Pope Visit Turkey amidst Protest.

Qasim Akinreti

The head of 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, Pope Benedict XVI visit Turkey on Tuesday amidst protest from group of Muslims

With this visit, Benedict makes history as the first Roman Catholic leader to travel to a predominantly Islamic country, at a time his comment on Islam has created mistrust among Muslims globally.

Ahead of his tour, over 20,000 Turks matched through major streets in Istanbul to protest the visit. Despite the negative reactions of his people, the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has agreed to meet the pontiff when he arrive Ankara.

The Turkish leader had initially said he would not meet the Pope due to an initial schedule in Latvia for the two day NATO summit.

Healing the wounds

Pope’s 4 day visit to turkey has been seen as an avenue for the Papacy to heal the wounds of an alledged comments, he made in Germany, in which he quoted a 14TH century emperor who said Prophet Muhammad’s teachings were “evil and inhuman”.

Though the Pope retracted the statement, but, it had affected the sensibilities of Muslims around the world. Coincidentally, Turkish Islamic leaders were the first to resent the comment.

His tour will take him to Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque, and the - the site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have lived and died near Izmir on the Aegean coast.

According to the Pope Benedict XVI,” the visit will allow him to show his esteem and sincere friendship for Turkey and his people”.


Security Details on Edge.

Securities apparatus in Italy and Turkey will surely have a herculian task ahead of them during the four day visit. They must rise to the occasion, preventing a snap shooter have access to the venue of Pope’s tour.

Ali Agca, the gunman who tried and failed to assassinate Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1981, was a Turk. Agency report says he has to Pope Benedict XVI, from his prison cell in Turkey advising the Catholic leader to postpone or cancel the visit.

Late Pope John Paul 11 paid the last papal visit to Turkey in 1979..He was also the first Catholic head to visit a mosque during a trip to Damascus in 2001.

Nigeria-Rail Modernisation Project flag off .

Qasim Akinreti, Lagos. 29-11-06

The Phase one of the Nigeria’s railway modernisation project has been flagged off by the Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
BBC Online
Speaking at the ceremony in Ifo, Ogun State one of the historical railway towns in the southwest of Nigeria, the President described the event as epoch and a giant step toward socio -economic growth.

According to him, “the re –modernisation of Nigeria’s rail system is to complement government’s drive of economic regeneration”.

Transport Policy Thrust

For many communities and average Nigerian, the railway transport in the early 60’s and the late 80’s was a good means of transportation and a good avenue for excursion to various parts of the country.

From Kaura Namoda to Portharcourt, Lagos to Kano and Maiduguri to Enugu, the railway transport has contributed significantly to the rapid development of these cities.

His total collapse therefore has had a debilitating effect of the Nation transport system with more emphasis on road transportation. As part of the Obasanjo economic reform programme the revitalisation of the railway transportation was given more priority.

Voice of Nigeria Correspondent Yinka Otoki aptly captured this scenario in his report at the Ifo Railway station. (Audio).

The Chinese Partnership

Chain Nigeria long stranding partner in railway project is again in the saddle to assist her friend in need of rail transport regeneration.

Already, China has granted Nigeria 2 billion naira loan and the Chinese Deputy Transport Minister and the President of the Chinese firm, CCECC, has provided 8 billion naira to facilitate the construction of 1,315 rail links between Lagos and Kano, two major commercial cities in the country.


AP

To underscore the significant of the project President Obasanjo and his Chinese counterpart have had talks. Contract on the railing re-construction were signed few months back.




Others joining the fray

South Korea Posco Engineering Company had also signified interest in the rail project with a promise to spent 10 billion dollars on the project if given the contract.

It is also noteworthy that Nigeria transport officials have equally travelled to Japan, France, and United Kingdom to understudy the Privatisation of the rail system for Nigeria to overcome this challenge.

The second phase of the rail project will take off from Portharcourt, Southeast and end in Jos, North central of the country. The entire project will last for 25 years.

Links.

http://www.nigeria.gov.ng
http://www.railway-technology.com/news
http://www.china.org.cn
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sunday_magazine













Darfur Tops African-South American Summit.

Qasim Akinreti .29-11-06

The Darfur crisis in Sudan, will top the agenda of the African- American Summit in the Nigeria’s capital, Abuja on Thursday.

google

African Heads of states and government will use this opportunity to re –assess progress made by the political and peacekeeping options in the war torn area of Africa.

Nigeria had spearhead move to end the conflict in Darfur with the signing of agreement among the warring faction in Abuja early in the year. However, one of the rebel groups refuses to sign the deal.



New Initiative.

