RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Digest for usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com - 25 updates in 13 topics

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Emmanuel Mbah

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Jun 23, 2014, 9:37:12 AM6/23/14
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REMINDER: CONFERENCE (CALL FOR PAPERS)


First Annual African and African Diaspora Studies Conference


Full name / Name of organization: 


The African American Studies Program at The City University of New York, College of Staten Island

 

Contact email: 


african....@csi.cuny.edu


The African American Studies Program (soon to be African and African Diaspora Studies Program) at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island announces its First Annual AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DIASPORA STUDIES CONFERENCE to be held October 9-10, 2014 at the CUNY/College of Staten Island Campus.

 

This inaugural conference aims to explore the current state of African and African Diaspora Studies.  We invite papers presenting emerging research related to African and African Diaspora Studies from all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences.  Proposals for individual papers and pre-formed panels will be accepted from academic and independent scholars, advanced graduate students and community leaders.    


 Deadline for Submission of Abstracts/Proposals: June 30, 2014.


 Please submit abstracts/proposals electronically to african....@csi.cuny.edu (and copy emmanu...@csi.cuny.edu).


For individual papers, please provide a clear and useful title for your paper, an abstract describing the paper (250-500 words) and a one-page CV. For pre-formed panels, please provide a clear description of the panel and its goals, the titles of individual papers, appropriate abstracts for the papers, and a one-page CV for each participant. 


In the subject line of the email, please include the relevant discipline (eg. African Studies, African American Studies, Africana Studies, Caribbean Studies, Criminal Justice, History, International Relations, Literature, Media Culture, Political Science, Psychology, Social Works, Sociology, etc OR Inter-disciplinary) and a short (1-5 word) title for your paper or panel.  Be certain to include the full name, institutional affiliation, phone number, and e-mail address for each presenter.  Finally, please indicate whether you will need any audio-visual equipment to present your work.


Complete papers will be requested for review on or before September 08, 2014.


Selected Conference papers will be peer-reviewed and published in one or two edited volumes. 


Upon acceptance of abstracts, participants are expected to pay a non-refundable registration fee of $ 100 ($ 50 for students with proof of current school ID). Inormation about registration payment, hotel reservations and panel arrangements will be communicated to participants after the deadline for submission of abstracts.


 
To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Digest for usaafric...@googlegroups.com - 25 updates in 13 topics
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 18:39:59 +0000

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/usaafricadialogue/topics
    chidi opara reports <chidiopa...@rocketmail.com> Jun 22 09:23AM -0700  

    Click here to view
     

    chidi opara reports: Photonews: Fayemi And Fayose Befor...
    Photonews: Fayemi And Fayose Before Now Posted by PublicInformationProjects at 09:22
    View on chidioparareports.b... Preview by Yahoo
     
     
    From chidi opara reports
     
    chidi opara reports is published as a social service by PublicInformationProjects
     
    Kennedy Emetulu <keme...@yahoo.co.uk> Jun 22 07:03AM +0100  

    ..
     
     
     
    The Ekiti people are not stupid. Ayo
    Fayose did not win the election because he is a sterling candidate; rather, what
    happened in Ekiti was that the people cast a protest vote against Kayode Fayemi
    and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
     
    Fayemi never learnt from the history
    of gubernatorial elections in the state nor did he explore reasons why no
    incumbent governor has won a second term since 1999 and why stability has
    eluded the state in terms of gubernatorial succession. If he did, he did not
    show it through his actions as governor. He created a cult of personality
    around himself and his wife and assumed people would simply be happy if he
    gives the impression that like a god, he’s doing them a favour by giving them
    anything. He ran a government open only to a coterie of friends and hangers-on
    and assumed that the vote of the educated would go for him while largely
    ignoring them. He defined his opposition as thugs, but failed to appreciate
    that Fayose has a decent record in many parts of the state despite the
    over-simplified imaging of him as thuggish and unpolished.
     
    Secondly, the APC underrated the
    national consciousness of the Ekiti people by importing all manner of ‘national
    figures’ into Ekiti to campaign for Fayemi. Yet, every one of their heavy
    hitters there represented something unwelcome to the savvy and independent-minded
    Ekiti. For instance, many Ekiti people do not trust Bola Tinubu and his cartel-politics
    of predatory godfatherism. Rightly or wrongly, they consider Fayemi his minion,
    but he does not have the moral standing to win any vote for Fayemi in Ekiti. On
    the contrary, Fayose has always presented himself as independent-minded from
    the moment he entered Ekiti gubernatorial politics in 2001. He has even managed
    to redefine his problems in the state that led to his impeachment as something
    resulting from his anti-establishment stance within the PDP. His public spat
    with former President Olusegun Obasanjo cemented this notion. More crucially,
    the people see the APC as a foreign party, trying to impose foreigners on
    Ekiti. They are not happy with any of the characters likely to be its
    presidential candidate. They’ve read the tealeaves and calculated that the 2015
    presidential election is not likely to be won by the desperate APC who are
    likely to produce a Northerner as presidential flag-bearer. Considering that no
    Northerner has ever won the Yoruba vote for the presidency, they voted in the Peoples
    Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in order to align with the party more
    likely to win that presidential election in order to improve the state’s
    political fortunes through federal patronage.
     
