African Voice Newspaper Issue 612

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016 ISSUE 612

SINCE 2001

£1.00 B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R New generation of Official end of Ebola mentors to help outbreak cautiously struggling teens declared

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 6

MUGGED OFF! Like us on Facebook facebook.com/africanvoicenews Follow us on Twitter @africanvoice2

Police in dock as murder suspect slips off to Ghanaian beach for Christmas

By Alan Oakley

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into how police handed its hunt for murdered EastEnders actress Sian Blake.

A court in Ghana heard this week how an uncooperative and dismissive Arthur Simpson-Kent, who is wanted for questioning in the UK in relation to the murder of the former soap actress and their two sons, told police investigating a missing persons report that the family had gone to visit a friend.

Simpson-Kent, who was discovered on a Ghanaian beach following a brief manhunt, was spoken to by police at the family’s home in Erith, Kent on December 16 after relatives expressed concern over the whereabouts of Ms Blake, who played man-hungry singer Frankie Pierre in the soap. Principal State Attorney Rebecca Abjalo told how officer’s left, apparently satisfied with the 48-year-old hairdresser’s explanation that Ms Blake, 43, had taken Zachary, aged eight and Amon, four, to visit a friend in Cambridge.

Three days later, Simpson-Kent left the country for Ghana. After the Christmas/New Year period, officers found Ms Blake’s blood-splattered car and, another two days later, her body was discovered alongside her two sons in the family’s

Simpson-Kent appeared in court wearing the grey T-shirt and jeans he was arrested in on Sunday

back garden. All three died of head and neck injuries.

Wearing a grey T-shirt, Simpson-Kent appeared in the dock at Kaneshie Mag-

istrates’ Court in Accra with his hands handcuffed behind his back, where he kept them even after the cuffs were released.

He is accused of killing Ms Blake and their sons by using ‘unlawful harm’ on or about December 16.

Continued on page 2

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Have You Got News For Us Newsdesk: 020 3737 3077

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

News

Police in dock as murder suspect slips off to Ghanaian beach for Christmas Continued from front page

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

New UK immigration service fees announced

The government has set out its proposed changes to the fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications and associated premium services for 2016–17.

Settlement, residence and nationality fees will increase by 25% while visit, study and work visas will increase by 2%. For example Indefinite Leave to Remain will go up by £407 from the current £1,093 to £1,500. While Nationalisation will go up by £99 from £906 to £1,005.

Some targeted increases have been applied to premium services, such as the priority visa service. Fees for all sponsorship categories will stay at the current rates. Specific fee changes for 2016–17 will apply after further legislation is laid in Parliament by April this year.

The new legislation will set maximum levels on the amounts for broad categories of fees that can be charged by the Home Office over the next 4 years. There are no current plans to raise fees to the maximum levels.

The Home Office said, ‘These increases will allow us to reduce taxpayer contributions towards the border, immigration and citizenship system and ensure that by 2019–2020 the system is self - funded by those who use it’.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi Managing Editor Alan Oakley News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Milton Tella Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Edward Mirza Accountant Fanla Agboola Chief Correspondent, Nigeria Olubunmi Omoogun London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 3737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

2

Police take away the bodies of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two sons, aged 8 and 4

He was remanded in custody until January 26, when a decision is expected on whether to send him back to Britain. As yet there has been no formal request for extradition from British authorities but it is expected to be a formality since Britain and Ghana enjoy cordial diplomatic relations.

Ms Abjalo told the court that Ms Blake’s Renault Scenic was found dumped in Bethnal Green on January 3rd. By then Simpson-Kent had travelled by coach to Glasgow before flying via Amsterdam to Ghana, where his mother was born, on December 19. He had marked a false date on his landing card, stating that he arrived on December 7, the court heard. He then spent three weeks on the run before being seized by local police in a remote village in the west of the country.

Ms Abjalo said: “The police officers visited the apartment again on January 5 but the accused person had vacated the premises. After a thorough search of the property officers found the body of Sian Blake and her children buried in a shallow grave in the garden.”

She added that officers first spoke to SimpsonKent at his family home after a relative lodged a complaint about Ms Blake’s disappearance.

Harvard trained lawyer Justice Srem-Sai, representing Simpson-Kent, complained that he had only been allowed to see his client when he arrived at the court and accused the authorities of ‘blatant violations’ of due process.

The lawyer complained that the ‘Ghanaian procedure for extradition were not followed (sic)’ when Simpson-Kent was arrested and said he should be released. He refused to confirm whether the suspect would fight his extradition to the UK. Simpson-Kent spoke only to confirm he understood the proceedings during the half hour hearing.

After he gave a mumbled response, magistrate Her Worship Rosemund Dodua Agyiri told him: “Speak up you are not speaking to your girlfriend you are talking to me up here. I cannot hear you.”

Following the hearing, Simpson-Kent was returned to Ghana’s maximum security jail at the Bureau of National Investigations - the country’s equivalent of MI5 - where terrorists are kept

while they await trial. He had been transferred to the secretive facility - which has razor-wire topped 15ft high walls and no sign to identify it - after being arrested on Saturday in the remote area of Butre, 200 miles from Accra.

The hairdresser had been living in a cliff top lair above a remote beach, where he was holed up in the grimy shower cubicle of a locked and disused villa and allegedly spent his days drinking, dancing and lying on bamboo rafts.

seemed ‘almost saintly’ when she first met him, as he claimed he wanted to produce cannabis for a sick relative.

She said he became a regular in the cafe and remembers him ‘dancing like mad’ at the New Year’s Eve party at the Rainbow Hotel in the resort as he was wanted in connection with murder.

“Soon after his arrest I got a call from the Met and I told them I was so disappointed not have been contacted by any of their officers.

It was all down to Ghana police and Busua village and my friend Idris, and I’m so proud of them.

“When I asked the Met officer why they hadn’t done this work themselves he told me they didn’t have the powers, it had to be local police, there was too much red tape. I said, ‘What about Interpol?’ and he said, ‘They are mainly just guys sitting in an office somewhere, just liaising.’

“I told him that local people were heroes in my eyes, as well as the Ghana police who acted so fast and efficiently without any of the Met’s funding and resources.”

Speaking at the scene of the arrest, Deputy Detective Superintendent Hansen Gove from the Ghanaian police told an interviewer he was

Zachary (left) and Amon were Sian Blake’s children with partner Arthur Simpson-Kent, who is suspected of killing all three

Speaking about the prison, a Ghanaian security source said: “This is a notorious place for sensitive prisoners and people who are a threat to the country. It is used when authorities do not know where else to take suspects. There is no chance of anyone breaking out here.”

Coconut shells were found left at the makeshift campsite where Simpson-Kent was hiding. Police also found a haul of documents, including a passport, credit card and National Insurance card.

Locals have locals described how the apparent vacationer danced and partied in the resort and spent his days lying on bamboo rafts and drinking beer before his arrest. According to residents, the suspected killer told others in the resort that he was ‘done with his life in the UK’ and was plotting to start a new life in Ghana.

London-born cafe owner Karole Ainoo described how she thought Simpson-Kent

“incredibly proud to have brought in a fugitive so quickly and calmly, without injury to anyone”.

He added: “It will be a great pleasure to report all this to the Met police, who arrived from England last night and have not been anywhere near this area or this crime. Maybe we could offer some detective training to Scotland Yard?”

While many other locals have been wondering what took the police so long to apprehend Simpson-Kent, with some claiming to have contacted British police several days before, having seen news of the manhunt on social media, such comments are bound to increase the pressure on the Metropolitan Police to explain why what has turned out to be a drawn-out and, no doubt, costly pursuit was not concluded weeks ago when their chief suspect was just the regular arm of the law away.

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

3

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

News

New generation of mentors to help struggling teens A new generation of high-flying mentors will be created to help struggling teens fulfil their potential and improve their life chances according to Prime Minister David Cameron.

Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK and the Careers and Enterprise Company has agreed to lead a major campaign to encourage business people and professionals to volunteer to act as mentors to young teens at risk of dropping out of education or achieving less than they could.

While figures for young people not in education, training or employment (NEET) have fallen since 2010, with numbers now at the lowest levels since records began, there are still tens of thousands of teenagers who are at risk of falling through the cracks.

Alongside this, many bright children from disadvantaged backgrounds are not fulfilling their potential with figures showing pupils who score highly in primary school often struggle to continue that success into secondary school.

Around 25,000 pupils about to begin GCSEs risk under-achieving or dropping out; many of these would benefit from a mentor and the campaign will aim to ensure that they are not denied that support because no suitable mentors are available.

The national mentoring campaign will see schools and businesses encouraged to work together to give these young people

The Prime Minister David Cameron

the best possible chance to succeed in later life.

It is part of a broader strategy aimed at combatting poverty and improving the life chances of the worst off.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: ‘Many people can look back at their younger selves and point to someone, perhaps a

parent or teacher, a sports coach, or their first boss, and say ‘that’s the person who found my passion. They’re the ones who made the difference’.

But if you haven’t ever had someone in your life who really believes in you, who sees your potential and helps bring it to the fore, the sands of time can drain away, and

your talents can remain hidden.

So I can announce that we are going to launch a new national campaign led by Christine Hodgson, Chair of CapGemini UK and the Careers and Enterprise Company, and it will work with business, charities and the public sector to build a new generation of high-quality mentors.

We’ll direct £70 million towards careers in this Parliament, primarily to the Careers and Enterprise Company who will lead this major new effort to recruit mentors for young teenagers with a focus on the 25,000 about to start their GCSEs who we know are underachieving or at risk of dropping out’.

Christine Hodgson said: ‘I am pleased that the Careers and Enterprise Company has been asked to spearhead this campaign. In our engagement with businesses, we work with many people wanting to volunteer and help support the next generation.