According to the schedule of the meeting, Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet ahead of the heads of government talks to find tune their positions on the way forward to resolve the conflict in Darfur.

Aside from Darfur, the summit would largely discuss areas of cooperation and understanding for strategic development in Africa and South America.

In the Nigerian capital the heads of states and government would also use the African Union Summit to discuss Darfur issue.

google
The conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan - which the US government has called genocide - has already claimed the lives of between 200,000 and 400,000 people since 2003.

With no end to the violence in sight, the United Nations describes the situation facing the refugees in Darfur as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Links

http://www.savedarfur
http://www.darfurinfo.org
http://www.darfurgenocide.org






Update Pope

Speaking in Ankara, the Pope has called for dialogue between muslins and Christians. He said the two great religions have a lot in common. He promises to support entry into the European Union.



links
Pope in Turkey
english.aljazeera.net
http://www.nydailynews.com/news
http://www.team-swap.com/wordpress

Nigeria 2007 -Two Brothers To Contest.

Qasim Akinreti, Lagos 19th-12- 06

Fate has brought two Presidential candidates from the same state, geo political zone, and religion, together to contest election in 2007 in Nigeria.



Alhaji Umar Yar’Dua, present Governor of Katsina state, was elected at a Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention to run for the Presidency, while former Nigeria’s head of state General Muhammad Buhari will fly the flag of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP at the 2007 polls.

The Common Bond

Buhari and Yar’ Adua, are both from the aristocratic family in Katsina, in North West Nigeria where the predominant religion is Islam. Integrity, good tract record in governance and common good were said to be some of the attributes of the two leaders which endeared people to support their aspirations for the Presidency.

At the National convention of both political parties, the duo of Yar’ Adua and Buhari were literally emerged as consensus candidates and arguably the best candidates the North can produce for the coming elections. This was accentuated by the level of support by other notable big names in the presidential race across Nigeria, in the ruling and the opposition parties.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Retired General Buhari, former Head of State has contested for the 2003 Presidential election with the incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo. Though he lost, political analyst believed he fought gallantly. Ever since, then he as remained focused re-contesting the election and obviously must have gained some experiences on presidential campaigns and political calculations. For him, this seems a familiar terrain.

Recently, the ANPP and Action Congress, AC, signed a political accord to recently to garner votes in their areas of political strength arguably in the North and Southwest of the country. The battle ground could well be in the Southeast and South south of the country.

However, with choice of the Yar Adua ‘s running mates , Jonathan Goodluck from the Niger Delta area ,wresting power from the ruling party, the PDP, could well be an uphill task.

And for Yar’ Adua, the power of incumbency from the ruling party is a great advantage to the young man whose profile has risen in recent days as the heir apparent.

By this mandate of the PDP, Yar’ Adua has inherited the political machine, of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, set up by his late brother, Musa Yar’ Adua, a former second in command to Obasanjo in 1979. PDM is the dominant group within the ruling party.

In terms of integrity, Yar ‘Adua stand tall. His record of achievements in Katsina is an added advantage.
Be that as it may, Yar’ Adua’s clout is no match to Buhari. To some political analysts, he might be a reluctant President who may be teleguided by President Obasanjo biddings.



External Links
www.nigeria.gov.ng
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/peoples_Democratic_Party(Nigeria)
www.en.wikipedis.org/wiki/All_Nigeria_Peoples_Party
www.inecnigeria.org/political/party/anpp-html
www.allafrica.com/nigeria
www.news.bbc.co.uk
www.businessdayonline.com

Nigeria’s Presidential Election 2007 -Two Brothers To Contest.

Qasim Akinreti, Lagos 19th-12- 06

Fate has brought two Presidential candidates from the same state, geo political zone, and religion, together to contest election in 2007 in Nigeria.



Alhaji Umar Yar’Dua, present Governor of Katsina state, was elected at a Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention to run for the Presidency, while former Nigeria’s head of state General Muhammad Buhari will fly the flag of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP at the 2007 polls.

The Common Bond

Buhari and Yar’ Adua, are both from the aristocratic family in Katsina, in North West Nigeria where the predominant religion is Islam. Integrity, good tract record in governance and common good were said to be some of the attributes of the two leaders which endeared people to support their aspirations for the Presidency.

At the National convention of both political parties, the duo of Yar’ Adua and Buhari were literally emerged as consensus candidates and arguably the best candidates the North can produce for the coming elections. This was accentuated by the level of support by other notable big names in the presidential race across Nigeria, in the ruling and the opposition parties.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Retired General Buhari, former Head of State has contested for the 2003 Presidential election with the incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo. Though he lost, political analyst believed he fought gallantly. Ever since, then he as remained focused re-contesting the election and obviously must have gained some experiences on presidential campaigns and political calculations. For him, this seems a familiar terrain.

