News Desk Wednesday, October 10, 2007

AG, EFCC Team Up Against Kalu In Court

Counsel from both offices (EFCC and AGF) teamed up at the Federal High Court, Abuja to engage Kalu’s lawyers in legal fireworks on the competence or otherwise of the pending criminal charges preferred against him by EFCC.
But Kalu, who was all smiles, said he was not bothered by the development. He even took out time to exchange greetings with sympathisers who thronged the court. He drove himself to and from the court. MORE>>

Work With London Police On Ibori, Yar'Adua Orders AG

ABUJA — PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, to cooperate fully with the London Metropolitan Police in its investigation of the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, saying contrary to media reports, he remains committed to the fight against corruption. MORE>>

Prominent Nigerians Eulogise Awo At Free Education Lecture

THE sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, on Tuesday received accolades from eminent personalities for laying the foundation for free education in Nigeria. The remarks were made at the first Obafemi Awolowo Free Education Lectures Series held at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and organised by the Faculty of Education. MORE>>

Human Rights Report Says Corruption Pervasive In Nigeria

The Human Rights Watch report released in Lagos says violence and corruption are so bad in Nigeria that the conduct of public officials is more like criminal activity than democratic government. The Human Rights Watch researcher presenting the report, Chris Albin-Lackey, says the situation in Nigeria has deteriorated since the end of military rule in 1999. MORE>>

U.S. Worst For Environment In Development Commitment Index

The United States ranks last of 21 rich countries on the environment component of the 2007 Commitment to Development Index (CDI). Norway ranks first on the environment component, followed by Ireland, Finland, and the United Kingdom. Spain had the second worst ranking on the environment policy component, followed by Australia and Canada. MORE>>

Jim Brown And Amer-I-Can Headline Global Peace Leadership Summit

Ambassadors to the United States from Algeria, Liberia, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, former presidents of Ghana and Cape Verde, and the newly formed African Union's Hon. Amina Ali joined Mr. Brown as speakers. The universal benefits of the Amer-I-Can Program are now being pursued by those inspired by Mr. Brown's message. MORE>>

Highlife Jazz Fusion of Ghana at Ford Amphitheater

There's been jazz fusion when the likes of Grover Washington Jr., Modern Jazz Quartet, Hank Crawford, Johnny Hammond, Ornette Coleman and the rest crossed over from the 60s be-bop and big bands to what became known in the 70s as jazz-fusion with the kind of beat that would change jazz tunes forever. When Washington and colleagues joined Creed Taylor who engineered and produced every artist at Kudu Recording Studio, jazz tunes embraced funk and soul rhythms.

On Sunday, October 14, 2007, at 7 PM, Gyedu Blay Ambolley and his Ghanaian ensembles will be introducing a new wave of Ghana highlife music at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood. The performer line-up is a cast of Ghana's masters of highlife jazz fusion. The event will kick off with Kpakpo Addo, trumpeter and flugehornist; Eddie Quansah, trumpeter, percussionist and composer; Obo Addy & Dancers; Gyedu Blay Ambolley, funky-jazzy rap-style interpreter and KASA Africa. The event is a fundraiser for the Highlife Hall of Fame Museum.

Wilson Boateng, excited and couldn't wait for the show told me he's the fusion kind of guy and that the all-star ensemble will be carrying their baggage to the Ford Amphitheater on October 14th, making it a remarkable event in the history of Ghana's highlife music, said the Sunday jam "will be an event to remember."

For Ambolley, he will be in a windy mode, blowing his sax and entertaining the crowd in the open arena. Remarkably, Ambolley never had formal wind instrumental instruction until he started teaching himself how to play the flute owned by his father, developing into a first-call session player as a teenager under his mentor "Uncle Bonku" who lectured him on playing the guitar. His early influences were Ray Charles, Wes Montgomery and Charlie Parker.


Kpako Addo, born Victor Kpakpo Addo Jr., will be blowing his trumpet like never seen before in the remarkable event as noted by Boateng, saying the God-fearing trumpeter would unleash a whole lot of package. So, too are the line-ups--Eddie Quansah and Obo Addy.

Tickets are $30 and $12 for students and children. Ford Amphitheater is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood California; off the 101 Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and South of Universal Studios.