We hope that this campaign will highlight even more opportunities for people to get involved in a meaningful way to help young people who are in danger of becoming disengaged’.

The new campaign will be led through the Careers and Enterprise Company, which was set up to give young people better access to access to high quality careers education, advice and guidance through more effective employer engagement with schools.

Home Office Ending Gangs Violence Initiative Communities across England are set to benefit from a new national gangs policy, which will set out six priorities to reduce violence and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people by gangs, the Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley announced.

Nine new areas Basildon, Grimsby, Harrow, Hastings/Eastbourne, High Wycombe, Medway, Sefton, Merseyside, Southampton and Swindon will also receive targeted support through the Home Office and experts to better understand the nature of gang-related violence and exploitation, identify opportunities for collaborative working and share effective ways of tackling local challenges.

The new policy, Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation, sets out priorities for Government to deal with reducing violence including knife crime, tackling the abuse of 4

Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley

vulnerable people in the drug trade through county lines, creating opportunities to di-

vert youngsters away from gangs, protecting vulnerable locations, safeguarding girls and

women associated with gangs, and early intervention with at risk youngsters.

Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley said: Gang and youth violence has a devastating impact on young people, their families and local communities.

That’s why today we are providing more targeted support, which will allow local police and authorities to identify how best to address local challenges and identify the right measures to tackle gang-related violence and exploitation.

Our new policy; Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation, sets out the Government’s six key priorities to deal with what drives violence and abuse by gangs and shows the Government’s continued determination to tackle this problem. We want to work in towns across England to make this a success.

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

5

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Health News

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Official end of Ebola outbreak cautiously declared The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the end of the most recent flare-up of Ebola virus disease in Liberia, saying all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa.

The WHO announcement came 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed patient in Liberia tested negative twice for the disease.

It is the first time since the start of the epidemic two years ago that all three of the hardest-hit countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - have reported zero cases for at least 42 days.

Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola transmission on 7 November 2015 and Guinea on 29 December. Liberia was first declared free of Ebola transmission in May 2015, but the virus reappeared twice since then, with the latest flare-up in November.

This largest and most complex Ebola outbreak claimed the lives of more than 11,300 people and infected over 28,500, according to WHO.

“Detecting and breaking every chain of transmission has been a monumental achievement,” said Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and international organizations and generous partners.”

Rick Brennan, Director of WHO Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response said good leadership, community engagement, collaborative efforts from many countries as well as people in Western Africa contribute to the end of the unprecedented Ebola outbreak over last four decades.

“We are appreciating the facts that China deployed a large number of health care providers and public health specialists, they played important roles in treatment of individuals, investigating cases and tracking down contacts,” Brennan told Xinhua.

However, WHO cautioned that the three countries remain at high risk of additional small outbreaks of Ebola, like the most recent one in Liberia.

According to WHO, the job is not over,

Scenes such as this dying man being sprayed with disinfectant while the community in which he lived look on have been commonplace in parts of West Africa for the best part of two years

more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come. To date, 10 such flare-ups have been identified that were not part of the original outbreak, and are likely the result of the virus persisting in survivors even after recovery.

Evidence showed that the virus disappears relatively quickly from survivors, but can remain in the semen of a small number of male survivors for as

long as one year, and in rare instances, be transmitted to intimate partners.

WHO and partners are working with the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to help ensure that survivors have access to medical and psychosocial care and screening for persistent virus, as well as counselling and education to help them reintegrate into family and community life, reduce stigma and minimize the risk of Ebola virus transmission.

A fundamental change to the law will make prioritising lifelong stability for vulnerable children with a loving family a legal requirement, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has confirmed.

lives of our most vulnerable children, making sure they get the opportunities they deserve.

That’s why we are changing the law on adoption to make sure decisions rightly prioritise children’s long-term stability and happiness, so that children are placed with their new family as quickly as possible, helping them fulfil their potential and get the very best start in life.

Children and Families Minister, Edward Timpson, who grew up with 90 fostered brothers and sisters including 2 adopted siblings, said: Every child deserves a loving home and the chance to thrive, and I have seen first-hand the benefits adoption can provide, where it is in a young person’s best interests.

Where adoption is in the best interests of the child, we must make sure they are matched quickly with carers who are right for them - those who can provide love and care for a vulnerable young person until their 18th birthday and into adulthood.

Increased government funding totalling £200 million will also be made available - redoubling efforts to break down bureaucratic barriers in the adoption system which can lead to children waiting in care for months longer than necessary.

Govt. unveils plans to change adoption law

Over the last 2 years, the number of decisions for adoption made by courts and councils has fallen by around 50% almost half. The government has issued important guidance to make clear that where adoption is in the best interests of the child, they must be placed with their new family as soon as possible.

In November, the Prime Minister announced a radical step change to increase the number of children adopted - including the news that the government was considering changing the adoption law to make sure the right decisions are being made - as well as plans to boost regional adoption agencies, allowing councils to merge and cutting the amount of time children spend in care.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: Every single day a child spends waiting in care is a further delay to a life full of love and stability and this simply isn’t good enough.

We have a responsibility to transform the 6

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

7

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Tullow hopes on Ghana project to weather oil shock Tullow Oil has enough money to weather a collapse in oil prices and expects the startup of a major oil project in Ghana this summer to replenish its coffers, it said on Wednesday.

The Africa-focused oil company said it entered 2016 with $1.9 billion in undrawn bank facilities, giving it the option to tap more money if needed, and that it was able to shave another $200 million off its $1.1 billion capital investment budget.

“We make money at $30 a barrel because we have low-cost fields, the question is just how much. Our job is to cut costs,” Tullow Chief Executive Aidan Heavey told Reuters.

Tullow’s balance sheet had been stress tested at $25 a barrel and that even at oil prices at this level the producer had sufficient liquidity to survive, he added.

Oil prices have fallen close to 12year lows, intensifying a decline since mid-2014 due to a global oversupply in crude oil.

This decline meant Tullow booked impairments and exploration write-offs totalling $1.15 billion last year but said it expected full-year gross profit of $600 million on revenue of $1.6 billion.

The company will publish final results on Feb. 10.

Tullow also said net debt was expected to be $4 billion, lower than many analysts had forecast, lifting its shares. Tullow’s stock traded 10 percent higher at 0841 GMT. “Tullow has provided a reassuring operational update and outlook. We believe the company has the financial flexibility in place to fund its capital commitments,” said analysts at Barclays who rate the stock as “overweight”.

Tullow’s TEN project is expected to start producing first oil between July and August, a turning point for the company that marks the end of its major financial commitments.

The TEN startup means Tullow expects 2016 West Africa oil output to average 73,000-80,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), up from 66,000 bopd last year.

Tullow Chief Executive Aidan Heavey

Mobile Phone Access Explodes Across Africa The overwhelming majority of Africans - more than nine in every 10 people - now have access to mobile phones, says a new Afrobarometer survey of the continent’s infrastructure.

The huge growth in the industry means that far more people have access to cellphones than to an electricity grid, paved or tarred roads, piped water or sewerage.

In a press release accompanying its latest report, published in Nairobi on Thursday, Afrobarometer says: “On average across 35 African countries, only about twothirds of citizens live in communities with an electric grid (65 percent) and/or piped water infrastructure (63 percent), and less than one in three have access to sewerage (30 percent).

“More than three times as many have access to cell phone service (93 percent), while about half (54 percent) live in zones with tarred or paved roads.”

The report says that across the continent, “despite some progress, infrastructure remains an enormous challenge. While 8

a few countries have achieved universal coverage for electricity and piped water, and several have made major progress over the past decade, in other countries less than one in five citizens have access to these essential services...

“Sewerage is especially rare... and very little progress has been made over the past decade in expanding access to this service.”

Afrobarometer is Africa’s most comprehensive survey of public experiences and attitudes.

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Arts Culture

Comment

The Corruption and Evil of Employment Scams in Nigeria

By Akintokunbo Adejumo This article has been written in sad response to two recent “employment advertisement” scandals that have involved (or, rather, been repudiated) by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Guaranty Trust Bank respectively. I am particularly annoyed as I sincerely send such job alerts, recruitment adverts, etc. to hundreds of young people in Nigeria I feel that I can help, even though I cannot personally provide jobs for them, or influence their chances of getting jobs; all I can do is make job opportunities accessible to them by informing them of these adverts. I now find myself in the very awkward and uncomfortable situation that I may have been inadvertently sending false recruitment and employment news to these young people. I am sorry.

I have always affirmed that we are a very bad, irredeemably corrupt and evil society (and I remain convinced that is so). See some my articles on this (Nigeriavillagesquare.com and other online and newspaper publications): *A people beyond redemption?; *A Peoples Aversion to the Truth is their Undoing; *Our Own Worst Enemy: The Iniquities of a People; *A Virulent Form of Absurdity: When Society and Politics Go Insane; *A problem with the Truth: Of Certificates and No Certificates; *A Flawed and Vague Sense of Morality and Conscience; *Transforming Ibadan:AStudy in Resistance to Change; etc.

A very wicked people to ourselves!! I don’t know why we are like this. Is it because of the hard times we are going through that has turned us into obtuse, conscienceless monsters; against each other; taking advantage of each other, cutting corners to acquire wealth and power by all means? Or is it in our culture and tradition?

What do these fake news apostles have to gain – money, power, notoriety? Sometimes, money is not even involved, maybe just a warped sense of humour or sadism at its worst.

Apart from being notorious specialists in official and government corruption, we are also known the entire world over as fraudsters and drug smugglers. The foul smell of corruption and crime follow Nigeria’s citizens everywhere we go in the world and show our green passport

or our names.