Recently, the ANPP and Action Congress, AC, signed a political accord to recently to garner votes in their areas of political strength arguably in the North and Southwest of the country. The battle ground could well be in the Southeast and South south of the country.

However, with choice of the Yar Adua ‘s running mates , Jonathan Goodluck from the Niger Delta area ,wresting power from the ruling party, the PDP, could well be an uphill task.

And for Yar’ Adua, the power of incumbency from the ruling party is a great advantage to the young man whose profile has risen in recent days as the heir apparent.

By this mandate of the PDP, Yar’ Adua has inherited the political machine, of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, set up by his late brother, Musa Yar’ Adua, a former second in command to Obasanjo in 1979. PDM is the dominant group within the ruling party.

In terms of integrity, Yar ‘Adua stand tall. His record of achievements in Katsina is an added advantage.
Be that as it may, Yar’ Adua’s clout is no match to Buhari. To some political analysts, he might be a reluctant President who may be teleguided by President Obasanjo biddings.



External Links
www.nigeria.gov.ng
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/peoples_Democratic_Party(Nigeria)
www.en.wikipedis.org/wiki/All_Nigeria_Peoples_Party
www.inecnigeria.org/political/party/anpp-html
www.allafrica.com/nigeria
www.news.bbc.co.uk
www.businessdayonline.com

Nigeria’s President Back to School

Qasim Akinreti, Lagos. 30-11-06

The Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has gone back to school, enrolling to study Theology at the National Open University of Nigeria, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The colourful ceremony was performed by Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria. The event was also witnessed by members of the executive council and top government officials.


Adorning a full matriculation gown, at a special matriculation ceremony in state House in Abuja, Obasanjo was issued with the matriculation number NOU06323192 into the School of Arts and Science.

Open University Option

He used the occasion to canvass for support for the Open University system and the re-positioning of the Nigerian education sector, one of the pillars of his administration reform programme.




According too him, “the on-going education reforms in the country are aimed at repositioning the country appropriately in the emerging knowledge driven and highly competitive divisions of labour world”.

President Obasanjo urged Nigerians who could not be admitted into
the conventional university system in the country to take the
advantage of the open and distance learning mode.
Obasanjo is the first Nigeria Head of State to commence higher education while in office. Going by his age, analysts believed that he took the decision to encourage younger and older generation to attain higher education at any age.

Boost for Education.
Going by the assurances for development of distance learning program in Nigeria, many Nigerians who are unable to participate in the conventional university education now have the opportunity to do so .
An d for the students who hopes have been dashed by the Joint Matriculation Examination , here is a golden opportunity of become a University graduates. are expected to enroll in the Open University system .

Before now quite a number of aspiring parents, students and educational stakeholders are skeptical about the take off of the Open learning system of education.

It is also expected that the private sector investment in the higher education would be boosted as some of them will take this advantage to commence distance learning courses.
Among the arrays of private initiative in higher education system in the country is the ABTI America University in Adamawa State north eastern of the country.
The university is poised to design a world class University education that will promote economic development in Nigeria, and Africa.

The President of the University, Dr. David Howailer told Voice of Nigeria in Abuja that the university has special courses in Information Technology, Agriculture and Managerial entrepreneurship.

Recognising excellence in Education
Meanwhile, Nigeria youths who passed out of the one year mandatory national youth service in Nigeria have been given a presidential award for distinguishing themselves in their fields of endeavors.
Google
The Director General of the Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Yusuf Bomoi, Presented the awardees to the Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Link
http://www..nou.edu.ng/noun
http://www.nounonline.com
www.unesco.org/education
http://www.utas.edu.au
http://www.youthfortechnology.org

Prince Johnson-Home bound

Yormie Johnson Final Exit in Nigeria
After 13 years of sojourn(exile) in Nigeria, Reverend Yormie Johnson, the former Liberian War take a bow from friends in Nigeria and set for Monrovia.From his modest apartment on Cameroon Road, Highbrow Ikoyi,Lagos, Yormie as popularly called would fight back tears and good memories of Nigeria by 4.00pm as friends and well wishers milled round him to say" Good bye" on wednesday, 1st of March, 2005.According to Sunny Nikoro, a Public Relations Expert on behalf of committee of friends told OJCASEY that the finally home coming for Yormie to Liberia was as a result of the resent installation of a democratic government in the country.
posted by QASIM AKINRETI at 7:17 AM 0 comments

