — and not asking the Indiana state treasurer to take down an ad Romney filmed Monday in support.

The Obama campaign has pounced, saying that "Romney must withdraw his support of Mourdock — who'd force rape victims to bear an attacker's child as 'God intended.'"

And now the president himself has grabbed some attention for a comment he made about his opponent in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, according to an excerpt posted on Politico. Historian Douglas Brinkley wrote: "As we left the Oval Office, executive editor Eric Bates told Obama that he had asked his six-year-old if there was anything she wanted him to say to the president.

"She said, 'Tell him: You can do it.' Obama grinned.… 'You know, kids have good instincts,' Obama offered. 'They look at the other guy and say, "Well, that's a bullshitter, I can tell."'"

As media reporter Howard Kurtz, writing in the Daily Beast put it: "It’s the last two weeks of a presidential campaign: a time for suspense, for intrigue, for plot twists and … well, a whole lot of silliness."

CBC NEWS

Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama announces

2011-05-02T02:14:00.000-07:00

This was spotted on the guardian.co.uk site and thought you should see it.
Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama announces
Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind al-Qaida, is dead, President Obama announces from the White House
Declan Walsh in Islamabad, Richard Adams in Washington and Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Monday May 2 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-dead-obama

Osama bin Laden, the criminal mastermind behind al-Qaida and the world's most sought-after terrorist since the attacks of 11 September 2001, has been killed by a US operation, President Barack Obama has announced.

In an address to the nation, President Obama said Bin Laden was killed in a "targeted operation" in Abbottabad, a highland town north of Islamabad, last night.
The operation started with an intelligence lead last August, and culminated in an operation involving a "small team of Americans". "After a firefight they killed bin Laden."
None of the Americans was killed. Pakistani co-operation "helped to lead us to him" he said.
Osama's body is in possession of the US, according to the first reports from the US television networks.
As the news spread, crowds gathered outside the gates of the White House in Washington DC, singing the national anthem and cheering.
President Obama made the highly unusual Sunday night live statement to announce the news at around 11.30pm eastern time.
Bin Laden's capture comes eight years to the day that President George Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq. As president, Bush declared he wanted bin Laden "dead or alive" ? but it is now the unlikely figure of Barack Obama who has been able to announce the final triumph as US commander-in-chief.
This is a turning point in the global "war on terrorism" that has been waged since 9/11 - and the news will reverberate around the world.
The news comes as an unparalleled boost for US foreign policy, the key aim of which since 2001 has been the disarming and dismemberment of al-Qaida, and coincidentally probably ensures the re-election of Obama in 2012.
As a candidate during the 2008 election campaign, Obama repeatedly vowed: "We will kill Osama bin Laden." And so it has proved.
The Obama statement was scheduled originally for 10.30pm, but the need to inform US congressional leaders caused the delay.
In the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, one western diplomat described the news as a "game changer" ? not just for al-Qaida, but also for US foreign policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a region embroiled in turmoil and violence since 2001.
"I'm overjoyed," said the diplomat. "But what this exactly means is really not clear."
Some analysts fear bin Laden's death could spark a precipitous US withdrawal from the region, with the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan still unresolved.
It will likely also reconfigure relations with Pakistan, where the CIA is engaged in a controversial assassination campaign against senior al-Qaida figures using Predator and Reaper drones.
"He's dead," said an official with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, declining to give details other than to say that it was "highly sensitive intelligence operation".
The official said he was "not at liberty" to give further details on the killing, including on reports that Pakistani intelligence was involved in the operation. "We'll release more information later this morning," he said.
Abbottabad is about two hours' drive north of Islamabad, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It is not part of the tribal belt, where the CIA drone strike campaign has been concentrated, but is home to the Pakistan military's main training institution, the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul.
The fact that bin Laden was killed outside the tribal belt in Pakistan will raise questions about how the six-foot four-inch fugitive, one of the most famous faces in the world, managed to escape justice for so long.
Pakistan's intelligence services have largely co-operated with the US in capturing al-Qaida fugitives - some of the most notorious figures seized since 2001 were caught in Pakistan's cities such as the architect of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad.
In recent months US military and intelligence officials have publicly complained that the ISI has been assisting the Haqqani network, an al-Qaida-linked militant network that straddles the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Nigerian 2011 Elections: Nigeria Shocked the World