    Thirdly, Fayemi and the APC showed
    their undemocratic and authoritarian credentials in the stifling way they conducted
    their party primaries and in how they handled the fallouts of some of their
    crises. For instance, while Fayose was reaching out successfully to aggrieved
    members of the PDP who weren’t happy with his emergence as the party
    flag-bearer, Fayemi was vilifying his internal party opposition and pushing
    them into the Labour Party (LP) and the PDP. He thought people like Segun Oni
    who had no great following joining him from the opposition was enough political
    coup to counteract any loss of disgruntled elements within his party.
     
    Fourthly, Fayemi overrated the
    value of the media and social networks in winning elections. While he had so
    much support on the Internet, certainly more than Fayose, he failed to mobilize
    these supporters for his cause, as he simply assumed their noise in support
    would count as votes. The agenda-driven media that presented him as some kind
    of beacon of hope for Ekitians waited for his big idea that never came. In
    time, populism showed its limit and Fayemi learnt the hard way that in politics,
    your ground game wins you actual votes on the day, not your noise.
     
    Lastly, Fayemi lost because he
    did not make the Ekiti business and the investing community happy. He’d used
    the contract system and state patronage as an instrument of vendetta and political
    fencing. The result is that many otherwise enthusiastic businessmen and women who’ve
    put in money into government projects purely as a business thing became weary
    of the Fayemi political frisking machine trying constantly to ascertain their
    loyalty before paying outstanding money owed them or before awarding contracts.
    These people control workers and families and as the bulk of them turned their
    backs on Fayemi or simply went off him, they sent signals to those who depend
    on them on the ground and this translated into electoral negatives for Fayemi.
     
    In conclusion, the Ekiti people turned
    out in large numbers and peacefully voted out Fayemi, because he is too
    pompous, authoritarian, blindly partisan, dependent on godfathers and outsiders,
    anti-business, anti-elite and is largely remote from the people. Fayemi’s case
    is a warning to those APC-controlled states, including other APC governors
    seeking re-election who think merely crying wolf at the drop of a hat or
    vilifying President Goodluck Jonathan is a better vote-winning strategy than
    actually presenting a sustainable or alternative vision of development to the
    people. Most Nigerians do not see much difference between PDP and APC, but it
    would seem the APC has doubled down on the worst excesses of the old PDP. For
    instance, it’s become synonymous with godfatherism, imposition politics and
    extremism and as 2015 draws near, this image will be presented in better relief
    and the worse it would be for the APC. Nigerians need genuine opposition
    against PDP, not a poorer version of it as an alternative, be it at state or
    national level.
     
    …
     
    Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi...@gmail.com> Jun 22 09:11AM -0700  

    Kayode Fayemi <https://www.facebook.com/kayode.fayemi> is an intellectual,
    an activist and a protégé of the famous Wole Soyinka. These factors
    naturally make him well known, but not necessarily a good electoral
    material, especially, to the grassroots.
     
     
    CAO.
     
     
    On Sunday, 22 June 2014 12:54:16 UTC+1, Kennedy Emetulu wrote:
     
    "Akurang-Parry, Kwabena" <KAP...@ship.edu> Jun 21 11:33PM  

    Am I the only hearing too much bias against Nigeria in the white commentators' perspectives on the on-going World Cup match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina? I think commentators need as much training as referees and lines-people!
     
     
     
    Kwabena
     
    ienwana <ien...@yahoo.com> Jun 22 07:41AM +0100  

    we once had an 'uneducated' police officer who teased that despite. his level of education he was progressing in his career! Bravo Nigeria!
     
     
    Pablo <pida...@yorku.ca> Jun 22 01:04AM -0400  

    Indeed, I don care if dey black or white, Naija won, an deservedly so.
     