Now we are gradually becoming notorious for creating and spreading false and fake news to distract and confuse the government and the public in general.

Things were not like this when Nigeria was “good”; when we were growing up with a deep sense and upbringing of decency and morality, as well as the teaching and tenet of “Love – and take good care of - thy neighbour”, up till the 1980’s. What happened to us? Can we get out of this quagmire of hopelessness, poverty, despair, desperation, deceit, deception, insecurity, conscienceless impunity and insensitivity that we have found ourselves trapped in though decades of poor, vision-less and focus-less leadership, exacerbated by dogmatic and blind follower-ship that is leading us every day to the edge of a chasm of bankruptcy and nonnation?

What have we done to ourselves? And we keep praising bad governments (federal and state) and celebrating corrupt politicians, civil servants and selfish, dodgy business moguls?

And queuing behind regional, tribal, religious, political and selfish interests?

Some of us do not see anything wrong in some retarded and murderous opportunists looting and sharing our commonwealth? In fact, we celebrate them and sing their praises to high heaven.

The alarming and shameful thing about this is that even the official government is, was, or has been involved. For example, the Immigration recruitment scam of 2014. And now the fake Federal Government directive asking our young people to troop en masse to federal secretariats to submit their CVs. Whoever thought of such a fraud or fake mass news should be shot! Banks and companies are also involved in denying advertising for recruitment after such adverts have gone viral.

The poor, hopeless, hapless young graduates of Nigeria are the vulnerable victims!

It is a sad fact that in Nigeria of today, the unemployed youth and graduate face an uphill task in surviving in their own country and society. This is mainly due to leadership deficiency which has no clue as to how to solve the problem of unemployment and creating jobs in the country. The evidence are there to see littered all over the national landscape – abandoned factories and moribund infrastructure, while people in government are able to spend money of new, useless and economically unviable projects, just to satisfy their ego, and this is apart from directly stealing money that could have been used to generate or create employment.

Thisiscompoundedbyanoxiousenvironment of inordinate and wicked corruption. Apart from candidates facing discrimination due to their ethnicity, religion and regionalism, they also face bribery and corruption from officials.

It is a well-known fact that many government agencies, institution, ministries and departments actually demand huge sums of money from candidates in order to be employed. The same also obtains in some banks, industrial companies and even private employers all over Nigeria. Also, these employers are known to have asked candidates to buy employment

application forms, and these include federal and state governments (Shame!). Female applicants are even more vulnerable as they sometimes have to succumb to sexual demands in order to secure employment. Shame on all those degenerate old men !

In many cases, it is the existing staff of these organisations that benefit, as they corner the application forms and procedures and inform only their family members or friends.

Nepotism and corruption go together. I learnt that in a particular case with the Civil Service Commission employment exercise, where candidates were asked to apply online, parts of the forms did not even exist or could not be downloaded, but the real forms were known only to existing senior staff to direct to their friends’ children and their own families. I am not even going to write about the notorious Immigration scam that led to several deaths sometime in 2014. It is happening in all government departments and agencies. It is impossible for one to be employed in most government – federal, state and local - positions nowadays unless you know somebody or you are ready to bribe or grant sexual favours.

And of course, many jobs in government are never advertised; the senior staff just hand employment letters to their own family and friends.

This is not a cause to be making humour of.

It is pure wickedness, evil and is a reflection of our depravity and moral decadence; our downward spiral as a people and society. It is man’s inhumanity against man.

So what solutions do we have to overcome this problem, which is getting worse by the day?

The government must not only intervene but our orientation, mind-set, moral perception need to change or we are doomed. It must be a collective effort to start fighting this evil perpetration on our youth.

There must be a viable, enforceable employment laws, regulations and bye-laws. The governments must create jobs and make employment accessible to all, free of charge and without discrimination to all Nigerians. Of course, governments must also create environment for self-employment as it cannot employ everybody, nor is it a good idea for any government to employ everybody anyway.

The government must also NOT be the largest employer of labour, and so it must start shedding and diversifying its operations, e.g. outsourcing, public private partnerships (PPP), etc. It is directly because in Nigeria, the governments are the largest employer of labour that we have the largest incidences and levels of corruption in government – everybody wants to work in government to access the loot.

My suggestions are by no means exhaustive.

9

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Arts

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

By Edward Mirza

WEST AFRICA: WORD, SYMBOL, SONG AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY Now – February 16th, 2016

An exhibition of literature and music – from the great African empires of the Middle Ages to the cultural dynamism of West Africa today.

Fascinating stories from the region’s 17 nations show how West Africans have harnessed the power of words to build societies, drive political movements, sustain religious belief and fight injustice.

Beautiful manuscripts, historic film and sound recordings, books, photographs, and woven and printed textiles offer a unique insight into a profound and engaging literary culture with centuries-old written heritage existing alongside ancient oral traditions.

Hear the myth of the founding of ancient Mali in recorded performance. See the influence of religion through colourful fabric and a saddlebag Qur’an. Celebrate writers and artists including Africa’s first Nobel prize winner, Wole Soyinka, and internationally acclaimed musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti.

British Library, 96, Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB

KINKY BOOTS Now – May 28th 2016

The UK première of Kinky Boots, Broadway’s huge-hearted, high-heeled hit opens at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 15 September 2015, with previews from 21 August.

With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), and songs

by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

The Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0NS

ROBIN HOOD Dec 5 - Jan 23, 2016

Join Theatre Royal Stratford East this Christmas for lots of laughter, brand new songs and a sack full of festive fun in this dazzling new version of the classic tale 10

brought to you by our Olivier Awardnominated team.

Robin Hood, the prince of thieves is on a mission! Join him and his swashbuckling merry band of men as they get robbin’ the rich to feed the poor. Along the way they must undertake a quest to save good King Richard and the poor people of StratEastHam from the evil Prince John who is plotting to steal the crown. Will Robin and his motley crew save the day? Or will the feisty and fearless Maid Marion (and her devoted Nurse) get there first? And just what is the secret Marion is hiding?

The perfect Christmas treat for children of all ages, this action-packed panto features a whole host of magical surprises and plenty of joining in… oh yes it does!

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN .

THE ROLLING STONE Jan 14 - February 20, 2016

Dembe and Sam have been seeing each other for a while. They should be wondering where this is going and when to introduce each other to their families. But they’re gay and this is Uganda. The consequences of their relationship being discovered will be explosive. Especially for Dembe, whose brother goes into the pulpit each week to denounce the evils of one man loving another.

The Rolling Stone was the winner of a Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2013 and first premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in April 2015 to critical acclaim. Chris Urch’s plays include Land of Our Fathers (Theatre503/Trafalgar Studios).

The Orange Tree Theatre1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2SA

THRILLER - LIVE Now - April 17, 2016

Thriller - Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world’s greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael and the Jackson 5, is celebrating its 2,000th West End performance on Thursday October 24.

Smashing all previous records at the Lyric Theatre, where it recently celebrated becoming the longest-running production in the theatre’s 125-year history, Thriller - Live first moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. It has just extended its West End booking period to Sunday 28 September, 2014 Several world tours have seen the show play to acclaim in 26 countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Singapore, South Africa, China, Sweden, Finland and Norway, Japan and Brazil.

More than 1 million people have seen

Kinky Boots - at The Adelphi Theatre

the show at the Lyric Theatre and more than 2.5million people have seen the show worldwide.

Unlike other West End productions, Thriller - Live is not a rigid book musical with set songs, but is a constantly evolving music concert celebration. When Michael Jackson died, the Lyric theatre became a focus for fans from all over the world, who created a massive shrine of flowers, candles, and tributes. More than 40 books of condolence were signed in the foyer then sent to the Jackson family. A year after his death, a permanent West End memorial to Michael was unveiled in the theatre foyer. Thriller - Live brings to life on stage the distinctive high-energy dancing and pulsating sound of many of pop’s greatest hits, blending eye-popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd.

The show has regularly been updated with additional songs, new visuals and choreography.

Thriller - Live was originally conceived and created by Adrian Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author of Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary. Thriller - Live is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.

Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7ES

NINE LIVES BY ZODWA NYONI NATIONAL TOUR Now - Jan 2016 Presented by Leeds Studio in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where a fresh wave of homophobia threatens his life, Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK. Dispersed to Leeds, Ishmael waits to hear his fate, he waits for a new life to begin amongst strangers. Strangers who don’t trust him and don’t want him there.

But not everyone is bad… can he find a place to call home again?

Some of us wanted to stop being afraid.

Some of us wanted to find ourselves.

Some of us wanted to belong.

Zodwa Nyoni (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Channel 4 Writer in Residence 2014) threads together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines.

16 November 2015 Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford 19 November 2015 Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees 10 December 2015 Brighton, Brighton January 2016 Arcola, London

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Culture

The Rise of Afrobeats in Current Popular Music Culture

By Michaela Brown The new sound of the UK underground scene has now secured its place firmly into popular culture.

So much is its impact that it’s now sparking the interests of the US and global music markets.

It stems from the musical stylings of Afrobeat (the ‘s’ was added by UK DJ Abrantee to reflect the difference in the younger funkier beat).

Groups such as the London Afrobeat Collective are championing the more traditional sound of Africa through instrumentals, but Afrobeats is the new en-trend music genre for the younger generation, who were brought up on the sounds of Hip-Hop, Funky House and Dancehall.

Its popularity is most obviously reflected in its chart success – with D’Banj’s 2012 hit, ‘Oliver Twist’, being the first Afrobeats single to make it into the top 10 of the UK charts.