2011-04-29T01:14:00.000-07:00

Nigeria, a land of possibilities, a land there is no impossibility. What looks impossible to the world is possible in Nigeria. Never say Nigeria cannot achieve it because you must be proven wrong.
What have they not said? They said Nigeria cannot conduct credible polls with INEC as umpire. They fear President GEJ cannot offer a free, fair and credible election with Baba beside him. Nigeria has performed well against all odd.
Will Nigeria disintegrate under 15 years?
Oakland, California, June 6, 2006: In May 2005, a couple of weeks ago, there was a report (also published on USAfricaonline.com) apparently emanated from the United States security/intelligence services warning that Nigeria, as an entity, will disintegrate along ethnic lines possibly within 15 years. This report raised a lot of furor among Nigerians, at home and in Diaspora. Whilst well meaning Nigerians are advocating a cool-headed analysis of this report, the Nigerian government and the National Assembly are inclined to dismiss the report with an orchestrated sleight of the hand. That is very unfortunate.
As usual our government, executive and the legislative branches, have once again chosen to play the ostrich. They are once again in denial. Rather than carefully review the said report and map out a strategy to prevent the doomsday prophesy contained therein, they are content with quibbling over the motivation of the United States in releasing that report. Our leaders have perfected a penchant to cry foul anytime anything negative is said about Nigeria or the direction its leaders are taking her. The important issue somehow always gets lost in the shuffle.
There is absolutely no need for the hue and cry that our politicians are raising against the United States for its prediction. Rather than preoccupy ourselves with seeking the motivation for the US releasing that report, we should direct our energies to a serious look at the impugned report and see how we can avert the predicted event. If the truth be told, the United States merely repeated what every Nigerian knows but somehow nobody is willing to broach. The US has now set the ball rolling for us. Let us get on with it. Our indignation at the United States ignores the fact that every Nigerian knows that Nigeria's corporate existence is being threatened by ethnic, religious and social class wars, albeit undeclared. Rather than attack the US for jolting us to reality, we should err on the side of caution and seriously work on our obvious problems.
It is crass irresponsibility for our government to dismiss this warning outright as if there is no genuine basis for it. The National Assembly and the Executive Branch of the Nigerian Government cannot seriously contend that Nigerian is not buckling under the weight of ethnic and religious frictions, as well as undeclared class warfare. Is this fact any less true because it came from an external source? Are we interested in substance or should we hide reality under a cloud of frivolities?
Whether or not the United States is motivated by ill will towards Nigeria in releasing that report, the fact still remains that the substance of that report resonates with every well-meaning Nigeria and brings to the fore a sickness that has for decades been crying for treatment. Nigerian may not disintegrate within 15 years are predicted but are we really willing to take that chance simply to prove the United States wrong?
Attorney Ezeife, a California based attorney, has served as a contributing editor of USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com for 9 years. He will write for CLASS magazine..

Watch and see, Nigeria always faults all these perceived empirical observations.

When last did you attend a wedding in Benin?

2011-03-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

When really did you attend a wedding celebration in Benin? Has things changed or are they the same way it has always been? We are a Great People and we celebrate a great deal. Feed your eyes and stay connected to this site for more scenes and photo coverage of happenings in Benin.

CGMi prays for Japan

2011-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

On March 11 at 2:46pm JST a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred near the northeastern coast of Japan, creating extremely destructive tsunami waves which hit Japan just minutes after the earthquake, and triggering evacuations and warnings across the Pacific Ocean. The earthquake and tsunami have caused extensive and severe damage in Northeastern Japan, leaving thousands of people confirmed dead, injured or missing, and millions more affected by lack of electricity, water and transportation.

The King Square Water Fountain

2010-08-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

There has been great attempts at modernising the ancient city of Benin Kingdom by the Governor Oshiomole led administration.

It had been said that there was nothing to modernise in an ancient city but I think this postulation has been disproved.

These pictures shows the new look of the King Square in the Great Benin Kingdom.The Fountain is a sight to behold and the first of its kind in this part of the world

Night life is gradually waking up in Benin City due to the street newly installed street lights on some of the Major streets. There are proofs and indications that a lot of Benin roads are going to be tarred and beautified with walk way and street lights.

We sincerely hope that this is just the beginning of better things to come in the Great Kingdom of Benin

Scene of Car Accident on Aduwawa Road, Benin City

2010-08-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

'You don bash my car, oyibo rekpete'. This is an accerpt from a popular music done by Tony Tetuila. Photos on this post shows an accident scene on the ever busy Aduwawa Road, Benin City. The most likely route from Benin City to Northern Nigeria, Abuja inclusive.

This has been as a result of impatence of drivers on our roads. Now the rush has been halted by the accident. No matter the perceived importance of the event/place the drivers are rushing to, it has to now wait for the resolution of this issue which could have been avoided by simple patience and obedience to traffic regulations.

The accident caused a serious traffic jam and with no Traffic warden or men of the FRSC in sight, the situation is better imagined than experienced.
This kind of impatience has resulted in no small loss in our socio-economic life.