    Keshi, not that you care, nor should you, but I saw a peek of the Nigeria that you played for.
    Congrats,
    P
     
    Sent from my grandfather's typewriter
     
     
    "Anunoby, Ogugua" <Anun...@lincolnu.edu> Jun 21 09:45PM -0500  

    FIFA and other Soccer Associations have rules that referees must be guided by during soccer games. Soccer referees must therefore be trained on and knowledgeable in approved rules before they are certified to refer soccer games. Soccer referees are game officials authorized to make calls during the game. Soccer commentators are not. They are not journalists. They pretend to be experts. Everyone knows they are not. They are expected to be opinionated. They almost always are. They may not always be objective therefore. Sometimes they have an interest in the outcome of a game. Then again what is fair commentary?
    If soccer commentators are anything, they are entertainers who are expected to be comical while catering to their listening/viewing audience, and achieve high ratings. For me, a good soccer commentary should be funny. It should make me laugh from time to time. It should not be taken too seriously.
    The good news is that soccer game officials do not hear soccer commentary or listen to them during games. The bias of TV soccer commentators therefore neither influences nor determines the outcome of a soccer game. It did not in the Nigeria-Bosnia game. It can be annoying sometimes though. It should not be forgotten that the audience that a soccer commentator is supposed to cater to, is watching the soccer game that is the subject of the commentary live, and knows what is going on. The TV viewer can always cut sound out. Of course it will be easier and more fun to listen to a soccer commentary if the commentator was not shamefully biased. Much should never be expected of them.
     
    oa
     
    From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafric...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Akurang-Parry, Kwabena
    Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2014 6:34 PM
    To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
    Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA + BOSNIA MATCH WHITE COMMENTATORS
     
     
    Am I the only hearing too much bias against Nigeria in the white commentators' perspectives on the on-going World Cup match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina? I think commentators need as much training as referees and lines-people!
     
     
     
    Kwabena
    --
    You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
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    Ibukunolu A Babajide <ibk...@gmail.com> Jun 22 03:24PM +0100  

    By the way on a second look at the replay it was a clear off side!
     
    Cheers.
     
    IBK
     
    "Assensoh, Akwasi B." <aass...@indiana.edu> Jun 22 01:47PM  

    =========================================
     
    "If This Is the Will of the People"
    A Concession Speech
    By
    His Excellency
    Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
    Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
    Following the
    2014 Gubernatorial Elections
    Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
    Sunday, June 22, 2014
    ==================================
     
    Protocols
     
    In o kun o Ekiti kete!
    Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
    If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heedyour voice.
    I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
    It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.
     
    On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this State. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
    Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
     
    To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental humanrights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.
    I thank you all for listening.
    May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
    May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
     
    Dr. Kayode Fayemi
    Governor, Ekiti State
    Sunday, June 22, 2014
     
     
     
    ------------------
    A Quote:
    One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors - Plato
     
    ugo...@gmail.com Jun 22 03:11PM +0100  

    Pls how many tenure is Fayose entitled to since he has already done 3yrs
     
    Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
     
    From: Assensoh, Akwasi B.
     
    Sent: Sunday, 22 June 2014 2:59 PM
     
    To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
     
    Reply To: usaafric...@googlegroups.com
     
    Cc: anthony...@yahoo.co.uk; Afoaku, Osita; ovau...@bowdoin.edu; titil...@gmail.com; szalan...@msn.com
     
    Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: HE Dr. Kayode Fayemi's Concession Speech in Nigeria's Ekiti State Elections
     
    =========================================
     
    "If This Is the Will of the People"
     
    A Concession Speech
     
    By
     
    His Excellency
     
    Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
     
    Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
     
    Following the
     
    2014 Gubernatorial Elections
     
    Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
     
    Sunday, June 22, 2014
     
    ==================================
     
    Protocols
     
    In o kun o Ekiti kete!
     
    Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
     
    If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heedyour voice.
     
    I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
     
    It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother. Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.
     
    On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this State. Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
     
    Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
     
    To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental humanrights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.
     
    I thank you all for listening.
     
    May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
     
    May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
     
    Dr. Kayode Fayemi
     
    Governor, Ekiti State
     
    Sunday, June 22, 2014
     
    ------------------
     
    A Quote:
     
    One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors - Plato
     
    --
     
    You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
     
    For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
     
    For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
     
    To post to this group, send an email to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
     
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    unsub...@googlegroups.com
     
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    FabiyiLive <fab...@live.com> Jun 21 10:17PM +0100  

    #Ekiti DECIDES: Read what Wole Soyinka has to say on prevention of APC govs from campaign rally
     
    2014-06-21
     
    “But if the military conduct themselves in this way, then we have to consider them allies of Boko Haram”.
     
    We Must Take The Battle To Boko Haram, Says Soyinka
    Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka
     
    Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has condemned the stopping of some governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from attending a campaign rally in Ekiti State describing it as an act of war.
    At a press conference in Lagos, Saturday, Mr. Soyinka urged the affected governors to seek redress in court, noting that it was a violation of their human rights.
     
    Some APC governors who were attending Governor Kayode Fayemi’s final electioneering campaign in Ado-Ekiti, last Thursday, were prevented from getting to their destination by army soldiers.
    ‎
    The APC leadership accused the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP-led federal government of orchestrating the plot.
     
    “I think it is important that we don’t lose sight of preparations before an election simply because we want the event to be over and done with.
     