Off the back of D’Banj’s achievements, other Afrobeats artists have joined the scene and also shared in his chart success the most mainstream being: Fuse ODG, P Square and OMI. Afrobeats owes its systematic rise, in part, to the radio DJs of BBC 1xtra and Capital Xtra in particular. They’ve championed the genre and continue to do so, as it showcases the vibrance, youth and liveliness of their listeners and incidentally of the African culture as a whole. Portraying Africa in a positive light and uniting the African nations, which were previously hugely under represented in mainstream music.

The Afrobeats culture is going from strength to strength, and appears unwaning. As BBC 1xtra’s DJ Edu states ‘Afrobeats is here to stay: it originates from the heart of the challenges that face the continent and, in breaking boundaries, is uniting Africa like never before’.

Afrobeats is integral to the changing face of Africa, as a proud and culturally enriched nation. It can only be positive that the western world is now embracing that through music.

D’Banj

WOW - Women of The World Festival at the South Bank Centre

Participants in WOW - the Women of The World Festival at the South Bank

Tackling topics from the deeply serious to the seriously funny, Southbank Centre’s WOW – Women of the World festival celebrates women and girls and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential.

Hear from outstanding thought leaders, trailblazers, activists and innovators, and join the debate on wide-reaching topics from body image, sex, women in business, refugees and criminal justice, to transgender, race, disability and childcare.

Returning for its sixth year, the week-long WOW festival takes place in the week of International Women’s Day (8 March) and features over 150 events, including talks, debates, live music, comedy, workshops, our smash-hit WOW Speed Mentoring and the WOW Market.

Feed your mind, nourish your soul and quench your thirst for knowledge, change and ideas.

Takes place between Tuesday 8 March 2016 - Sunday 13 March 2016 11

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

News

Tunisia

Resignations drop coalition leaders behind opposition

Moderate Islamist party Ennahda has become the largest in Tunisia’s parliament after several MPs of the secular Nidaa Tounes party resigned.

Seventeen Nidaa Tounes MPs vacated their seats last week in a row over the role of President Caid Essebsi’s son in the party, and 11 more MPs followed suit on Monday. The new resignations left the party with 58 seats out of a 217member congress. Ennahda retains 69 seats.

Ennahda’s new majority will not immediately cause any drastic changes to the current government, which is a coalition that includes the Islamist party and Nidaa Tounes.

President Essebsi’s centre-left Nidaa Tounes party has been been riven by months of infighting, with the party’s former general secretary Mohsen Marzouk accusing Hefedh Caid Essebsi, the president’s son, of attempting a power grab.

After Hafedh was appointed as the legal representative and the new general secretary of the party’s central committee, critics feared a hereditary power transfer and a return to the days of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Béji and Hafedh Caïd Essebsi

The party has been split for months between support for Marzouk, a founding member, and the president’s son. Marzouk resigned in late December, and has said he will form a new Tunisian political party.

During a conference in Sousse on Sunday, Nidaa Tounes extended a warm welcome to the leader of the

rival Ennahda party, Rachid Ghannoushi. The conference came just days after a major reshuffle saw top cabinet posts like interior and foreign minister reassigned.

During the conference, Ghannoushi’s seven-minute speech was interrupted by applause from the delegates on 17 separate occasions.

Zimbabwe: President Well, Fine Government has dismissed a false report by a dubious online publication, ZimEye, that President Mugabe collapsed and died while in the Far East where he is on his annual leave.

The website published the story under the headline: “Rumour rips CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) that Mugabe has collapsed”.

Presidential spokesperson and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba said the false rumours about President Mugabe’s alleged death had become a usual chorus every January whenever he is on his annual leave.

“You can doubt that there can be a New Year, but you cannot doubt that there will be a story on the President’s alleged death every January,” he said.

“This is the way the website seeks to improve its hits in order to get dirty money from Google. There is a financial incentive to the grim lie.

12

In his speech, Ghannoushi praised Essebsi, giving his support to the leader’s “politics of concord”.

“I am happy to see a strong, united Nidaa Tounes, and I am sure that President Caid Essebsi is also happy to see a strong, united Ennahda,” he added.

Nidaa Tounes was founded in 2012 in response to the Ennahda party taking power in the post-revolution parliament.

The centre-left party is a secular alliance made up of leftists, nationalists and former members of Ben Ali’s government.

It gained a majority in parliament in 2014, when Essebsi became president.

Tunisia’s democratic transition following the 2011 Arab uprisings has largely been a success story, with the country adopting a progressive constitution in January 2014.

However, Tunisia has also faced sporadic attacks by hardline militants, including a bloody attack on the resort town of Sousse that killed 38 people, 30 of them British tourists. Thousands of young Tunisians have joined militant groups including Islamic State to fight in Syria and Libya.

The country has also struggled to revive the economy and provide work opportunities - particularly for its young people, who ignited the 2011 revolution that toppled Ben Ali largely based on economic disenfranchisement.

Egypt to spend $32M on tourist security

The Egyptian government will spend $32 million to upgrade security in two Red Sea resorts popular with foreign tourists in the wake of recent attacks on hotels and the suspected terror bombing of a Russian airliner, the tourism minister said Thursday.

President Mugabe

“Government is exploring mechanisms for dealing with such extra territorial mischief. These websites ride on carriers, don’t they?”

Some people picked the hoax that first appeared on the ZimEye website and started circulating it on social media.

The ZimEye website that is known for fabricating stories, published the story under the pretext of a letter to the editor by one of their readers.

Online media reports yesterday claimed that a South African radio station also picked up the false story and ran it before retracting it and apologising.

The move is designed to restore confidence in the safety of the country’s tourist attractions. According to the minister, Hisham Zaazou, the plan is to expand the use of security cameras, scanning and detection equipment and sniffer dogs in the towns of Sharm elSheikh and Hurghada.

Additional security personnel will also be deployed there, he said.

“The security of visitors to Egypt remains our highest priority,” Zaazou said in a statement. “I believe that these new measures will further add to the security of our resorts while not being intrusive to tourists so they can get on with enjoying their holidays.”

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Germany

Merkel lifts deportation restrictions following sex attacks

German chancellor Angela Merkel has relaxed restrictions on deporting foreign criminals after an unprecedented wave of mob sex assaults in Cologne and other cities.

On Tuesday (January 12) the Justice Ministry announced new measures to allow it to more easily deport migrants found guilty of crimes causing death or serious injury, sexual or physical assaults or resisting police officers. Previously, migrants to Germany could be deported only if they were found guilty of crimes punishable by a sentence of one year or more.

Large numbers of women reported being sexually assaulted or robbed by gangs of men of Arab or North African appearance during celebrations in Cologne’s city centre on New Year’s Eve. A police spokesperson said there had been 553 criminal complaints stemming from that night, about 40% of which relate to sexual assaults.

At least 31 people, most from North African or Middle Eastern countries, have been charged so far over the attacks, police say. Of those, 18 have been identified as asylum seekers. Other European cities reported a similar slew of sex crime reports

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

on New Year’s Eve. The assaults have fuelled the already heated debate over immigration in Germany, which has taken in the bulk of migrants, creating a crisis on Europe’s borders and sparking furious protests around the country. A rally organized by a chapter of anti-Muslim organization PEGIDA saw protesters march through the streets of Leipzig, a city in eastern Germany, on

Monday night, blaming the sex assaults on migrants.

Some chanted “Deport them!” while others waved signs demanding that refugees be sent home. “Rapefugees not welcome,” read one banner, which showed a silhouette of a woman running from a mob. Another sign read “Islamists not welcome,” while yet another depicted Chancellor Merkel being groped.

A Leipzig police spokeswoman told TV news reporters that police had surrounded at least 250 right-wing extremists after some local businesses were ransacked.

Many wore face masks to shield their identity, which is against the law in Germany, she said.

Nearby, counter-demonstrators came out in force to show their support for the refugees. One banner read, “Willkommen in Leipzig” -- Welcome to Leipzig.

The protests took place as police in neighbouring Austria revealed that Germany has been sending an increasing number of migrants back to Austria after the attacks, most of them from North African countries.

David Furtner, a spokesman for the Upper Austria Federal Police, said that since December, Austria and Germany had had a “memorandum of understanding” that they would turn back a maximum of 60 migrants per day. But since the start of the year, the number of migrants turned back had increased to up to 200 a day.

He said that only a small number of Syrians were among those turned back, with the majority hailing from Algeria or Morocco, and some from Afghanistan.

Turkey

At least ten dead in suspected suicide bomb attack

An explosion in the heart of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet tourist district killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 on Tuesday with some local media reports saying a suicide bomber may have been responsible.

Several bodies lay on the ground in the Sultanahmet square, close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, a major tourist area of Turkey’s most populous city. A police officer and witness at the scene reported also seeing several bodies and body parts.

The Istanbul governor’s office said authorities were investigating the type of explosive used and who might have been responsible for the attack. It said 10 people were killed and 15 wounded but gave no further details. Foreign tourists from Germany and Norway were among those wounded, Turkey’s CNN Turk television said.

An official from one tour company, who declined to be identified told Reuters that a tourist group from Germany was in the area at the time of the blast, but it was unclear whether any of them had been hurt.

“The explosion was very loud. We shook a lot. We ran out and saw body parts,” one woman who works at a nearby antiques

Emergency workers inspect the carnage following a suspected suicide bomb attack in the centre of Istanbul

store told Reuters, declining to give her name. Turkey’s AHaber television said the blast may have been caused by a suicide bomber but this was not independently confirmed.

Melbourne businesswoman Mikala James and her father were in the streets of Istanbul, en route to Sultanahmet Square, when the bomb went off.

“We heard the explosion and then there was a chill in the air,” Ms James said.

“Dad said to me it sounded like a building demolition but I’d never heard a sound like that before.”

