Reuben Abati:The undignifying things a man has to do for survival - Response from JIMI DISU

 Reuben Abati,SSA (media to the President says of a Nigerian citizen who criticized the President:
 ”We are dealing with such hideous and second rate characters in Nigeria’s public space, belonging to the ACN and the CPC, and that other would-be disaster-prone mongrel called APC that they won’t even respect the truth. The prize for being silly in this regard must go to one Rotimi Fashakin who describes himself as the National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He is an arm-chair critic per excellence and a medieval-era ignoramus.
In a release titled “President Jonathan’s AU summit gaffe” (May 28) Rotimi displayed such habitual indolence and brainlessness that his heirs must be eternally ashamed of, and which I consider offensive and needlessly disruptive. His subject is the just-ended AU @ 50 summit in Addis Ababa.
I invite more cerebral and decent persons to consider the facts. President Jonathan as the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the AU summit in Addis Ababa and the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) indeed put up a sterling performance, using the opportunity of the trip to further promote Nigeria’s interests and to strengthen Nigeria’s relationships with other countries. He held bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary General and the leaders of Jamaica, Egypt, Swaziland, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire. He granted interviews to the media, local and international. He also participated in a special session on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, at which he invited other world leaders to the Abuja+12 conference to be hosted in Nigeria, mid-June. President Jonathan is an accomplished diplomat and a responsible leader under whose watch, Nigeria’s foreign policy process and international relations have been strengthened with commendable results.
Fashakin, failing to do minimal research that any right-thinking person would attempt, jumps to the conclusion that President Jonathan missed his slot at the AU and that nobody represented him. This is more than 48 hours after I had issued a statement indicating that no slot was missed. Fashakin must be so busy he doesn’t even bother to read the news. No slot was missed because no country was under any compulsion to speak. Any country that wished to make a statement indicated the interest to do so, by pressing the button at its own convenience. Nigeria had indicated an interest to speak, but the President needed to attend an urgent ECOWAS meeting on the Lagos-Abidjan Highway, to be attended by five West African countries, to take a report by the Nigerian Minister of Works who is the chair of the regional inter-Ministerial body on the proposed Lagos-Abidjan Highway. I have since circulated the conclusions of that meeting.
While President Jonathan was attending that meeting, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, the Minister of Foreign Affairs presented our statement to the OAU at 50 on President Jonathan’s behalf. I have also since circulated the full text of that statement. In other words, Nigeria’s voice was heard, loud and clear. Let it be noted that President Jonathan’s attendance of a meeting on the sidelines of the AU Summit was perfectly in order, and he attended quite a number, just as Minister Ashiru was not the only Foreign Minister who spoke on behalf of a President at the Summit. So where did Fashakin get his information from that nobody represented Nigeria?
The nature of his mental indolence is understandable. In this attempt to pull President Jonathan down at all costs, lies have become standard stuff, mischief a major commodity, and indecency a character flaw. President Jonathan does not owe anyone an apology for serving Nigeria diligently and truthfully. Fashakin’s reference to an incident in Australia is also wrong-headed because the allegation is false. In fact, in Australia, President Jonathan met with a broad range of investors in the mining sector and that has resulted in huge investments in the Nigerian mining sector. I consider the insinuation about inebriation, in Fashakin’s statement, amplified by his paid agents in other fora, as utterly disrespectful and foolish. They can’t certainly be talking about a President who is a well-focused man of achievement. By the same token, I consider the reference to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in that statement as a red herring. Again, I advise Fashakin to read the newspapers so he can be abreast of developments, the only way he can get close to being an effective spokesperson. I had made it clear that President Jonathan has no hand in the Governors Forum crisis, and we stand by that position.
Our case is not rested. When next Fashakin comes to the public with unintelligent thoughts about President Jonathan, it shall remain our duty to continue to remind him of the need to think before talking.”