    “When Vice President Sambo said in Ekiti that this election was going to be war, I actually rebuked some of the opposition who said that the Vice President had come to announce the outbreak of a war. I said come on; this is what is known as a figure of speech. Even his predecessor within the party used a similar expression, ‘do or die,’ I took the same position, that we must allow what is known as poetic licence in which people use metaphors that should not be taken literarily. So I have never really bothered about the expressions like fight to finish, do or die, it’s war to the end,” Mr. Soyinka said.
     
    “The prevention of some governors and their supporters from going for their own campaign was nothing short of an act of war. So maybe I should learn to be less metaphoric in my approach to language and learn to take politicians’ word a bit more serious,” he added.
     
    Mr. Soyinka said that practices such as waving of party flags and sweeping the stage after your opponent had finished a rally are part of the language of democracy.
     
    “But to prevent governors from attending a campaign for the success of their own party is for me not just unconstitutional, it’s criminal, and such people should be charged to court. It’s not different from rigging during the election, from women suddenly becoming pregnant with ballot papers, with stealing and even daylight robbery of ballot boxes. What is the difference? Electioneering is part and parcel of the democratic process,” Mr. Soyinka said.
     
    The Nobel laureate also condemned the Nigerian military for allowing the army to be used as “election thugs.”
    “Let me ask you a question: Suppose Governors Amaechi, Oshiomhole, Nyako, and the other APC governors are being in a motorcade that had been waylaid by thugs with guns, machetes, cudgels, or even acid.
     
    Supposing it was hired thugs who had stopped the electoral candidates from proceeding to the polling booth, will this be considered constitutionally acceptable?
     
    “So when the army begin to act like thugs on account of election, I see no difference between the waylaying of those governors by paid thugs on a lonely road if they were going by road, I see no difference between that and the military waylaying governors, preventing their helicopters from landing. I see no difference whatsoever between that kind of conduct and just ordinary paid thugs. So I’m asking the military, when did you take on the job of electioneering thugs?”
     
    ‘Punish the culprits’
     
    Mr. Soyinka called for an immediate end to the violation of citizens’ rights by law enforcement agents, adding that those involved in the Ekiti incident be punished to serve as deterrent to others.
     
    “This is the kind of conduct which this police commissioner Mbu considered a proper conduct for a law officer in Rivers State. When we spoke, in this very hall that day, people were saying what business does Wole Soyinka, Falana have in Rivers state?
     
    “What we were saying is that if we allow this kind of conduct to be accepted once, there will be escalation. It happened, and in a more dangerous dimension in the same Rivers State,” Mr. Soyinka continued.
    “We have a responsibility in any part of Nigeria when the right of a citizen is violated. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a motor mechanic, market woman, or a governor, a legislator, we have a responsibility to cry out, and to tell Nigerians that if you don’t speak now it’s going to come to your door, and it’s going to be far worse with fatal consequences.
     
    “It’s about time we abandon the language of orders from the top. We want specifics. Who gave orders like that? Is it the Chief of Army Staff? Is it a general somewhere? Is it the military police? Enough is enough. Amaechi has a name, Oshiomhole has a name, Nyako has a name, Fayemi has a name, why is it that those who prevent them exercising their citizen’s rights do not appear to have a name.
     
    “The military is being paid from the public purse. The military has no business taking sides in a political election,” said Mr. Soyinka.
     
    Mr. Soyinka demanded the National Assembly to institute a commission of enquiry to unravel what happened in Ekiti State.
     
    “We want to know who gave orders, we want these people to be called to give evidence,” said Mr. Soyinka.
    “I think that all these governors should sue for the violation of their human rights. Let us make an example once and for all. We cannot continue this spiral of misconduct which makes us a laughing stock all over the world.
     
    “We will not be satisfied with a face saving commission of enquiry. If that is what happens, then we will set up citizens’ court. We did it during the fight against Abacha. We’ve done it for Bashir of the Sudan, which we got witnesses, victims, journalists to come and testify about the violation of human rights there. We asked for international help.
     
    “If such a trial is broken up here, then we will hold it next door. We will hold it anywhere, all the worse for the Nigerian government. They created the shame if we are forced to hold such court outside, with United Nations help if necessary, with international bodies, we’ll place the government of this county on trial.
     
    “This must be the very last time that such an incident happens, it bodes ill for future elections. It makes a sham of all we had fought for. It’s a wastage of our very existence. I still cannot believe that this thing happened.”
    Mr. Soyinka reiterated his call to Nigerians to support the efforts of the military in their fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
     
    “But if the military conduct themselves in this way, then we have to consider them allies of Boko Haram. Because Boko Haram could have attacked to stop the governors going to campaign. Boko Haram does not believe in democracy. Boko Haram despises democracy.
    “What happened in Ekiti was a violation of the constitution and those who are responsible should be exposed and where necessary punished,” Mr. Soyinka added.
     