Ms James said they were on their way to a meeting at the Sultanahmet Square district, which is often crowded with locals and tourists visiting monuments.

Her father, Brian, said it was sheer luck that they stopped at a cafe and were running behind schedule.

“We thank our lucky stars, otherwise we would have been right in the middle of it,” he said.

“It’s a beautiful, friendly city with magnificent people, but everyone is on edge this morning.”

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held an emergency meeting in Ankara with the interior minister and security chiefs. A senior official said “terrorist links” were suspected in the attack, but declined to comment further.

Just over a year ago, a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a police station for tourists off the same square, killing one

officer and wounding another. That attack was initially claimed by a far-left group, but officials later said it had been perpetrated by a woman with suspected Islamist militant links.

Turkey has become a target for Islamic State, with two bombings last year blamed on the radical Sunni Muslim group, in the town of Suruc near the Syrian border and in the capital Ankara, the latter killing more than 100 people.

Violence has also escalated in the mainly Kurdish southeast since a two-year ceasefire collapsed in July between the state and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has been fighting for three decades for Kurdish autonomy.

The PKK has however generally avoided attacking civilian targets in urban centres outside the southeast in recent years.

“Ambulances started rushing in and I knew it was a bomb right away because the same thing happened here last year,” said Ali Ibrahim Peltek, 40, who operates a kiosk selling snacks and drinks on the square.

“This is not good for Turkey but everyone was expecting a terrorist attack,” he said.

Mr Davutoglu’s office imposed a broadcasting ban on the blast, invoking a law which allows for such steps when there is the potential for serious harm to national security or public order.

13

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

CRIME

Men jailed under Counter Terrorism Act

Two men have been jailed for breaching notification requirements under the Counter Terrorism Act.

Trevor Brooks, 40 of Clapton, E5 and Simon Keeler, 44 of Shadwell, E1 were both sentenced to two years imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, 8 January.

The pair had previously pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 27 November 2015 to breaches of notification requirements under Part 4 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008.

On 15 November 2015, Keeler and Brooks were detained by authorities in Hungary, close to the Romanian border.

UK authorities were notified of their detention and after further enquiries officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) established that they had left the UK six days earlier on

Heathrow Airport and charged.

Detective Chief Superintendent Terri

Nicholson, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), said: “Keeler and Brooks both left the UK and trav-

elled together across Europe without

notifying police, which they’re required to do under notification requirements.

They’re yet to give us any indication as

to why they left the UK and were travelling across Hungary, although clearly

our concern is that they may have been trying to get to Syria.

“We will continue to investigate and

Trevor Brooks and Simon Keeler

9 November 2015 - thus being in breach of notification requirements, which requires them to notify authorities in the UK if they are planning to leave the UK for more than 72 hours.

if we find any evidence of further ofOfficers subsequently applied for a European Arrest Warrant, which was granted, and both men were extradited back to the UK on 26 November 2015; they were arrested upon their return at

fences, then we will look to prosecute.

“This case shows that cooperation

across European authorities is working and I would like to thank our colleagues

in Hungary for their assistance in helping us to bring these men to justice.”

Man jailed for fatal Lambeth shooting

A man who armed himself with a gun and shot dead another man following a trivial dispute in Lambeth has been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder today, Wednesday, 13 January.

The Old Bailey heard how Shaden Cadette, 23 of Marcella Road, SW9 armed himself with a gun and ammunition and shot the victim Ogarra Dixon, 24, of Brixton on Tuesday, 16 June, 2015.

The two met in Marcella Road, SW9 and following a brief altercation, Cadette produced a gun and aimed it at Ogarra.

Upon seeing the gun, Ogarra fled the scene, managing to narrowly avoid the first shot fired. The second shot however proved fatal, striking him in the back as he ran. Ogarra managed to continue for some time before collapsing in Marcella Road, Brixton.

Police were called at 00:48hrs on 17 June 2015 to reports of a seriously injured man at Kings College Hospital.

The man - identified as Ogarra - was pronounced dead at 01:25hrs.

A post-mortem examination held at Greenwich Mortuary on 18 June 2015 found the cause of death to be a gun14

Jailed Shaden Cadette

shot wound to the chest.

Enquiries would later establish that

Ogarra was driven to hospital in his own car by three men.

Cadette was identified through extensive CCTV enquiries before being traced at a hotel next to Heathrow Airport where he was arrested on 26 June 2015 by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

Despite his refusal to cooperate with the investigation and answer any questions, the CCTV and forensic evidence against Cadette proved overwhelming.

Detective Chief Inspector Will Reynolds, who led the investigation, said: “I am pleased that justice has been done today. Cadette did what he could to thwart the investigation and may have even been planning to flee the country as he was caught hiding in a hotel next to Heathrow. Although he has never revealed what sparked this fatal confrontation, it is believed to be a petty dispute which has escalated and led to Ogarra’s untimely death.

“This case serves as a reminder of the havoc and misery gun crime can bring to the capital’s streets. I hope today’s verdict goes some small way to helping Ogarra’s family and loved ones move on from this awful episode. I would like to thank those who came forward and provided information.”

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Sounds of Diaspora People of America

‘Celebrity’ hot heads clash in war of tweets

Farrah Abraham has taken her social media war with Nicki Minaj to the next level, as the Teen Mom star shared a video of her six-year-old daughter Sophia calling the rapper a ‘loser’.

British TV viewers may remember Farrah Abrahams as the highly volatile former housemate whose spat with an equally culpable (and talent-free) guest on Celebrity Big Brother’s live spin-off last year caused it to be shut down.

Just days after Minaj, 33, and the reality TV regular, 24, had a blazing row over social media, a video of Sophia has appeared online - with the youngster slamming Nicki for her behaviour.

In the four minute clip posted to her own account on Monday, and shared by Farrah, the youngster can be heard saying: ‘Hi everybody, Nicki Minaj is a total loser.’

Following a series of exchanges, in which Nicki blasted the Teen Mom stalwart for being a ‘c***’ to her mother, Sophia has fired the latest shot in the war of words between the MC and her mother.

Appearing to hold the camera herself, Sophia can be seen chatting away in the short clip with a text banner beneath her reading, ‘Nicki Minaj don’t say bad WORDS, I don’t.’

The text is a possibly a direct reference to her expletive-filled row with Farrah, which erupted after the Super Bass rapper slammed the MTV star for her behaviour on the latest series of Teen Mom OG. However, Farrah went on the defensive and responded to Nicki, writing: “Cause your a parent right? Your videos look like porn Horrible good luck being negative #Godbless busy making TV.” Minaj responded:”Your mother didn’t open her legs and have that child,” adding, “Be happy she’s helping! Stop talking to her like that on tv u lil c--t @F1abraham.”

She followed it up by writing, “In your case #BIGC--T.” In response, the reality star took to both her Instagram and Twitter pages to fire back at Minaj.

Destiny fulfilled for London worshippers

Minaj (left) and Abraham – next stop Madison Square Garden broadcast on Pay-Per-View?

“Some people should just shut up,” Abraham captioned an Instagram snap of Minaj’s tweets. “Like they see all the footage — like their parents — Like I care about their negativity #godbless busy making tv.”

She also defended herself on Twitter, telling Minaj to stop watching Teen Mom OG reruns and go to church. Abraham even retweeted one of Minaj’s tweets.

“To be clear my mom doesn’t help me I help her,” the Teen Mom OG star wrote.

“I love & care for my mom. Stop disgusting talk @NICKIMINAJ.” The first episode of the show included a clip of Farrah attacking her mother over her parenting, as she prepared to leave her daughter in her care for a month. It was filmed last year, before Farrah jetted to the UK to take part in Celebrity Big Brother.

The congregation at Ruach City Church in north-west London received an unexpected treat last week when Michelle Williams, who some may recall as ‘the other’ Destiny’s Child, returned to perform at the place she chose to worship while starring in the West End musical Chicago five years ago.

Hundreds of members of the Church gathered at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn High Road on Sunday for an evening of prayer and performances at the church’s first “Super Sunday”.

Gospel singer Williams, who attended Ruach in 2011 when she starred as Roxie Hart in the West End show, sang her spiritual hit Say Yes, as well as tracks from her new album, Journey to Freedom. She said how she loved her time at Ruach, enjoying the worship, the preaching and the fact that members respected her privacy by not approaching her to take photos.

After joining church founder Bishop Francis in wishing everyone in the congregation a happy new year, Ms Williams said: “Tonight was one of the best experiences of my life! Thank you Bishop Francis for having me at Ruach City Church Super Sunday”.

Michelle is hot stuff in Gospel at the moment due to the success of When Jesus Says Yes. The hit featured on her third Gospel album, Journey to Freedom.

The song was brought to Michelle’s attention by producer Harmony ‘H-Money’

Michelle Williams, one third of the most successful girl group of the noughties, elected to pursue a solo career singing Gospel music

Samuels, a British Nigerian who now lives and works in the US. She recalled: “When I did When Jesus Says Yes, everybody that follows me from Africa let me know that it was an African song. People even accused me of stealing the song!!!

“I was like ‘no’, the producer Harmony Samuels, heard the song all the time growing up and said ‘Michelle there’s a song we used to do called When Jesus Says Yes’.

“When he started singing the song there was something sweet about it. The song is so simple yet powerful. It’s such a life declaration. And so I had to do the song.”

Although Ms Williams eschewed the raunchy side of the music industry that brought he Destiny’s Child ‘sisters’ so much success; electing instead to follow the Gospel path, she remains on good terms with Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, who both make guest appearances on Journey to Freedom.