TRIUMPH OF LAGOS COALITION

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

NUJ-AT LAST SOUTHSOUTH WON THE PRESIDENCY
After waiting in the wings for over 50 years , the Southern Nigeria members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) assumed the Presidency of the most coveted seat in the NUJ National office in Abuja, Nigeria's capital.Ndagene Akwu was the liberator, defeating hard fighting and strategic iron lady of the Nigeria Union of Journalists politics- Mrs Olufunke Fadugba from the SouthWest and Amechi Dike, an Abuja based Journalists.Mr Akwu scored 332 votes , Fadugba 281 and Amechi Dike 49 votes.That election was the climax of the triennial National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists , held at the Obi Wali Intergrated Cultural Center, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Sothern Nigeria.Political analysts have earlier predicted a close call contested between Akwu and Fadugba. And so it was. Mrs Olufunke Fadugba was the real candidate to beat going by her pedigree in the history of NUJ elections in the Lagos Council of NUJ where she held sway to the corridor of power for over 16 years. She was the immediate past Chairman of the Lagos Council of the NUJ,the most vibrant axis of the Nigerian media.Mrs Fadugba to all intents and purposes is a dogged fighter who brought determination and zeal to the Presidential contest. Her albatros was the the miscalculation of the political under tone in the last NUJ Lagos Council election. Again ,the arrest or questioning of the current Chairman of Lagos Council of NUJ, Wahab Oba, National Financial Secrtary , Ebenezer Edoasimi, following an alleged death threat by Mrs Fadugba must have generated some adverse political emotions among delegates for the election.Like the September ,2005 shock in Lagos, "Funke "as fondly called would never forget the political Tsunami that now swept her from the political equation of the NUJ in Port Harcourt February 28, 2006.Be that as it may, Mrs Fadugba's courage and resilence remained a subject of discourse among Nigerian Journalists now and for some time to come. For the Nigerian Journalists, Funke Fadugba is the "Amazon" of our time.God willing, in three years time the political dust would have settled. One thing is sure, Fadugba will bounce back.Meanwhile ,with the victory of Ndagene Akwu, can the Southern political gladiators spring a surprise for the Presidency of Nigeria come 2007 ?.Your guese is as good as mine.
posted by QASIM AKINRETI at 3:40 AM 0 comments

Scramble 4 African -American Votes

US ELECTION- SCRABLE FOR AFRICAN –AMERICAN VOTES
Qasim Akinreti – Washington DC.

The Democrats and Republican aspirants are now engaged in last minutes scramble for the votes of African –Americans in the mid term election schedule for November 7th. 2006. Both political parties have voted sizeable amount out of 2.6 billion dollars campaign funds, to battle for the souls of African –Americans, christened “a fight to finish”.



This rat race was sequel to disturbing trends of opinion poll “Gop Poll and Pew Report” which indicated that 29 per cent of Blacks feel that their votes may not count in the up coming elections.

Aside from this, six black Americans Senatorial and House of Representatives as well as 3 Governorship aspirants have argued that every mileage must be covered in this election as the outcome, may determine which party would clinch the 2008 Presidential election.

Political Calculation.

African –Americans formed 10 per cent of the US population, 53 per cent of the African- American voters registered in 2000. Presently, 43 Black Americans are in the Congress at the Capitol Hill. The first African – American Senator, Barrack Osama of Kenyan origin is eyeing the White House in 2008 under the platform of the Democratic Party.

According to Roland Martin a political analyst, for the Democrats to have upper hand in the Senate, it needs to garner appreciable votes from six states. These states are Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia, heavily populated by black Africans.



In two of these states, Tennessee and Maryland Black Americans are slogging it out with their White Americans counterpart. Election results in these states are really close call for the Democrats and Republicans.

Foreign policy, especially the development in Iraq, Economy, Tax, Homeland Security, health, and family values are core issues dominating the US mid- term elections

All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives will be up for Election for two years. The 33 seats in the Senate are for six years term. Of the 50 Governors of US states, 36 are up for election. Most terms are for four years, although Vermont and New Hampshire elect governors for two years
Link to external sites –
www.usinfo.state.gov/dhr/democracy/elections.html
www.cfr.org/publication
www.dnc.org
www.rnc.org

Barack Obama- Rising Profile

African -America set for US Presidency.
qasim akinreti- Florida -US

Barack Obama, an African –American Senator has finally succumbed to call to run for the US White House in 2008, coming few weeks to the mid term election.
(Google)
Speaking on a US television NBC’s “met the Press “, Senator Obama of the Democratic Party, representing Illinois in 2004 opened the door to give a chase for the US presidency.