News Desk Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Britain writes FG, demands for EFCC report - Yar’Adua orders AGF to cooperate with London police

THE British government has written the Federal Government for permission to use the exhibits in possession of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in nailing former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, over money laundering saga. MORE>>

EFCC Releases Names of Suspects

A release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said the people were being held to enable the commission conduct comprehensive investigations on the allegations levelled against them. MORE>>

Court to Rule on Nnamani's Passport Suit Today

Justice Peter Olayiwola of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday adjourned till Tuesday, ruling on the suit filed by the former governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State to challenge the seizure of his international passport. MORE>>

Living In A strange Olympic World

AMBROSE EHIRIM

Olympic Gold Medalist Marion Jones has tears in her eyes while speaking to the media outside the U.S District Court House in White Plains, New York on October 5, 2007. Image: John A. Angelillo

The sports world has crashed again with scandals of doping popping up on lies and all kinds of stuff regarding sprinters the entire world thought were genuine. No one would talk about FloJo. Marion Jones, after testifying in a New York court for taking the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and after years of denial, returned the said medals she won at the games. What a disgrace? Not really! She may not have known what her alleged trainers were giving her which sums up the world of commerce that we live in.

Who knows who is doing what and who has done what? Ben Johnson, after testing positive in the Olympics, running faster than any human and beating Carl Lewis hands down in a tournament never seen before, was stripped of his Olympic gold medal. Apparently, no lesson was learned from Johnson's episode, and more likely, more heads will roll. It is the strange Olympic world, and you bet, the drama continues.

17 Years of Jazz at Drew

At the historic Leimert Park "Black Township," banners and pamphlets were all over in advance for the 17th Annual Jazz Festival at Drew University in Los Angeles. It has become a tradition as Jazz at Drew has been one of Southland's most treasured musical event, taking a look at the line-up for this year's festival. The two day event (October 6-7) had a line-up of local jazz ensembles and some jazz greats.

Folks at the World Stage Performance Gallery, including the Leirmert Park All-Stars Band whose all session drum beat entertains the neigborhood every Sunday afternoon, performed to kick-off the two day event. Sponsored by Honda, the event was founded in 1991 with the lofty goal of promoting and training medical professionals who're underprivileged.

News Desk Monday, October 8, 2007

Darfur Town Where Nigerian Soldiers Were Killed Razed Down

A Darfur town where seven Nigerian soldiers were killed recently has been razed, the United Nations said on Sunday. The destruction of the town was in apparent retaliation for a rebel attack on a nearby African Union peacekeepers including seven Nigerian soldiers were killed last week. MORE>>

American 'Spy' Who Loved Us

She’s American, she’s 60 and, according to the State Security Service (SSS), she’s a spy. She’s Chief (Dr) Mrs Judith Asuni. She’s Nigerian as well. She holds a Nigerian passport, having married and divorced a Nigerian, has chieftaincy titles, and knows Nigeria—particularly the Niger Delta—like the back of her hand. She loves everything Nigerian. MORE>>

US Govt: We're Interested in Asuni's Case

The United States government yesterday indicated interest in the trial for espionage of one of its nationals resident in Nigeria, Dr. Judith Asuni and urged the Federal Government to ensure that she is treated in accordance with Nigerian law. MORE>>

Olajuwon and Mutombo: Compare and Contrast

Without a doubt, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo are NBA greats and have contributed in different ways in basketball. But how do this duo differ in terms of worthy causes? And how are they similar in terms of playing the sport when it comes to setting records and winning championships?

Olajuwon is a devoted moslem, and his background are family, culture and tradition. He grew up in Lagos, a city compared to New York for being conjested and noisy. Played a little bit of basketball in his native land before enrolling at University of Houston for a full basketball scholarship.

Selected in 1996 as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. A member of the Houston Rockets' 1994 and 1995 back to back NBA champion teams, earning finals MVP honors both seasons, and also appeared in the 1986 NBA Finals. Olajuwon became the first NBA player in NBA history to accumulate both 2,000 blocks and 2,000 steals with a steal against Seatle on November 20, 1999. Closed the 1997-98 season as the Rocket's all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and ranks third in assists. Named to the 1984-85 NBA All-Rookie Team, was runner-up in the Rookie of the Year Voting after averaging 20.6 ppg, 11.9rpg and 2.68 bpg.

Mutombo was born Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Muhamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He's NBA's first four time recipient of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (1995, 1997,1998, 2001). He was voted to the All-NBA Defensive Team three times (1997, 1998, 2001). He was honored with the President's Service Award in 1999 and the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001. He created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, a charitable organization established to improve the health, education and quality of life for people in his homeland of Kinshasha. His foundation focal point has been the construction and opening of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center named after his late mother.

Both Olajuwon and Mutombo played basketball and set records in their own standards but they were totally different in their endeavors. Olajuwon, a moslem and reserved; Mutombo, very outspoken, pragmatic, diligent and did all he could for worthy causes. Olajuwon speaks dialectic Yoruba and English. Mutombo speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and five African dialects.