15

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Gospel

YOU’VE CROSSED OVER TO YOUR SEASON OF GREATER EXPLOITS! PART 1

By Michael Adekoya

Bible says, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.” (Isaiah 2:2)

Dear Readers, we serve a God of time and seasons and He makes all things beautiful in its time (Eccl. 3:11). So, understanding of the time in which we live now and knowing what to do, like the Sons of Issachar (1 Chro 12:32), is what put us in command of the beauty of the time we crossed to this year. As a church – children of God - we are in glorious days. My friend, remember that the church is not the building where we meet on Sundays or on weekdays. The church is people – you, me and all the believers of Jesus Christ – people who are born again, separated unto God and redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. We are God’s people!

So, the glorious days of the Church are the glorious days of the sons and daughters of God. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19). My friend, we are living in that day now! I pray that God will open your heart to believe this revelation.

Listen to Isaiah’s prophecy for us in these last days: “He (God) has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour have come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

To all who mourn, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations” (Isa 61:2-4). My friend, did you hear that?

Isaiah went further to say, “Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards” (Isa 61:5). That means the people you don’t even know will serve you.” You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God” (Isa 61:6). That means God is now set and He has started to change the status of His people supernaturally. All things are ready! God is ready to decorate His people. He’ll make us men and women of influence on earth under the falling latter rain everywhere today.

The prophesy goes further to say, “You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches (the wealth of the Gentiles is coming your way).

Instead of shame and dishonour, you will enjoy a double share of honour. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isa 61:6-7). My friend, your season of extra measure of harvest has begun. It’s the season of double of what you ask from God. God says, “For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward My people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honoured among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord, their God, has blessed.” (Isa 61:8-9). My friend, we are in the glorious days of the church under the latter rain in these last days. The rain is falling. Don’t be left out!

Listen to what God is saying to us today through Prophet Joel, “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things! Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you— the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.”

(Joel 2:21-24). We have crossed over to the season of more than enough. No more shall you lack good things (Psa 34:10) God says, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people, shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of you: I am the Lord, your God and there is no other. My people shall

­­

Are you looking for a church?

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue School, Park Hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches Worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants Club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus Fellowship

16

Worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), Park Royal Business Centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

never be put to shame.” (Joel 2:25-27). My friend, these are what make this latter days the glorious days of the exalted church – you, me and all Christians.

We are now in the latter days and the latter rain is our access to the glorious days which we’ve now crossed over to. This year 2016 begins the glorious years of sons and daughters of God, and that includes you. We have now entered our season of glittering, gorgeousness and of highest values. My friend, God has agenda for the last days saints. He has an agenda for your life, family, career and nation. You are in the greatest season of opportunities.

This season of uncertainty in the world is your glorious hours of opportunities. You need divine eyes to see it. This time of darkness and gloominess is your greatest time to “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” (Isa 60:1). God says, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa 60:2-3). What a promise! It’s yours. Believe it and claim it.

God says, “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters will be carried home. Your eyes will shine. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because merchants from around the world will come to you and the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.” (Isa 60:4-6). My friend, these last days is the Church days – our days. God has ordained us into a position of authority and influence in these last days! Nations will hear our voice and obey!

Concerning this last days, Prophet Malachi prophesied, “Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him

a Bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel Church - Battersea Chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater Farm Centre, Adams Road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” (Mal 3:1618). My friend, can God says a word that will not come to pass? It’s time to believe and act on what we believe.

Prophet Joel went on to say, “Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the Lord of hosts.” (Mal 4:1-3). Did you hear that? This is the time to say we are lifted up when people of the world say they are cast down and melt down.

Prophet Joel says, “Behold, the day is coming!” My friend, I’m glad to announce to you that the day has come. We are now in the glorious season of the Church. All the proud and wicked people are now being exposed and stumbling. And the days ahead will leave them neither root nor branch. Listen! Europe said, “Who is God and where is He?” Today, they are faced with all kinds of crises and dead churches. Thank God for the revival that He is doing today in Europe through the immigrants (legal and illegal) from Africa, South America and Asia. God is good!

My friend, hear me! We are not in an ordinary time but in the time of prophetic season. The Church has crossed over Jordan for glorious seasons. Anyone who can divinely see, will position Himself for the power and authority of God, for signs and wonders of God, for the miracles and blessings of God, for the salvation of lost and dying souls in multitudes as we go out to witness the love, grace and forgiveness of God to people – our loved ones and those in our streets and communities. This is the season greater exploits for the Church. Your glorious days have begun. …to be continued.

Remain blessed!

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan Way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forth-

nightly 12am Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners’ Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at 1 Churchill Close, Green Street, Green Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1QE meets Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm.

For details call: 01322 292097 Christ Apostolic Church, Surrey Docks District, Solution Centre, 47-47 High Street, Swancombe, Kent, DA10 0DA Tel: 07956 38 38 70 Time of worship: Wednesday Bible study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Africa Newsround

Kenya

Churches vow to fight registration Evangelical churches in Kenya have condemned the government’s plans to streamline the country’s religious organizations.

Clerical leadership gathered in the capital, Nairobi, on Monday, vowing to fight what they called an “attack” on the church, according to local media.

“The church in Kenya is under attack,” Evangelical Alliance of Kenya chairman Bishop Mark Kariuki told Capital FM, a privately-owned Kenyan radio station.

“Yes, it is under persecution.”

The proposed regulations require all religious bodies to register and submit their statements of faith to a state-run agency for examination.

Preachers must also undergo theological training. The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya said the move is aimed at curbing the growth of evangelical churches. Kariuki said the organization, which represents 38,000 churches and as many as 10 million Christians in Kenya, is planning to collect three million signatures to block the attorney-general from signing the proposals into law.

Bishop Mark Kariuki

“Registration of churches was stopped since 2014. We believe this is meant to stop evangelism and growth of the church since other societies are being

registered freely,” Kariuki told Daily Nation, a privately-owned newspaper.

“Preachers are worshippers before they are preachers and all the worshippers

have voters’ cards. 2017 is very close and we will not hesitate to use those cards.”

The vast majority of Kenyans are Christians, while Muslims are the second-largest religious group. The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims also opposed the regulations, saying they were developed and proposed without consulting all relevant stakeholders.

“The regulations risk violating freedom of worship and amount to a clampdown on religious institutions.

This will be against the constitution.

The [attorney-general] should halt the implementation of the regulations,” the council’s secretary-general Adan Wachu said in a statement.

However, some religious leaders welcomed the proposed regulations.

Bishop Beneah Salah of the Anglican Church of Kenya said government intervention was needed to end the “commercialization” of religion.

“Horrible things are happening in the church today. There is a lot of commercialization of the gospel with this prosperity gospel.” Salah told reporters on Monday.

Gambia

Jammeh accused of plot to fix poll Claims have emerged that Gambia’s dictator Yahya Jammeh has already embarked on a strategy to rig the country’s 2016 Presidential elections.

Accoding to Freedom newspaper, over fifty thousand Gambian ID cards have been issued to non-Gambians residing in the country by the Immigration Department.

The alleged goal is to ensure that the nonGambians, who are mainly from neighbouring Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea Bissau, will be able to acquire a voter’s card during the Supplementary Registration of Voters due later this year. NonGambians who acquire a Gambian ID Card are well on the pathway to Gambian citizenship. The ID card cannot be scrutinized or contested when presented at the Independent Electoral Commission Centres during the issuing of voters’ cards.

A senior Immigration officer stationed at the Banjul HQ allegedly told Freedom newspaper that the directive to issue ID cards to non-Gambians came from dictator Yahya Jammeh. He said the Department has been in-

Gambia’s controversial dictator Yahya Jammeh

structed by Jammeh to issue ID cards to West African migrants residing in the country.

“We have so far issued over fifty thousand voters cards to non-Gambians. We even issue IDs to refugees residing in refugee camps.

The goal is to pave the way for Jammeh to

win the coming elections. The issuance of ID cards to non-Gambians is still ongoing.

Our personnel travel to communities even at night to issue IDs to foreigners. Casamance natives constitute the greater percentage of those benefiting from the free ID card issu-

ance,” the source is reported to have said.

“The President has given directive for the Department to stop using the Biometric ID cards. He wants to rig the elections. The laminated paper ID is easy to forge compared to the Biometric ID. There is no proper accountability of the laminated paper ID. Some of our records are hardly retained. But with the Biometric ID, we have the fingerprints of the applicants and their contact details.

“The international community is being placed on notice that an illegal issuance of ID cards to non-Gambians is currently ongoing in this country. Such practices will no doubt undermine the freeness and fairness of the elections. This is not the first time that such an illegality has been taking place here. But we never had such a magnitude of ID card issuance to non-Gambians,” he added, ending: “Interior Minister Ousman Sonko oversees the activities of the Immigration Department. Mr. Sonko has been working with the dictator to ensure that non-Gambians are issued with IDs before the Supplementary Registration of Voters.”

17

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Nigerian News

We Have Successfully Prioritized Education Development – Aregbesola As he Commissions N140m State-of-the-art Elementary School in the State The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the good people of the state of his administration’s commitment towards the provision of functional, quality, qualitative and effective education in the state.

In view of the worrisome economic situation in Nigeria and the state in particular, Governor Aregbesola said one of the ways to liberate the nation out of her present situation was to invest its little resources on her citizens through the provision of an interruptedstandard western education as it remains the sustainable legacy for every child.

Governor Aregbesola stated this while commissioning Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School, Osogbo.

The school which was named after the former military administrator, Retired Navy/ Captain Anthony Udofia was metarmophosed from Anthony Udofia Model School to Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School.

Governor Aregbesola who described the provision of functional basic education as an unavoidable duty and responsibility owed by every serious government, said his administration has prioritized education based on the premises of its understanding that any child with a good elementary school foundation will have no problem making progress educationally.