Response From Jimi Disu:
 
 I am ashamed this is coming from the spokesperson of the President of my country and a junior colleague in the profession .How any well bred,well brought up professional can use such hideous language beats my imagination.Lets even give him some credit that Fasakin got come facts wrong could a rebuttal not have been written in much better and decent manner.?Is this language of abuse going to build bridges for his principal or destroy it further?.How can a statement from the Presidency read”we are dealing with such hideous and second rate characters in the Nigerian public space?Excuse me?Who are the first raters?Him?His principal?How can a statement from the Presidency state that a fellow citizen is  ” a medieval era ignoramus? or that “we continue to remind him of the need to think before talking” To the subject itself ,Abati must think he is dealing with “ignoramus “,when he tries to proffer why Jonathan failed to address the AU summit.A man left his shores to represent his country at an AU summit in Addis,gets there and suddenly finds a meeting on an Ecowas road more important?Mr Abati should tell that to the marines.He then goes on to list his principal’ achievements and how he met with these investors we never see who just come and milk our resources dry without us getting any reciprocal benefit and rounds it up by saying his boss is “ an accomplished diplomat and a responsible leader under whose watch, Nigeria’s foreign policy process and international relations have been strengthened with commendable results”
Ha!

Pictures from CLIQUE AFRICA May Edition hangout with Barr Jide Adesanya

10 Ways That Meditation Can Change Your Life

 One ancient practice that has shown tremendous transformations is the practice of meditation. So what is meditation? and why is it known to change people’s lives for the better? Even to the point of improving your chances of success and changing your whole life completely.

Meditation is a practice that is done by an individual that trains the mind and induces an altered state of consciousness. You are fully awake, but your mind travels elsewhere, into your unconscious. There are many techniques for meditation like practices that specifically target certain areas like promoting relaxation, develop self awareness, reduce stress, or to foster a sense of well-being.
Meditation exercises the mind. You exercise your body to keep it healthy and fit. Meditation does just that to your mind. By practicing self-awareness, you are improving and keeping your psychological well-being fit and healthy.
 

A Brief History of Meditation

Meditation is intimately associated with spiritual and religious contexts. Many ancient civilizations used chants and rhythmic prayers to their gods. The earliest known record of meditation is from Hindu texts 5000 years ago. The Buddha, who is one of the major proponents of meditation, sat for years trying to reach enlightenment through meditation.
The practice of meditation can be seen in all religions–from Judaism to Islam to Christianity–it is an essential act of getting in touch with your spiritual being.

Meditation Techniques

Since the 1960′s and ’70′s, the many benefits of meditation have been scientifically researched in the Western world. Various meditation techniques have been thoroughly studied, which has led millions of people practicing different meditation techniques all over the world. There are many different types of meditation and it is best to do a bit of research to find the type that is best for you to gain the benefits you are looking for.
One of the most popular meditation techniques is Transcendental Meditation. It’s a very simple and effortless practice wherein you sit on the floor or on a chair in a lotus position for about 20 minutes twice a day. It is known to reduce stress, improve your thinking, help you sleep better, and helps you deal with tense situations more calmly.
Another meditation technique is Mindfulness or the Vipassana, which is a Buddhist tradition. All you do is sit on a chair in a proper position, close your eyes, and accept any thoughts that come to mind. It allows you to be present in your thoughts, allowing them to freely enter your mind. Mindfulness is also used in psychotherapy wherein you let repressed thoughts and emotions come out of your unconscious. It can be your way of dealing with emotions that you keep bottled up inside of you.

 Creative or Visualization Meditation involves concentration on an image or vision. If you want to achieve something, say for example, a job promotion, what you do is you sit on a chair and visualize yourself actually achieving the image in your head. When you imagine these images, the emotions that are associated with getting what you want will be felt–like happiness and satisfaction–as if you already have it. It can promote confidence and optimism.