He is hoping to announce his formal declaration after November 7th mid- term election, when he must have assisted the Democratic Party to win majority seats in the Senate. His words ‘After November 7th, I will sit down and consider it , and if at some point I change my mind , I will make a public announcement and everybody will be able to go at me”.

A rising star

Until this, affirmation on the television, Obama, one of the brightest stars in the Democratic Party, gave a good account of his oratory prowess and brilliance at the 2004 Democratic Party National Convention, with a powerful and electrifying keynote address.

The civil rights lawyer and author, had earlier said he planned to serve out his term full six years term, which would have ruled out a presidential of vice presidential campaign in 2008. He stated this position twice before the meet the press forum, soon after winning the senate election in 2004 and again in January 2006.

However, Democrats around in the US have encouraged him to consider a campaign and there have been speculations in the party about the possibility to do so. Consequently his advisers have been forced to adjust his timetable for a possible run in later elections. Research that will help Obama make his decision is been perfected.

Earlier in the week, at the Larry King Show, he has agreed that if there is a need to have a shot at the US Presidency, he would give it a chance. Reverend Jesse Jackson corroborated this disposition on his appearance at the same show during the week.

If the decision is right Barack Obama will have to slug it out with New York Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, considered the earliest front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Six other contenders are ready to give him a run for his money.




His Strengths.

Obama has opposed the Iraq war, an albatross to the current Republican President, George W. Bush. As the death toll of US soldiers rises and sectarian violence continued in Iraq, the collateral damage of the war is eroding the stronghold of the Republicans in power. Effectively, this could well provide an alternative for Democrats who have expressed strong concerns about Clinton’s support of the war effort.
If party strategists and voters are looking for change in 2008, Obama would symbolize that better than any other presidential hopefuls”.



In addition, Obama, a Black American, is well positioned to cut deeply into Clinton’s own political base, black voters. He blends naturally with these group of voters at any campaign rally for his colleagues-aspirants in every states he assisted to present them on behalf of the partying the up coming mid term election.

And for the Christian faithfuls who seem to have been let the down by the Republicans Senator Foley’s Scandal and the ability of the party to fulfill the campaign promises for both religious and secular charities, Barack Obama religious disposition might assuage their feelings.

His Weakness

He has got little experience in politics of United States, analysts argued that one term in the Senate is not good enough for a serious job in the “white house”.

But, David Axelred one of Osama’s adviser submit “If party strategists and voters are looking for change in 2008, Obama would symbolize that better than any other presidential hopefuls”.

Fact File
Barack Obama
Age: 45
Job: Senator from Illinois 2004
Experience: 7 years in Senate, Civil Rights Lawyer
Education: Law Graduate –Columbia University, 1983, Havard Law School, 1991.Family: Wife- Michelle, two daughters- Malia, 8 and Sasha, 4.

US Mid-term election: Jefferson Knocked out?

15-10-06 US MID TERM ELECTIONS

EMBATTLED JEFFERSON LOSES DEMOCRATS’ BACKING
Qasim Akinreti, Florida US.

The US Democratic Congressman from Louisiana, Representatives William Jefferson has failed to win the endorsement of the state’s Democratic Party.

Jefferson (Google)
Jefferson, whose Capitol Hill office was raided earlier this year as part of an alleged bribery scandal investigation involving Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, suffered this setback against Representative Karen Carter by 69 to 53, in the November 7 election.

Denial and Accusation

However, Jefferson, who has denied the bribery allegations and has not been charged, will still stand in the election as a Democrat. He will not lose campaign funds because of the failed endorsement.

An FBI affidavit alleges that Jefferson took a 100,000 dollars bribe in 2005 to help promote a cable television and Internet business in Nigeria and Ghana. But only 10,000 dollars cash was found four days later in his freezer at his Washington Home.

The Nigeria Connection.

Going by the allegation the FBI sought the collaboration of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Nigeria to investigate Nigeria’s Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had discussions with the embattled Congressman when he was on vacation in the US.

The EFCC probe of the Nigerian Vice President has led into series of alleged financial impropriety against the number two man. An administrative enquiry of the federal executive Council was constituted and the Vice President was found culpable. The report was sent to the Nigeria national Assembly by the Nigerian President However, Atiku Abubakar has denied the charges, sent a reply to the Senate and went to court to challenge the findings of the EFCC and the Administrative enquiry.

Ribadu(Google)
While the senate has set machinery in motion to probe the allegations and counter rebuttal, these chain of reactions have heated the polity in Nigeria ahead 2007 polls.

A landmark.

A Democrat Party member, Elsie Burkhalter said this development marks the first time in that an incumbent failed to win the state party’s endorsement


Links to site-
www.house.gov/jefferson
www.efccnigeria.org