Aregbesola expressed satisfaction in the fact that his administration has been able to record tremendous achievements and accolade locally and internationally in educational sector, adding that he had elevated the state to the extent that the state can presently boast of having public schools that can compete with the best in the world.

He said his administration since inception has been putting together necessary efforts towards the actualization and fulfillment of its electoral campaign promises not only on education but in all other sectors of the economy as these notions had been successfully initiated, enunciated and implemented.

Aregbesola said his government having identified basic education as a fundamental and inalienable right of every child, decided to invest huge parts of its resources with the sole foresight that it remains the bedrock for sustainable development.

He stressed further that a good basic education fulfills the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write, saying it remains a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon.

Enumerating his landmark achievements, Governor Aregbesola recounts that his administration has commenced the building of 100 Elementary schools across the state in a bid to domesticate and harmonize elementary public school in every neighbourhood.

18

He said, “Elementary school is the basic of the basic education. Any child with a good elementary school foundation will have no problem making progress educationally, other things being equal.

“We are building 100 Elementary schools like this across the state; though this is ambitious, the idea behind it is that there should be an elementary public school in every neighbourhood.

Speaking on the amount being expended by his administration on the new edifice, Governor Aregbesola disclosed that his government spent N140 million for the structure, furnishing and landscape, saying his government was satisfied in the fact that “being in this school gives the satisfaction of being in the proper environment of learning.

“We have made education development the priority of our administration. As you are mostly aware, these schools and other innovations are the products of the educational summit we held immediately after my inauguration.

“The complex we are in is a 960-pupil capacity school with 24 classrooms of 40 pupils each, with further capacity for upgrade to 1,000. It has an ICT room, a library, multipurpose hall, 29 toilets, offices for headmaster, facility manager, staff room, food court, sick bay, security/reception office and a water fountain for aesthetics.

“I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here.

“All these are in fulfillment of our promise to provide functional basic education for the pupils in the state.

“This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education. It is a fundamental and inalienable right of every child.

“A good basic education fulfills the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write and is a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon”, Aregbesola stated.

He revealed further, “Indeed, we are constructing 100 brand new state-of-the-art Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. Out of these, 14 Elementary Schools, 15 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools, including the one we are commissioning today, have been completed, receiving finishing touches and awaiting commissioning, to the glory of God. “Fulfilling our commitment to complete these school projects and our other obligations is financially challenging, if not herculean.

Governor Aregbesola who lamented over the current economic challenges occasioned with the effects of continued dwindling revenues from the Federation Accounts, said his administration would not be carried away in its focus to meet its numerous obligations and commitments.

From left, Governor State of osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; OAU 2013 Nigeria University Game Mascot and Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole, at the unveiling ceremony of the Mascut for OAU 2013 Nigeria University Game by the governor in his office, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun.

*From Left* – Chief of Staff to the Governor State of Osun , Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola ; Governor State of Osun , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , General Manager Nigeria Televition Authority (NTA) , Osogbo, Mr. Tunde Oluwatudimu and Marketing Manager, Mr. Bayo Dairo, during a recent visit of Osogbo NTA Teâm to the Governor in his office, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); Speaker Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam (right); Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, Bishop Catholic Diocese of Osogbo (3rd right) and members of Catholic Diocese members, during a courtesy visit to the Governor in his office in Osogbo, State of Osun

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Nigerian News

Lets curb lassa fever now - Senator Tejuoso

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

Chairman Senate Committee on health, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso representing Ogun Central senatorial district at tuesday’s plenary session expressed that if nothing is immediately done to curtail further outbreak and spread of the Lassa Senator Lanre Tejuosho He made this known on the heels of reBauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Kano, Edo, Taraba, Rivvirus disease, the disease would cent outbreaks of the disease in about 10 ers, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo have recorded suspected reach a magnitude where it could states in Nigeria in January 2016. cases of the Lassa Haemorrhagic Fever (LHF). be declared a national emergency.

The Ogun Central Senator noted that ‘there was an outbreak within the first quarter of 2014 with at least 15 states affected with 319 cases and 20 deaths’.”We should kill corruption before corruption kills Nigeria, that’s the government popular saying but unfortunately, he said the rodents are already killing Nigerians even before the ‘corruption”.Speaking at the Senate chambers, Senator Lanre Tejuoso who is a medical doctor added that “Nigerians should be conscious and adhere to rules of personal hygiene and put in more effort to get rid of rodents from our environment to prevent the spread of the virus and report any case of persistent high fever to the nearest health centre”.

The ever reliable Ogun State Senator did not waste time in raising his voice at the floor of the Senate in order to curb the spread of the virus which has dealt some states in Nigeria a blow.

Senator Foster Ogola gives credit to INEC

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

Senator Foster Ogola (PDP) representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district Comprising Sagbama and Ekeremor Local governments said the election in Bayelsa State was relatively peaceful on the day.

The excited Senator spoke to AfricanVoice Newspaper in his office recently.

AFV: Talk us through the recently held supplementary election in Bayelsa?

Sen. Ogola: The PDP worked very hard and warned its supporters not to be violent and also warned against the use of thugs and ex militants. We won because the people have the right to choose and we won because the government of the PDP led by the Hon. Seriake Dickson, former member of the House of Representatives worked very hard from day one. From January 14, 2012 we have never rested. Not just because we wanted to be voted for for the second time but because we had a duty to impact on the people positively and we are determined to leave a good legacy so the first thing we did was to institutionalised the process of governance. Probity, accountability and transparency in governance. So every month we are the only state in Nigeria that was declaring how much we receive and how much we spend and the balance. Even out of that balance the first line of charge is the compulsory savings. We had a strategic savings and compulsory savings. The strategic savings

Senator Foster Ogola

the governor can not go there and touch the money. Before we can spend out of it as a state government, the state House of Assembly must approve with two third majority for capital use in case we have falling income both from Federal government and Internally Generated Revenue. That is when the money is tampered with.

SECURITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. We make security a cardinal project.

Protecting lives and properties. We inherited a backlog of almost N500b. Some of the projects we can not even see but we wiped off those debts by over N400b and without borrowing, officially the only borrowing we have done is N40b to construct our component of Federal Government

partnership to construct an international airport in Bayelsa state. As at now as a government we have finished the runways but the parking space and the terminal building which are for the Federal govt have not been done although we have gone ahead to do part of their own by dredging insitu, an area bigger than Abuja international airport. They are just to provide concrete surface and then put the terminal building and the tower.

EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. We went again to declare an emergency on education and embark on infrastructure development on educational sector by building 25 model secondary schools compulsory from SS1 to SS3. You must

be in the boarding, the principal, patrons and matrons must live there. Everything you can find in a secondary school in a developed world we have it there. We felt that the manpower capacity of the state was not good enough and so we embarked on another project called post graduate scholarship. I was the chairman and so we awarded over 1,000 scholarship. 21 of our students are in Lincoln University now. They are going into the 3rd year, we are at the threshold of all of them making distinction. Most of them have 4.0 CGPA. Then we embark on massive construction.

In fact one of our campaign programmes was turning Bayelsa into a massive construction yard. If you go to Bayelsa you can see the facelift. And everything we are doing we have a spread. You will see health projects in Sagbama, Ekeremor, Nembe and even in the bigger LG like Southern Ijaw will always have an extra. That is the way we work. We established school of Agriculture but we believe not everybody studied science so we established school of Music and school of Fashion of international standard. We even have a drug store monitoring system with the name Late Dora Akunyili. We have almost completed the 500 bed hospital that is going to be an international diagnostic centre. We are the only government who have built 60 Doctor rooms for house-manship training and then doctors in training resting places within the FMC. We built another 250 within the 500 bed hospital referral centre where those working can work and rest because we believe in rest and work. We pay senior citizens N5,000 every month. You can see why people voted for us.

19

Events calendar What’s On & When WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Reaching UK’s fastest growing Entertainment ethnic markets

Tel: 020 3737 3077 20

www.africanvoiceonline.co.uk

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Rent a desk in a shared office space in South London SW9 Rent: £250 per month Electricity, light and central heating (included in rent) Available: immediately. Length of rental: 6 months minimum 24 hour Access, building also has 24 hour Security Ideal, affordable, reasonable rent and excellent opportunity for start-up businesses.

If you are interested; please telephone Milton: 07525 209 154

AfricanVoice

SUBSCRIBE

TODAY

£100 FOR 1 YEAR £100 FOR 1 YEAR £100 FOR 1 YEAR lncluding Paper & Postage

A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OUT EVERY FRIDAY! Name: Full Address: Post Code:

Tel No: I wish to subscribe to AfricanVoice

1 Year:

£100

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £

made payable to: AfricanVoice.

Please invoice me/my company Pls make a cheque of £100 payable to African Voice.

Mail to Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7JN 21

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Rwanda ‘ready’ for African Nations Championship The host of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2016), Rwanda, said it is ready ahead of the tournament’s start this weekend.

“We are fully ready to host this highlevel competition,” said Vincent Nzamwita, president of the Rwanda Football Federation, which hosts the tournament from January 16 to February 7, adding it is “a great honour”.

The tournament, organised by the African Football Confederation (CAF), is held every two years. It is reserved for players who play their football in national leagues and alternates with the higher profile Africa Cup of Nations tournament for which players based overseas are also eligible.

Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Africa have played host in previous tournaments since 2009.

Preparations for the event have been widely reported by the local press and the Rwandan government announced a visa exemption for nationals of competing countries in order to attract fans.

Major renovations were carried out in Kigali, the capital, Huye and Rubavu where games will be played.

“Everything had to be rebuilt,” said Nzamwita, including the pitches, changing rooms and stands.