    Source: PREMIUM TIMES
     
    Oluwatoyin Adeopoju <oluif...@gmail.com> Jun 22 09:50AM +0100  

    True, the Ekiti saga should be investigated as Soyinka has insisted.
     
    Is Soyinka's presentation of the incident complete, however?
     
    What of the claim that the APC governors flouted regulations connected with
    movement in Ekiti State?
     
    Soyinka mentions Nyako.
     
    I have not read that Nyako tried to go to Ekiti.
     
    toyin
     
     
     
    "Salihu Moh. Lukman" <smlu...@gmail.com> Jun 22 11:34AM +0100  

    If This Is the Will of the People
    Concession Speech
    His Excellency
    Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
    Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
    Following the
    2014 Gubernatorial Elections
     
    Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
    Sunday, June 22, 2014


    Protocols

    In o kun o Ekiti kete.
    Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held
    in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National
    Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the
    People¹s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
    If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your
    will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our
    people, we must all heedyour voice.
    I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating
    him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the
    Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work
    together to institute a smooth transition programme.
    It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the
    campaigns, there were unsavory episodes as the candidates toured the nooks
    and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to
    be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother.
    Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted
    on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti
    State. Ekiti is ours to build together.

    On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards
    before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support
    for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and
    crannies of this State. Our performance and achievements in office will
    remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future
    governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti
    people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave
    our best, for conscience and for posterity.
    Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the
    task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a
    people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of
    political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept
    faith.

    To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who
    defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute
    your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you
    for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation
    and allied infractions on fundamental humanrights, which many of you
    suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and
    communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.
    I thank you all for listening.
    May God bless the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
    May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Dr. Kayode Fayemi
    Governor, Ekiti State
    Sunday, June 22, 2014
     
    Oluwatoyin Adeopoju <oluif...@gmail.com> Jun 21 07:41PM +0100  

    Its seems Ekiti is going to Fayose.
     
    toyin
     
     
     
    Oluwatoyin Adeopoju <oluif...@gmail.com> Jun 21 07:44PM +0100  

    Fayemi, Fayose and
    the Challenges of Nigeria's Ekiti State by Akindele Daniel Oluwaleke
     
     
    <https://www.facebook.com/notes/oluwatoyin-vincent-adepoju/fayemi-fayose-and-the-challenges-of-ekiti-state-by-akindele-daniel-oluwaleke/10152197733069103#>
    PublicFriendsFriends except acquaintancesOnly MeCustomClose FriendsGroupsSee
    all lists...University of BeninSchool of Oriental and African StudiesCambridge,
    Cambridgeshire AreaFamilyAcquaintancesGo Back
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Akindele Daniel Oluwaleke
     
     
     
    HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT is abysmal in my homeland in spite of the
    academic-saturation of Ekitis in higher educational achievement.
     
    If FAYEMI loses, it won't be because FAYOSE was a better candidate. It
    will be because FAYEMI neglected the critical segments of the society:THE
    YOUTH. Graduate unemployment is soaring in EKITI and with the STREET
    CREDIBILITY FAYOSE oozes out he appears popular. Is it not PARADOXICAL that
    a FAYOSE will be given an INTELLECTUAL EGGHEAD like FAYEMI a run for his
    money just because FAYEMI failed to connect with the critical segment.
     
     
    INDUSTRIALIZATION is the key to improve graduate employment.
     
    Unarguably, EKITI is an agrarian and civil service state hence FAYEMI has
    his work well cut out for him from the blast of the whistle.
     
    He rode on the crest of popularity and famed campaign promises that he was
    going to use his wide travels and international connections to open up the
    state thereby put the state on the INDUSTRIAL MAP.
     
    Besides, FAYEMI and his APC governor-colleague came to town with the
    gospel of REGIONAL INTEGRATION to be anchored on JOINT TRANSPORTATION,
    AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENTS, with INDUSTRIALISATION forming the backbone of
    this effort.
     
    What has happened to the ambitious plan?
     
    If he had pursued these noble objectives of industrializing the state by
    attracting investors through friendly economic policies (tax holidays,
    subsidy, attractive fiscal policies and all that), that would have gone a
    long way to empower the sky-rocketing graduate unemployment.
     
    For EKITI to enjoy it‘s pride of place among comity of states and for the
    FEEDING BOTTLE FEDERALISM to stop, there is need to industrialize and the
    diversify the economic base. The concomitant effect would have generated
    jobs.
     
    Giving out contracts to Lagos-based contractors for PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
    and neglecting STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE and HUMAN DIGNITY is
    counter-productive.
     
    It encourages CAPITAL FLIGHT.
     
    There are no TWO WAYS about it.
     