News Desk Friday, October 5, 2007

Okonjo-Iweala Named World Bank MD

By this appointment, Okonjo-Iweala will join two other Mds — Juan Jose Daboub and Graeme Wheeler, as well as, Executive Vice-Presidents Lars Thunell (IFC) and Yukiko Omura (MIGA), and Chief Financial Officer Vincenzo La Via at the top level of World Bank Group (WBG) management. MORE>>

S-East Senators Storm Court, Demand Uwazuruike's Release

ABUJA — SEVEN South-East senators led by Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday, stormed the Federal High Court, Abuja to solidarise with the incarcerated leader of the outlawed Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, and nine others to demand their release. MORE>>

Dokubo, Balarabe, Gani Call For Revolution

Leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Asari Dokubo, former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Mr. Gani Adams, on Thursday called for revolution in the country. MORE>>

NLNG: Why I'm Opposed to IBB, by Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has restated his objection to the choice of General Ibrahim Babangida as keynote speaker at this year’s Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) grand awards night saying that the erstwhile head of state subverted the very ideal, which the Nigeria writers community hold dearly. MORE>>

News Desk Thursday, October 4, 2007

N400m contract scandal brews in Senate

ABUJA — SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday moved to suppress possible mutiny against his leadership, with a denunciation of attempts to link him with a N400 million contract for the renovation of his official residence. MORE>>

Court Refuses US Spies Bail

THE Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned a Nigerian-American, Judith Asuni, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged espionage and felony against Nigeria. She was refused oral application for bail by Justice Binta Murtala Nyako and ordered remanded in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS). MORE>>

Bush's Emergency Programme Donates $100m To Hospitals

A sum of $100 million has been donated to Nigerian hospitals to support the effort being made in the nation's health sector in promoting safe blood transfusion medicine in the country by President George Bush Emergency Programme for AIDS relief.
MORE>>

Obasanjo's Third Term Bid Would Have Been Disatrous - Nnamani

A former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, on Wednesday in Lagos said had the planned third term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded, Africa would have been doomed for it. MORE>>

Attorney-General's Letter Set Ibori Free

Fresh facts emerged on Wednesday that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), personally wrote a letter which might have played an important role in the acquittal of ex-Governor James Ibori of Delta State by a London court. MORE>>

UK: Balance of Dariye's Loot Still With Us

The British authorities yesterday shed more light on why only N29.3 million of the looted money seized last year from former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, by the Metropolitan Police has been returned to the country. MORE>>

Andy Uba Goes To Court Over Mandate

About four months after he was ordered to vacate the Anambara state government’s seat, Andy Uba, Senior Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has begun moves to regain the position. Uba, who contested under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emerged winner in the April 2007 governorship election in Anambara State and was duly sworn in as the governor. MORE>>

Soyinka Lambasts Babangida, says "Don't Honour Him"

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka this morning lambasted former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd), saying he is not fit to be in the gathering of writers whom he hated so much while he was the head of state. The playwright took a swipe at Babangida at a press briefing he addressed this afternoon ahead of the NLNG Awards Night which Babangida was invited to attend and which comes up tonight at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. MORE>>

That 370 Plus Miles Drive and Ikeji Arochukwu at Fremont, California

By Ambrose Ehirim

Isn't it amazing how time certainly fly by? It seems like only yesterday when I use to hang out at "Okpuruisi" L. N. Obioha's compound at Nd'Akeme, Arondizuogu. I remember clearly as little brats talking about Ikeji Nd'Izuogu, emume iri ji ohuru, New Yam Festival, some kind of stuff really strange to me back then. Okpurisi's kids were my good buddies and we did a whole lot of stuff together as kids trying to belong in the funktified era when disco boomed, jamming in every social gathering. I can also recall the gist about the uniqueness of Ikeji Nd'Izuogu with Cornelius Kanu, Richard Obioha, Louis Obioha, George Okeosisi, Henry Igwe, Uche Obioha, Enuma Ukabam, Victor Udorji and the rest who insisted Ikeji Nd'Izuogu surpasses all Aro New Yam Festivals on the ground Arondizuogu is said to be the largest of all Aro settlements in Igboland.

As reflected, Eddie Onyeador, attache to the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa visiting the shores of America had called asking me to be his special guest by accompanying his cousin Obinne Onyeador to the 2007 Annual Ikeji Festival of Arochukwu in Northern California. There was not much line up for the weekend in Los Angeles. And I thought I needed to stay away from the Hollywood hype for a minute. I had agreed to breeze in and witness the Ikeji, live, once again.

So, when Obinne called me to find out if his cousin Eddie had talked to me regarding the trip to Bay Area, I told him "I just spoke to Eddie and we will be travelling together."

Obinne is just a fun guy and he loves hanging out the old-fashion way. He loves music of every genre but reggae is top on his list of every music category. He still wonders how Bob Marley made Jamaica what it is today. He loves jazz, too, and John Coltrane is his best. He is not crazy about rock music, because, to him, heavy metal is for lunatics. But his trade is the arts. He had bid goodbye to being programmed as a criminologist at UC Berkeley - clocking in and clocking out - to being his own boss selling artifacts. He has every print of any artist and that's what he does for a living. And his passion has become his profession.