According to the New Times newspaper, the Rwandan government has spent 16 billion Rwandan francs ($21.4 million) on infrastructure and organisational costs for CHAN 2016, the fourth edition of the competition since 2009.

The 16 competing nations are divided into four groups: Group A is composed of Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Rwanda; Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia make up Group B; Group C contains Guinea, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia and Group D is made up of Mali, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Cameroon team

In the opening match on Saturday, Rwanda’s Amavubi, meaning “Wasps” in the Kinyarwanda language, play the Ivory Coast’s Elephants.

Oliseh faces real baptism of fire The 2016 CHAN, could well define Sunday Oliseh’s time in charge of Nigeria as many will judge him on the results and performances of the team of domestic league players at this bi-ennial continental Expectations in Nigeria are again high the country’s ‘B’ team will go all way in Rwanda after they finished third at this same competition in South Africa two years ago.

The biggest criticism against the team coach Stephen Keshi lined up in South Africa was that they were not really representative of the best players in the Nigeria league as all the coaches were far removed from the domestic championship.

The result was that players like goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim and Solomon Kwambe, who only managed a handful of games for their local clubs, were picked ahead of better and fitter players on the domestic scene.

That cannot be said of the current CHAN Eagles as the backroom staff led by assistant coach Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu took the pains to scout for the best players to fly the flag proudly for the ever-growing Nigeria league.

In Rwanda, Nigeria will parade some of the stars of the past season – Tunde Adeniji and Chisom Chikatara scored between them 29 goals in the last campaign, defenders Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo and Orji Kalu were consistent at their clubs, while Ifeanyi Matthew, Paul Onobi, Ezekiel Bassey and Bature Yaro were the driving forces for their respective teams.

Oliseh has had long enough time to pass down his ideas and philosophy to these players right from when he was named the country’s coach in July 2015 amid high expectations.

Several of these players have also worked with the coach in the full international squad.

He also had two weeks to train the team in South Africa during which time they played two warm-up matches against teams who will also be at the CHAN – Angola and Cote d’Ivoire.

What he is therefore able to produce in Rwanda will most certainly go a long in determining the fortunes of the country in the coming months with crucial AFCON and 2018 World Cup qualifiers fast approaching.

At the end of March, Nigeria face a double-header against Egypt in the qualifying tournament for the 2017 AFCON with experts in agreement that results of these two games could make or mar the country’s chances of qualification to Gabon 2017.

Good results in Rwanda will lift the confidence of the players as well as fans leading up to these two big matches.

The results could also improve our FIFA ranking going into the draw for the World Cup qualifiers in June.

Nigeria are currently a poor 66th on the FIFA rankings and if this rating did not improve remarkably before the draw on June 24, the Eagles could get as many as two of Africa’s top teams in a final round of the World Cup qualifiers to be played on league basis with only the overall winners booking their passage to Russia 2018.

Oliseh has already capped skipper Chima Akas, Oboroakpo, Usman Mohammed, Ezekiel Bassey, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Bature Yaro at full international level and it is expected that several other players on this CHAN squad will also get their chance with the Super Eagles on the strength of what they show in Rwanda.

The qualifiers and warm-up games have shown this team create many chances and in the absence of last season’s hotshot Gbolahan Salami, younger strikers Adeniji and Chikatara must now rise to the occasion after midfielders Bature Yaro, Bartholomew ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu and Ifeanyi Matthew have delivered in front of goal at crunch time.

The CHAN Eagles are the foundation on which Oliseh can rebuild the Super Eagles and so the results in Rwanda are very crucial for both the country and their young coach.

Elneny targets immediate treble glory after sealing Arsenal move New Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has wasted little time in revealing ambitious goals as he aims to win an historic treble in his first campaign with the club.

The 23-year-old completed his move from Basel on Thursday and spoke of his delight at sealing the transfer along with the opportunity to play under Arsene Wenger.

Elneny is thinking big as he begins his Arsenal career, targeting glory in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season.

22

“I would like to tell [the fans] that, although you have not seen much of me, I promise I will contribute positively with the team,” the Egypt international told Arsenal Player.

“I am hoping that we win the Premier League and cup this season, and the Champions League as well.

“It is an indescribable feeling [to sign], I am really glad of course. Arsenal is one of the world’s greatest teams and I am very keen to participate positively with my new team, God willing,

and to give my best for the team and for myself.

“Arsenal is one of those teams that everyone enjoys watching and of course I would love to play for such a great team.

“Mr Wenger is a highly respected manager and one of the world’s best managers. It is my honour to be trained under his management.w “It is one the biggest clubs in the world, I know everything about it and its players.”

Mohamed Elneny

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016

Toon nab Henri from under Villains’ noses Struggling Newcastle United’s head coach Steve McClaren has sealed his first signing in the January transfer window with the capture of Aston Villa coach Remi Garde target, Bordeaux midfielder Henri Saivet.

The 25-year-old Senegal international has joined the Magpies on a five and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £5 million.

Saivet came through the ranks at Bordeaux, making his senior debut at the age of 17 and going on to score 23 goals in 178 appearances.

The Tyneside club’s former England boss said: “Henri is someone the club has been watching for a while, and he has developed into an excellent player at Bordeaux.”

“This is someone with a very good mentality, who is a tough player and a winner. Those are key qualities you need in the Premier League and we are looking forward to seeing him pulling on the Newcastle United shirt,” McClaren added.

The Tynesiders, who came back from two down to draw 3 – 3 with Man United midweek, are sitting in 18th place in the Premier League table, and are clearly in need of a proven goal-scorer and a provider to supply him. Saivet may be able to fulfil the latter role but it remains glaringly obvious that there are not enough goals in head coach McClaren’s team, with £14.5 million summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic having found the going tough after being thrust into the limelight

It can now be revealed that Nigeria Golden Eaglets stars Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze will cost English Premier League side Arsenal a total of six million pounds.

The youngsters who shone at last year’s

FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile are expected with their guardians and academy officials in London this month to complete the transfer to the London Gunners.

“Kelechi (Nwakali) will cost 3.9 mil-

lion pounds, while 2.1 million pounds is for Chukwueze,” a top source specially informed.

“This is the full package including

training compensation to the players’ academy and what have you.”

Last year, Nwakali’s agents demanded

four million pounds from another EPL side Manchester City after he underwent trials at The Etihad.

Henri Saivet

by the club’s failure to land an experienced and proven front man during the summer and the injuries which have excluded Papiss Cisse for much of the campaign and Emmanuel Riviere for all of it to date.

McClaren – who is also a member of the club’s board – is hopeful that those shortcomings will be and are being ad-

City officials felt the player was over-

dressed.

He said: “It’s good because I know what is going on. Sometimes you don’t, so we are all involved in the process and we hope that will get the job done.

“If we were not doing everything to rectify it, I would be worried. If people weren’t backing us or trying, I would be worried.”

Aubameyang ‘not interested’ in sore loser Yaya

Continued from back page him the accolade for three years while Ivory Coast were underperforming.

Speaking to Sport Bild at Borussia Dortmund’s winter training camp in Dubai, Aubameyang said that he won’t let Touré spoil his achievement.

“I really don’t know why he said that in the first place,” Aubameyang, who scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games in the first half of the season, and a total of 41 goals in all club competitions in 2015, said.

“But I don’t get annoyed with it, and by now I don’t even care about it. I am not interested in it.”

Meanwhile, Aubameyang has denied speculation he is set to join either Arsenal or Barcelona.

He has occupied sports gossip columnists with almost daily regularity but says there is no truth in the suggestion he is destined for a big-money transfer.

Arsenal fork out £6m for Eaglets duo

Yaya Toure

Speaking to BILD, the 26-year-old said: “I still want to achieve lots with Dortmund.

“I am here and nowhere else - not at Arsenal, not at Barcelona, not on the moon you can see that.”

Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel was forced to speak publically about the specu-

lation recently, denying the club had the intention to cash in on their latest star.

“We have not considered Aubameyang’s departure for a single second,” the coach told Dortmund’s official website.

“He is a pillar for us and we have big plans for him. There is no debate on him at all.”

priced and did not follow up on the deal.

Phiri lauds Kampamba’s Belgian move

Legendary Zambian coach Patrick Phiri has backed Ronald Kampamba’s move to Belgian Second Division outfit Lierse SK.

The Zambian international striker finally completed his move to Lierse on a one-year loan from Egyptian outfit Wadi Degla.

Phiri feels that Zambian football will benefit from Kampamba’s move to the Belgian club.

“This is a fantastic move; a New Year present to the soccer fraternity in Zambia. When I heard the news, I was overwhelmed, I was happy for the young man,” Phiri said.

“Our players must dream of playing in Europe. Everyone including players in South America and Brazil itself dream of playing football in Europe,” he concluded.

The Lier-based outfit are hoping that 21-year-old Kampamba helps them win promotion back to the Belgian Pro League 23

Friday, 15 January - Thursday, 21 January 2016 ISSUE 612

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Toon nab Henri from under Villains’ noses SEE PAGE 23

Aubameyang ‘not interested’ in sore loser Yaya

African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang insists he is not on the move

By Alan Oakley

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is “not interested” in criticism from Yaya Touré after being named African Footballer of the Year.

Touré, who has won the gong for the last three years, appeared to question the award criteria when he was interviewed after the ceremony.

“I’m very, very disappointed. It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important,” he told RFI, adding: “I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it? Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent. That is pathetic.”

Touré was angered to not pick up the award after Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations last year, while Borussia striker Aubameyang’s Gabon were eliminated in the early stages. But it appears Touré is unable to accept with good grace that Aubameyang’s displays in the Bundesliga and the Europa League were enough to end his reign as the best African player, just like his own performances for Manchester City were enough to earn

Continued on page 23

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 3737 3077 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com