     
     
    Source:
     
     
    Comment on Facebook status update of Kazeem Honourable Badru on 21 June 2014
    <https://www.facebook.com/notes/oluwatoyin-vincent-adepoju/fayemi-fayose-and-the-challenges-of-ekiti-state-by-akindele-daniel-oluwaleke/10152197733069103#>
     
     
    URL :
    https://www.facebook.com/lecturerbadru/posts/746557968720475?comment_id=746574172052188¬if_t=like
     
     
     
    Accessed 21 June 2014
    <https://www.facebook.com/notes/oluwatoyin-vincent-adepoju/fayemi-fayose-and-the-challenges-of-ekiti-state-by-akindele-daniel-oluwaleke/10152197733069103#>
     
     
     
    Compiled by Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
     
    Compcros
     
    Comparative Cognitive Processes and Systems
     
    chidi opara reports <chidiopa...@rocketmail.com> Jun 21 11:46AM -0700  

    Report By Emeka Ahaneku
    Worried by the alleged
    infiltration of the state by suspected members of the Boko Haram insurgents and
    incessant clashes being witnessed in our Local Communities which is occasioned
    by the invasion of community farm lands by the Fulani Cattle rearers, the Rt.
    Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu led Imo State House of Assembly is set to checkmate the
    activities of these Nomads through the establishment of the Imo State Grazing
    Reserve Development Agency law...............
     
    Click here to continue reading

    chidi opara reports: U-Report: Imo State House Of Assemb...
    Speaker Benjamin Uwajimogu Report By Emeka Ahaneku
    View on chidioparareports.b... Preview by Yahoo
     
     
     
    From chidi opara reports
     
    chidi opara reports is published as a social service by PublicInformationProjects
     
    Kenneth Kalu <ken...@yahoo.com> Jun 21 03:22PM -0700  

    I agree with you completely. I just do not understand how this can be described as great news. That the U.S. Government is introducing a bill to help provide electricity to Africa - what ordinarily should be a primary responsibility of respective African states - does not look to me like something to celebrate. Like foreign aid, this form of external assistance can only provide very temporary relief to what is essentially fundamental structural defects. 
     
    To me the best form of assistance Africa needs to change its fortunes is an overhaul of state-society relations across the continent. The state in most of Africa seems to exist only to serve the interests of state officials and their cronies. That is why the state has failed woefully to provide even the most basic necessities for her citizens. Now, the issue is not resource constraints, but a predatory state-society relations that gives state officials the feelings of owning the state and its resources. Some have argued that this form of perverse relationship between the typical African state and its citizens is a legacy of slavery and colonialism. Whatever the explanation for this type of relationship, an important point is that until the meaning and essence of the state is redefined, it is not likely that we will see the type of change necessary to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. 
     
    Unfortunately, it seems African societies - all of us - have internalized this very wrong definition of the state. That is why when a sitting Governor or state official uses public resources to build road or provide water for a community, there is dancing and celebration; and several awards are bestowed on the official, as if he has gone above and beyond his ordinary call of duty to do something spectacular. 
     
    It is okay to thank those who want to help Africa through foreign aid or through the Energize Africa bill, but what we really do need is to change the structure and purpose of the state. That is one clear way to build institutions that would promote the kind of growth that leads to development. Without this very important restructuring, we will continue to see the kind of "growth" that has been coming out of Nigeria - that is, sustained annual GDP growth at above 6% for the past 10 years, yet unemployment is rising, poverty is rising, physical infrastructure is comatose and all other real measures of wellbeing is going the opposite direction. Under the present state-society relations and the accompanying institutions, foreign aid, even the Energize Africa thing, will amount to nothing more than throwing supposedly good resources to faulty foundations. We do not need to look too far to see the futility of these initiatives under weak
    institutions. AGOA was celebrated too. But we know that Africa has not used AGOA to the fullest, because there is very little real production going on in most of Africa. 
     
    It is not clear how this can be achieved, but those who want to help Africa should focus on helping the continent redefine the essence of the state and develop the institutions that would restrain state officials from "owning" the state and its resources. Unfortunately, many years of bad leadership, corruption and jaundiced educational system has completely emasculated the civil society in most of the continent. So, purposeful external assistance should be geared towards this important fundamental restructuring. Simple sectoral interventions like the Energize Africa bill can only go the way of the other development assistance so far...
     