10 Benefits of Meditation

1 - Meditation relieves overall stress. It can lighten the load of a busy day and relieve your physical and emotional stress through relaxation.
2 - It helps you look young by getting rid of all that stress that can add wrinkles to your face and make you ill. You feel energized and rejuvenated, lightening your load and reducing feelings of sadness and despair.
3 - Meditation gives you added energy. Your concentrated breathing and relaxation improves your blood circulation, giving you more energy to be productive and do enjoyable things in life.
4 - Lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease and improves your immune system. Through relaxation and breathing techniques, meditation can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, making you healthier.
5 - Meditation can improve your concentration level and clear your mind. When you’ve faced your demons and unnecessary thoughts, your mind is free to accommodate more important and pressing matters in your life.
6 - Awaken higher levels of your creativity and potential. By weeding out the negative toxins in your mind, you have more freedom to explore things that will bring you more development and improvement.
7 - Eliminate anger and fear. We often repress these emotions because they are sometimes too much to bear. When we openly accept them into our thoughts, we let them go and allow them to disappear.
8 - When you let go of fear and anger, when you are happy and improved, it immediately improves your relationships with others.
9 -  It provides you with peace of mind and general happiness
10 - You develop tolerance. When you are less tense, less stressed, and happier, you become more calm in dealing with tense situations.

Meditation For Success

Many famous celebrities have their own share of benefits from meditation. Paul McCartney and the Beatles made Transcendental Meditation very popular in the 1970′s when they went to India, learned and practiced the technique with its very founder. Paul McCartney has stated that meditation was very inspirational to him, that his mind was clearer when he wrote their songs.
Tina Turner also practices meditation and she credits her strong Buddhist beliefs and meditation practices to giving her the inner strength she needed to leave her abusive husband in the 1970′s.
Albert Einstein had daily meditation naps that brought him answers before he even asked the questions.
Undoubtedly, meditation is a practice that brings about massive benefits that can change and improve our lives. There are many meditation techniques that you can perform, but the very premise of meditation has always been for self-awareness and psychological well-being to help you transform and change your life.
Don’t know where to start with meditation? Make sure you read the book below “Meditation for Medicine”. The meditation techniques are easy to understand along with detailed pictures, a must have for anyone who is looking at benefiting from meditation.

 Written by - Joel

4 Strategies for Your One-on-One Networking Meeting

If you were completely honest in your networking ventures, you might say to a mentor, expert, or more senior colleague, “You’re more important than me, and you have something I want - gimme!” Not exactly an approach I’d recommend.

FRAUD: NATFORCE OFFICIALS DOCKED

Obinna C. Onyekwelu – NATFORCE Zonal Coordinator

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday May 7, 2013 arraigned four members of the self-styled National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, NATFORCE, before Justice N. Agishi of the Federal High Court, Enugu, on a 9-count charge of conspiracy, extortion and obtaining money under false pretense.

Obinna C. Onyekwelu, Emmanuel Ngwu, Ogunjimi Charles and Onyia Fidelia are alleged to belong to a syndicate which extorts money from unsuspecting Nigerians under the pretext of helping them secure employment with the federal government. The scammers defrauded hundreds of job seekers by deceitfully selling recruitment forms to them at five thousand naira each with promises of offering them employment in Federal Government establishments.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

The prosecution counsel, Mainforce Adaka, asked the court to fix a trial date since there was no bail application before the court. However the defense counsel objected and made an oral application for bail.

Justice Agishi granted bail to each of the accused in the sum of N300, 000.00 each with two sureties in like sum who should either be a businessman in Enugu or a civil servant on grade level 10 and above.

The case was adjourned to June 12, 2013 for the hearing.

The quartet is the first batch of suspects to be arraigned by the EFCC since the anti-graft agency burst the racket that cut across the six zones of the country. A certain Osita Emmanuel Okereke, self-acclaimed director –general of the National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, NATFORCE, was apprehended in January, after spurning several invitations, and grilled for his role in the mega scam.

The organization's claim to recognition and registration by government has proven to be a hoax.

HILARIOUS - Dead Man Wakes Up At His Own Funeral

In Zimbabwe, mourners at a funeral were shocked when the dead man suddenly woke up. The man’s name is Brighton Dama Zanthe and he is 34 years old.

