SEASONS GREETINGS NIGERIA!!! (Campus Watch).

 Naija Campus Watch uses this opportunity, to wish you and your family merriment this blissful Christmas day.

As the birth of Christ brought us joy, Shall his coming will bring Joy to the world, May the celebration of this season bring us abundant and unending Joy and happiness, to you and your Family…

God Bless You & Be Bliss.

Enjoy!

Nigerian gunmen 'kill Mubi students'

At least 20 students have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Mubi, north-eastern Nigeria, a police source has told the BBC.

The attack happened at a student hostel away from the Federal Polytechnic Mubi campus, the source said.

A lecturer told the BBC that more than 40 students had been killed but there has been no official comment.

The reported killing comes days after a major operation against the Boko Haram militant group in the town.

The lecturer, who did not want his name to be used, told the BBC's Hausa service that the students were asked to say their names after lining up.

He says it is not clear why some were killed and others spared - some of those killed were Muslims.

"Everybody is scared and staying indoors now," he said.

He added that students were now leaving the town - they have draped tree branches over their cars, which is a traditional sign of neutrality in Nigeria.

Boko Haram militants fighting to establish Islamic law in Nigeria have killed more than 1,000 people in northern and central areas this year.

Presidential Change of Guards Parade at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (3l) and the Senate President, Senator David Mark as they assisted him and Vice President, Namadi Sambo (2l) together with other dignitaries to cut a cake to commemorate the Presidential Change of Guards Parade at the Forecourts of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 01/10/2012.

Criticisms trail national awards as David-West, Utomi, others slam FG

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, HENRY UMORU, CHARLES KUMOLU & GBENGA OKE

CRITICISMS, yesterday, greeted the list of 149 eminent Nigerians, who would be conferred with National Honours by President Goodluck Jonathan on September 17. While some dismissed the list as political, some said a host of the awardees do not deserve the awards.

Among those who spoke on the issue in a telephone chat with Vanguard include 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Prof. Pat Utomi; Afenifere elder, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Petroleum minister, Prof Tam David-West; National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive change, CPC, Engr Rotimi Fashakin; Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr Joe Igbokwe.

PDP keeps mum

They spoke as National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, refused to comment on the issue when newsmen approached him at the national headquarters of the ruling party in Abuja.

Kayode Eso, Cosmas Mduka, Obaleye Olayinka, Gov Uduaghan, MD Abubakar IGP, Charity Angya and Mike Adenuga are among the 149 national honour awardees named by the Federal Govt

Uotmi said: “I already have my position on it and I don’t intend to change that. For me, a real honour is when you go to a village, find a headmaster who for 30 to 40 years worked so diligently, and you also look for 200 to 300 personalities, who had become Professors or Doctors who might not have been anything except for the diligence of that headmaster. That is a person you award a CFR not some egomaniac who has stolen from the country and never adds value to it.”

Adebanjo spoke in like manner. He said:  “It is not just now that this started, National honours have been discredited since three to five years ago. What they are supposed to give to credible Nigerians that have served this country diligently are now being given to party leaders.

For instance, when Chief Tony Anenih was given a National Award, that was the year Olusegun Obasanjo said he gave Anenih as Minister of works N10 billion for the construction of Lagos- Ore, Benin Expressway and since then, they have been re-awarding that road contract. I am not a fan of national honours, it has been seriously discredited. But for a few, it is well deserved. I am disappointed and I didn’t bother to read the details because it can actually insult your intelligence.”

Adenuga’s GCON is political — David-West

To David-West, the way the honours are awarded to non-deserving persons could not inspire the younger generation.

His words: “Any nation that gives over 100 people national award at the same time cannot be a serious nation. The whole thing looks like mass production. My observations are simple. The GCON that was given to Mike Adenuga is political. How can Nigeria relegate eminent jurist like Justice Kayode Eso? He was given CFR alongside Justice Mary Odili”.

Does it in anyway make sense? I believe that at the time Eso was active in his days, Odili should be in Law school. But today, she is being given the same CFR with Eso, who performed excellently in the history of the judiciary. Odili only came to Abuja two years ago. It is on record that Eso was the only person, who interpreted the two-third majority controversy of the 1979 presidential election properly.

National honours are supposed to inspire the younger generation to excel for the country, but thieves are the ones who get national honours in Nigeria. I can never accept any award from Jonathan.”

Awards have lost credibility – CPC, ACN

To the opposition Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the annual ritual of national awards had lost credibility because some undeserving persons are usually honoured.

Said Fashakin: “A lot of us have given up on this regime because the various decisions they have taken are unscrupulous, ruthless and had no depth. They have brought down the image of that award with the majority of names that are now coming out which shows that the awards are politically motivated. Awards like GCON that are normally given to former Vice-Presidents and Senate Presidents is now being given to people that helped in bankrolling his elections last year.

That is why you will see eminent Nigerians like Prof Chinua Achebe staying away from such awards because they feel that the award is no longer worthwhile. So let government continue to fool itself but Nigerians know the truth.”

Slamming the Federal Government over the way it was awarding the national honours, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN wondered why the government was honouring some Nigerians, who have questionable integrity.

In a release by the State Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said “a careful perusal of the latest names released for national honours shows that it is a pot-pouri of businessmen that have no scruples, friends and associates of those in government, discredited contractors and acolytes of those in power, especially at the federal level and mainly PDP party members, who have done absolutely nothing than living off the state.”

It regretted that what was instituted as a badge of honour had been “bastardized to the extent that Nigerians see it as badge of dishonour” and “the present government is not in a hurry to reverse this negative perception.