    Kenneth
     
     
    On Saturday, 21 June 2014, 18:50, "Anunoby, Ogugua" <Anun...@lincolnu.edu> wrote:

     
     
    U.S. Senator Menendez and others are introducing their Energize Africa Bill in the U.S. Senate. Is this great news? Should it be great news? I know that this action would not have been necessary however if the governments of the African countries concerned would only do the job for which they are elected or is it selected. Why should electrifying Africa be a matter for U.S. Senators or any other foreign country? Is sovereign baby-sitting not gone too far? Why some African countries’ governments continue to subordinate their sovereignty to the sovereignty of outside powers continues to baffle me. The governments are apparently unable to do constructive things that can matter-of-factly develop their countries and improve the lives of their citizens. Is colonization/neo-imperialism to blame for this too? What are the governments doing letting their countries play lagging further behind when their countries should be playing catch-up and possibly overtake
    other countries? Do they not know that the key to national respectability is pride built on successful self-reliance? Are the governments not aware of the price of dependence on other governments? Governments should not be delinquent or incompetent because they can get a little help from other governments. Are the governments really governing? What is going on? When will whatever is going on cease to go on?
     
    oa      
     
    From:usaafric...@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafric...@googlegroups.com]
    Sent: Friday, June 20, 2014 8:30 PM
    To: TalkN...@yahoogroups.com; NaijaO...@yahoogroups.com
    Cc: NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com; YanA...@yahoogroups.com; Omo...@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianW...@yahoogroups.com; naijael...@yahoogroups.com; naija...@yahoogroups.com; nigeriar...@yahoogroups.com; usaafric...@googlegroups.com; talk...@yahoogroups.com; niger...@yahoogroups.com; edo_g...@yahoogroups.com; tegb...@yahoo.com; service...@yahoo.com; lekead...@yahoo.co.uk; kunleoya...@yahoo.com; elombahpe...@gmail.com; neku...@gmail.com
    Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [TalkNigeria] GREAT NEWS! GREAT NEWS! GREAT NEWS! SENATE INTRODUCES ENERGIZE AFRICA BILL (H.R. 2548 IN HOUSE)
     
    Chika!,
     
    The Senate bill is being introduced TODAY!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!!  More to come!
     
    Brian
     
    Dear All,
     
    The above is not a thank you to me, it is a THANK YOU TO YOU ALL for a great job, getting Senator Menendez and his colleagues in the Senate to introduce the Electrify Africa Act Senate version, Energize Africa Bill.  It certainly shows that we have started to make impacts on matters that concern our dear continent.  We did this in 2012 with the AGOA Third Country Fabric bill which saved more 312,000 African.  Look at all the things that are going to happen with this bill.
     
    THANK YOU ALL.
     
    Dr. Chika A. Onyeani
     
    Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
    African Sun Times: http://www.africansuntimes.com/
    Email: cony...@africansuntimes.com
    Tel.: 973-675-9919
    Cell: 917-279-4038
     
     
     
    SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
     
    June 19, 2014
     
     
    Adam Sharon, adam_...@foreign.senate.gov (Menendez)
    Chuck Harper, chuck_...@foreign.senate.gov (Corker)
    Ian Koski, ian_...@coons.senate.gov (Coons)
    Amanda Maddox, Amanda...@isakson.senate.gov (Isakson)
     
    Menendez, Corker, Coons, Isakson, Markey, Johanns Introduce Energize Africa Bill
     
    Legislation will support 50 million people receiving access to electricity for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa
     
    Bill will stimulate economic growth, improve access to education in Africa
     
    Supporters encouraged to utilize hash tag #EnergizeAfrica on social media
     
    Washington, D.C. – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-TN), along with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Mike Johanns (R-NE) introduced the Energize Africa Act, a bill seeking to help contribute a meaningful role in providing nearly 600 million Africans with electricity.  The legislation will make it US policy to help 50 million Africans with first-time access to electricity and add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid by 2020.
     
    “U.S. leadership can help provide modern, clean, reliable, and affordable energy services to people lacking access to electricity, and this legislation will help jump start that effort,” said Menendez.  “We must develop power solutions for people across Africa based on a comprehensive plan to attract private investment. It does not simply mean building new power plants, it means working to build brighter futures. New off-grid technologies and working with utilities to attract private investment will help create American export jobs and stimulate economic growth in Africa.”  
     
    "To be most effective with limited foreign aid resources, we should focus our efforts on things like electricity where we can ultimately reduce the need for U.S. support over time. Leveraging private capital can help bring financially viable electric power to millions of people for the first time, transforming lives and creating economic opportunities that would not exist otherwise,” said Senator Corker.
     
    "Access to reliable energy is critical to Africa's growth and prosperity, and increased economic partnerships with the United States," Senator Coons said. "Africa's future is more promising than ever before, yet widespread energy poverty and a lack of access to distributed energy infrastructure holds back too many countries across the continent. The Energize Africa bill brings together the public and private sectors to expand energy access, develop new power sources, promote renewables and distributed energy solutions, and support improved energy sector governance. Reliable energy is the foundation of vibrant economies, and I'm proud we've been able to come together in a bipartisan way to strengthen critical partnerships in the energy sector between Africa and the U.S." Senator Coons chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.
     