Scenes at Ogba Zoo

2010-07-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

Founded in 1915, the Ogba Zoo is a refuge to much of Benin City’s local wildlife. It also houses more than 10 hectares of trees, plants and other vegetation. Ogba Zoo has served partially as a recreational park for the animals and has provided scientific and intellectual value for Nigeria.Of the initial estimated 53 Sq. kilometers of the Ogba forest.-World66

Of the initial estimated 53 Sq. kilometers of the Ogba forest reserve, what is now left is about 1 squre km, which is within the Ogba Zoo.
Massive depletion of this forest reserve took place because of its proximity
to Benin, where hunger for urban land, illegal farming and hardwood are the
vogue. Even the Ogba Zoo had nearly two sq km of urban forest, but it is now
under severe threats from local communities and other land grabbers, as well
as poachers. The Ogba Zoo management, has spent more than 7
years trying to deal with massive encroachment on the Zoo land, which
started under the guise of Govt de-reservation of outlying forest reserves.,
but I see the Conrade Governor putting an end to this charade soon.

However, the Zoo still offers some elements of the pristine nature of our
forests and continues to retain its status as a botanical garden and
arboretum. This last vestige of the Ogba forest reserve is a veritabe gene
bank since it is one of the very few places this Guinea Lowland Rain Forest
has been preserved, especially this being in an urban setting. Students
from Edo State and beyond regularly visit on excursion; including
students of UNIBEN Forestry and Wildlife Department who use the Zoo for
fieldwork.-A. Ehanire

There was a recent issue at the Ogba Zoo. Residents of Ogba, on the outskirt of Benin City were thrown into panic penultimate week when a chimpanzee allegedly escaped from its cage in the Ogba Zoological garden and attacked some fun seekers at the zoo.

One of the victims, Nwoke Chidozie, who sustained injuries in the incident, said he saw other visitors to the zoo scampering for safety after the chimp allegedly escaped from its cage.

“Upon sighting the animal, I tried to save my children from getting attacked, but was attacked by the animal,” he said.

He alleged that the animal grabbed his last son, Divine, and he had to fight the animal by grabbing it at the neck in order to rescue his son.

Police spokesperson, Peter Ogboi, confirmed the story, and added that men of the Airport Road Police Station had to shoot the animal dead when it became clear that it might cause harm to other people.

“The police were invited to the Ogba Zoo on the day of the incident, following the stampede caused by the chimpanzee,” he said. “When it became evident that the chimpanzee had became a threat to others on sight-seeing at the zoo, the best we could do was to ensure that those that have left the cage will have no access to people to injure then. At that point, what was normal was for the police to ensure that the animal does not exist.”

Unhappy zoo keeper

Mr Ehanire however faulted the report of the incident by the victims, including Mr Chidozie, accusing the man and his family of actually aiding the animal to escape from the cage.

He also debunked allegation that the animal caused physical harm to several other visitors to the zoo on the fateful day, as reported by a local television station.

“The man provided the chimpanzee with the iron rod with which it broke the cage,” he said. “A full grown chimpanzee like the one in question is 5 to 7 times stronger than a man. He would not have lived to tell the story if he held the animal. This same man who claimed that the animal attacked him mistakenly struck an attendant of the zoo with an iron rod on the head, while fighting with the chimpanzee. The attendant passed out on the spot, and other visitors had to prevail on the same man who claimed he was attacked to drive the attendant to a hospital in his car.”

Unconfirmed reports said Mr Chidozie has slammed a N15million damage suit on the management of the zoo.

2010-05-06T01:24:00.000-07:00

Benin City remains calm at the news of the death of His Excellency, President U. Yaradua.

The Federal Government has declared a Public holiday and a seven day mourning period. Therefore, most public offices in Edo State remain closed and most private offices initially opened are now closed while some especially Banks are offering skeletal services. Schools are closed and there is generally lower traffic situation in the town.

May the soul of President U. Yaradua RIP. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

:: THOUGHTS ASIDE ::

How to tackle promoting a website, if you are a newcomer to the subject? The most challenging part would be finding a good service provider; someone with expertise, backed up with years of experience on the market. There are thousands of such services on the web, but we recommend Software Submit.NET search engine submission services for website owners. While being an expert in software promotion, they also have a great range of services for website owners, you do not have to sell software applications to be able to benefit from their services.

Work by: praca

A busy street in Benin City

2010-03-03T00:22:00.000-08:00

Busy street in Benin City. People commited to making a difference even in the face of harsh realities. Come to think of it, harsh economy is not restricted to Benin City, Edo state or Nigeria. Guess the name of this street in Benin

Power Holding Company of Nigeria Zonal office in Benin

2010-03-02T23:50:00.000-08:00

The name has been changed from National Electric Power Authority to Power Holding Company of Nigeria but this has in no way improved its performances and services to the populace of Benin City.
The near lack of Power has affected the growth of small scale businesses and has resulted in alternative search for electric power. The readily available alternative for private use is the Generator set popularly referred to as 'I Better Pass my Neighbour' This has resulted in more business for Generator retailers and importers.
The federal Government has set Power as one of its 7 point agenda and has gone further to declear a state of emergency on the sector though with little or no effect to the common man.
Benin City and indeed Nigeria is in dying need of Power. The people remain hopeful and hard working with or without PHCN

Sun Rise in Benin City 02-Mar-2010

2010-03-01T23:31:00.000-08:00