Our trip was suppose to have taken place on Friday, September 21st but we had to put it off the next day due to series of activities in Los Angeles. Besides, it was pouring like crazy and driving at night under the rain was not a good idea.

On Saturday, September 22nd, Obinne had called me as early as five o'clock in the morning. I was still lying down half awoke. I went back to sleep for another couple of hours and Obinne had called wondering if I was going to make the trip.

Finally, I was up and the time was a little bit past seven o'clock in the morning. I took a shower, got dressed and vroomed to Obinne's house and he was ready like Freddy. We drove to his gallery at Leimert Park's "Black Township" where he picked up some artifacts he thought Nd'Arochukwu might use in the festival. We left his shop to gas up for an estimated five hours and half journey to the Bay Area. When we left the gas station heading to the 10 Freeway, knowing Obinne loves reggae a whole lot, I flip-flopped Peter Tosh' "Equal Rights" CD, inserted it to the car stereo and Tosh' roots reggae began to blast taking us back to memory lane.

Obinne was just a good company. He talked and talked to keep me alert since I was the one driving. I was swirving and changing lanes doing some 90-plus miles an hour. We start to talk about how reggae changed everything and how the trio Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, founders of The Wailers made a significant impact to music and U Roy's initiative which took reggae to another level metamorphosing to what is today rap and hip-hop. Tosh' track African considered by many to be his best touched Obinne's heart when it played and he read meaning into it.

After Tosh' blast, I went local since all politics are local according to Tip O'neil. I took out Baba's finest recordings I had compiled at Samaka Studios and when the first track Upside Down began to show the real stuff, I mean the superb arrangements and compositions of the Chief Priest, Obinne went nuts saying "he was way before his time." But when the singing and chorus popped up, he had no idea who the female singer was. The singer was Sandra Iszadore, a Black Panthers fanatic who had introduced Chief Priest Fela Anikulapo Kuti to the philosophies and writings of Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver and other black thinkers of the day when Baba took his Koola Lobitos Band to Los Angeles in 1969.

As Fela jammed, we talked politics and culture. On Nd'Igbo, Obinne acknowledged the fact that after our generation anything Igbo will definitely disappear, and that Igbos are indeed a finished people. "Look at our kids, do you think they will have anything to do with our culture when we're gone?" Obinne curiously ask.

"Well, I have said this long time ago and I'm weary of pointing out," I said back to him.

"But, you see, if our local musicians had challenged the establishment through their music, probably a whole lot would have changed, like Fela hammered the system and today he left a legacy. Not only that, Fela is a legend. Show me any Igbo musician who did what Fela did other than chasing money?" Obinne throws back.

"When you have a jumbled and bellicose so-called Igbo elites, what do you expect to happen? It's a tragedy, man!" I would say.

By the time Fela's jam session was over, we were already half way and the smell of Central California produce could be felt through our nose on both sides of the freeway. It was Obinne's request time. He wanted a different taste of music and had brought out his own CD, a compilation of Soukous musicals which blasted non-stop until we exited the freeway, cruising on Foothill Boulevard by California State University, Hayward Campus. A beautiful and quiet town, not to my taste, though. I love Los Angeles. We landed at where Eddie was staying at this university village and hanged out a little bit before the all night long carnival at downtown Fremont's Golden Peacock Banquet Hall.

The origin of Ikeji surfaced in our discourse. According to legend, the Aro people who migrated from place to place started celebrating New Yam Festival about 200 years ago. We talked about other festivals in Igboland and how similar they all tend to be with the appearance of a masquerade being involved.

At about 9:30 in the evening we were at 3681 Peralta Blvd., in Fremont, where the stuff of Aro culture was taking place. The place was packed and Northern Calis had begun to notice the strange faces rooted from Hollywood. Los Angeles area folks had been introduced and the disk jockey, Goddy Okereke, had begun to chant L.A. is in the house, L.A. is in the house! Booze, chatting and series of introduction took its course.

The group dance was awesome and the masquerade a sense of belonging to a cultural heritage. The Abriba war dance was good, too. I enjoyed every bit of it and made a whole lot out of it tracing back to how we lived in the past. One of the locals who noticed I was not an area boy, asked if I was from Aro. "No" was my answer. I was only there to celebrate with them, courtesy of the Onyeadors, and I think I enjoyed it.

Women, Water & Wells

The photograph here is one of 62 photographs now on display at UCLA's Fowler Museum, culled from Gil Garcetti's new book Water is Key. Back in the day, while the men were out hunting, women went to the stream and river to fetch water for food. Garcetti's Water is Key is to "underscore the link between water and human health.