    “Seven out of 10 people living in Africa have no access to electricity,” said Senator Isakson. “Greater access to electricity will save lives, alleviate extreme poverty and accelerate growth.  I am proud to join my colleagues on the Energize Africa Act, which sets forth a coordinated strategy for the United States to work with Africa to achieve the important goal of improving access to energy on the continent.”
     
    The legislation includes the following components:
     
    ·         Requires the President to create a comprehensive strategy for United States’ engagement with sub-Saharan Africa in developing a broad mix of power solutions to increase electricity access and reliability;
     
    ·         Encourages the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), USAID, the U.S. Department of Treasury, World Bank, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and African Development Bank to prioritize loans, grants, and technical support that promote private investment in projects designed to increase electricity access and reliability;
     
    ·         Authorizes OPIC to continue ongoing work through 2019 and provides limited additional authorities specifically for use on power projects in sub-Saharan Africa.  These authorities for sub-Saharan Africa power projects include:
     
    o   Expedited procedures for small projects,
     
    o   Promoting partnerships between U.S. joint ventures and African partners to develop responsible electricity generation and,
     
    o   Lending to encourage investments in the power sector in Africa by making certain U.S. investors eligible for loans of $50 million or less,
     
    o   Expands local currency guaranties for local branches of foreign banks
     
    o   Extends term of assistance possible for renewable energy projects
     
    ·         Creates a new inspector general for OPIC
     
    ·         Allows OPIC to hire a limited number of temporary employees
     
    ·         Commissions OPIC’s new inspector general to provide a report on OPIC’s ability to support infrastructure and energy projects and evaluate if the ability to invest directly in projects would help or hurt support for such projects
     
    ###
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    FabiyiLive <fab...@live.com> Jun 21 10:26PM +0100  

    2015 Presidential Election.: Guess how much Jonathan is flushing away Kano votes – CNPP reveals details
     
    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Friday, criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for flushing away N413.68 billion to get votes in the 2015 presidential election in Kano State.
     
    Acting National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr Austin Ibok, while reacting to withdrawal of the criminal charges against Mohammed, son of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, said Jonathan withdrew that case because of the votes he hopes the Abachas will garner for him in Kano State at the 2015 presidential election.
     
    It would be recalled that the government, through a private counsel, Daniel Enwelum, had filed the charge of nine counts against Mohammed, accusing him of “dishonestly receiving stolen property” and saying he “voluntarily assisted in concealing money” belonging to the state, estimated at N446.3billion.abacha
     
    But criminal charge it filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, against Mohammed, was withdrawn this week Wednesday by the government. The umbrella body of the registered political parties, while condemning the federal government said the withdrawal is politically motivated.
     
    According to it, “It is with outrage that CNPP received the news from Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala that President Goodluck Jonathan is flushing down the drain N100 billion, in fact N413.68 billion for the 2015 presidential election.
     
    The CNPP quoted the Finance Minister as saying, “we can confirm that Nigeria will on June 25, 2014 receive the sum of Euro 167 million from the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, part of the looted funds recovered from the Abacha family,” said, “going further she said that the Federal Government withdraw the N100 billion charges against Mohammed Abacha, to ease the return of the N36.32 billion.
     
    CNPP raised contentions issues that, “If Mohammed Abacha is still in the opposition will President Jonathan wave N100 billion or to be exact N413.68 billion?
     
    “Does it add arithmetically to flush away N100 billion to ease the return of N36.32 billion? Is it not the same government that pronounced publicly that they are recovering N446 billion from Mohammed Abacha?
     
    “Is it only the Abachas that looted and siphoned our commonwealth abroad? Is the Jonathan administration not aware of the favourable international laws for the recovery of looted funds?”
    it said, “we are at pains that not only has President Jonathan blatantly refused to officially and diligently request for the recovery of our looted funds by other Nigerians; but has because of the votes he hopes the Abachas will garner for him in Kano flushed away N413.68 billion.
     
    CNPP repeats that the withdrawal is politically motivated and therefore the reason given for the withdrawal of the Abacha’s charges by the Minister of Finance is patently false.
    “In sum, President Jonathan is corrupting the electoral process and has indeed started rigging the 2015 presidential election.
     
    “He also needs be reminded that waving and limiting the recovery of looted funds running into billions of dollars only to the Abachas has led to his gross incapacity to fix critical infrastructure like the completion of East-West road, Mambilla Power Plant, revamp the Coal industry, award direct contract for 2nd Niger Bridge and return the Polytechnics to the classroom.
     
    BY CHRIS OCHAYI
     
    Source: VANGUARD
     

Ayoola Tokunbo

unread,
Aug 6, 2014, 9:25:25 PM8/6/14
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Dear Professor Mbah
Good day.
Just discovered I have not paid my registration fee of $100 for the conference. Can still do this by cheque from London, where  I am till late August?
Tokunbo

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