According to our source, he works as a transport worker. He was being laid to rest last Monday after he died due to an illness.

His family covered his body with some blankets and decided to transfer him to a local mortuary. The next day, the mourners were scattered in disbelief when Brighton started moving as they walk past his coffin to say goodbye.

According to Brighton’s boss Lot Gaka: “I was the first to notice Zanthe’s moving legs as I was in the queue to view his body. This shocked me.

At first I could not believe my eyes but later I realized that there was still life. We called an ambulance which came within 7 minutes.

It’s really a miracle and most people are still in disbelief.” It was gathered that Brighton was discharged from the hospital last week.

He spent 2 days on life support at Gweru Provincial Hospital. “This issue can be best told by people who came to my house to attend my funeral. I don’t know what happened and I only remember being on a life support system in hospital.

Everything is history to me. What I can only confirm is that people gathered at my house to mourn but I was given another chance and I am alive,” Brighton said

Rape:A Trending Menance, By Dieko Gilbert

Yet another gang rape video has gone viral,this time not in Abia ,but Lagos. Again the boys laughed and the girl weeps. The boys click away on digital cameras, as if it they are on the set of playboy magazine shoot .

In 2011,the Abia rape video was passed round the cyberspace.
People downloaded and watched,blogs and websites were agog with comments more appalling than the viewing of the video itself .

Advocacy groups raised dusts, still the rapists have not been brought to book.

That was 2011,last December 2012, an Indian student was gang raped and beaten by five men and left to die in the street.

She later died in the hospital and in the glare of the world her case made international headlines.

The India case caused demonstrations to spring up all around the county,demonstrators literally called for the heads of the perpetrators of the act.

The five men have been arrested among them a teenager not fit for trial in an adult court and one has died in police custody (suicide or killed)not yet proven.

Back to the latest one ,that is the Lagos rape case.The video has gone viral and the main actor’s face munched ,bloggers asking questions such as “do you know this face” and “help catch this man” good but not good enough.

The big question is are there laws for rape and another BIG question is are rape cases ever reported.

A certain story was told of a girl who was raped and when she got to the police station to report the case,she said she was robbed and when asked what she was robbed of, she reluctantly said she was raped,the policemen made fun of her and called her loose and wayward .
This is a joke, but is it far from the truth?Is it not true that a girl is made fun of and ridiculed when she reports a rape case?

Rape cases are notoriously under-reported,as a result of social stigma.
Rape victims washed up after been raped and just enter mute mode,exposing themselves to risks of been infected with a poupouri of sexually transmitted diseases ;even unwanted pregnancy .And most unnerving of all the accused walks freely and probably be looking for the next victim to attack.

Tobi Asekun a counsellor with project Alert Nigeria an NGO, that fights for women’s rights says rape cases are seldom reported because of the cloud of stigma that canopy over them .Even parents of victims always exude cowardice by not reporting the incident to the police. Running away from stigmatization.

Issues of rape mirrors’ a sad realisation of how societies have decayed .

Hajiya Zainab Maina, is Nigeria’s minister of women affairs and social development,expressed her concern about sexual violence against women is rising in the country.

She said drastic steps must be taken to combat it and her ministry is pushing for the passage the death penalty bill.

The truth is,there is a rape culture in Nigeria.Just as it is in Nigeria,so it is in South Africa.

Statically, South Africa top the list of country with a pole vaulted cases of rape in Africa. It has one of the highest rates, with 277,000 reported cases.

Somehow not shocking though for a country which holds the belief that raping a virgin, is an automatic elixir for curing the HIV /AID scourge that is ranging the country.

Survey by Medical Research Council has shown that one in four men have admitted to raping someone.

In the United States – More than 89,241 rape cases were reported.

Criminals face life behind bars, and in some States, castration is an option.

New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India’s major cities,with a rape reported on an average every 18 hours, according to Police figures.

In Nigeria rape is never reported and no one has ever served time for it and may never.

This Story was written by Dieko Gilbert, a Lagos based Freelance Journalist.