“We see the awards still as a whimsical ritual that further erodes the entire concept when Nigerians desire an enrichment of the nation’s moral codes. It is clearly regrettable that the government did not take into consideration recent expressions of disappointment of Nigerians with the award and make necessary amends in the current list.

Rather, what we see it as a mix of names of people whom Nigerians cannot place in the events that have shaped this country for good. We are shocked that the same tardy way and manner this regime has been known to handle critical issues was on display in this latest list as there is no binding code of honour that unites these latest lists of awardees, as it should be. We only see a combination of people, most of whom have played negative roles in the evolution of Nigeria till the present where we have a wrecked country in our hands.”

ACN canvassed a thorough review of the entire process of awarding national honours to ensure that only those competent and equipped with requisite integrity were honoured.

“We demand that well defined criteria be set for the award of national honours and not an empty, base and hollow ritual that Nigerians treat with scorn and odium. We demand that the Federal Government reform the process or stop this meaningless signal that deprecates rather than enrich the national moral base.”

Actor Michael Clarke Duncan dies at 54

The Green Mile actor died today at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was being treated for a heart attack.

The Oscar nominated actor suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered. He was 54. May his soul rest in peace...amen

Patience Jonathan hospitalized in Germany?

Nigeria's First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has been in a hospital in Germany in the last four days, Abuja State House sources have told Sahara Reporters, undergoing treatment for food poisoning.

The sources say Mrs. Jonathan, who is also a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service, was airlifted to the hospital by an air ambulance in midweek under emergency medical conditions.

NBC bans Wande Coal's 'Go Low' video

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the weekend banned Wande Coal's Go Low video for showing too much 'Nudity'. But fortunately for people who love the video, the ban is restricted to local TV stations. Channel O, Trace, MTV Base, Sound City etc will continue to play the video.v

Fast rising Yoruba actress Seun Ogunlade passes on

Seun Ogunlade popularly known as Seun Effizy Po, died in the early hours of this morning after a brief illness. May her soul rest in peace, amen. 

'I am a white American that married a Nigerian.' - Crystal Owonubi

 

Crystal Ellis Owonubi (pictured above) lives in Jos with her family. She has been sharing her story with other Americans and people in the world at large via a popular Facebook page 'Mixed and Happy: I support mixed-raced families!"  Here's something she wrote that I want to share with the rest of you. See it below...

I grew up in Bauxite, Arkansas. I have lived in Nigeria for the past 7 years with my husband. We have two children together. We have been married for 12 years now. My father has never met my husband and has refused to accept my children also.

When I had my first baby, a little girl that is now 12 years old. I called my father and said that I wanted to come and see him for Christmas with my baby. He said, "I don't want any black people in my home!" and hung up the phone!

I grew up in an all white school with only one mixed girl in the school. I was treated horribly in school because I dated a black boy that lived in the next town at the age of 16. My father told me that he would disown me and to this day, I have never received a phone call from him. 

I was called nigger lover in school and nobody wanted to sit by me. I knew what it felt like to be rejected. I was sent away to several different homes for troubled children because my mother did not want me to be with a black person. She would lock the phone up in her room. But, today I live in the blackest nation, Nigeria. And today I am happy that I did not end up racist like them or should I say ignorant."

 

I am holding back my tears. I thank God that he gave me a family of my own! He has blessed me with a wonderful man that understands me and loves me for who I am. He has blessed me with a wonderful family that accepts me regardless of my skin color and regardless of where I come from. 

 

Even though my mother and father in law are both deceased now, I thank God for their lives and how they were able to show me love before they went on to be with the Lord. Many people have been amazed that I am been able to stay in Nigeria for this long, but now I am ready to share my story. This is not the full story nor is it the ending of the story, so watch out for my book......coming soon! God wrote my story, but I wrote the book. I pray that many peoples lives will be touched by my story and that lives will be changed.

From Linda lkeji's blog

History, as Jonathan picks Mukhtar as first female Chief Justice Senate

History, as Jonathan picks Mukhtar as first female Chief Justice Senate reverses N8.7b prison decongestion scheme
35,407 inmates awaiting trial
THE Senate has asked the Executive arm to stop the ongoing prison decongestion programme on w

hich N8.7 billion had been expended.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday asked the chamber to confirm the appointment of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar as first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)
The position of the Senate on the prison decongestion programme followed a report of the Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior and Police Affairs led by Senator Umaru Dahiru which was raised by the chamber on the plight of persons awaiting trial in prisons.
Presenting the report yesterday during the plenary session of the chamber, the chairman said having consulted widely with stakeholders, the panel came to these resolutions among others: “That the ongoing prison decongestion programme under the Federal Ministry of Justice should be discontinued as it is unsustainable and should be completely taken over by the Legal Aid Council, which is more suitable for the task;
“That the states and the Federal Ministry of Justice should be proactive in reviewing case files before them for timely arraignment of suspects;
“That his Lordship, the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency, set up Administration of Justice Commission pursuant to the Administration of Justice Act Cap A3,Vol1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, for the purpose of ensuring interagency cooperation and collaboration in the justice sector in setting up strategies to address the problem. Similarly, chief judges of states should also be advised to set up administrative committees in their respective states with the same aims and objectives.”
In a letter to the Senate which was read by the President of Senate, David Mark, on the floor, President Jonathan explained that the appointment of Justice Mariam Mukhtar was in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The letter read: “In conformity with Section 321 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which gives the President powers to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate, I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“It is my hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious attention of the Distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Please accept, Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.’’
The president also asked for the confirmation of the appointment of two Justices of the Supreme Court “in conformity with Section 231, Sub-section (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which gives the President powers to appoint a Justice of the Supreme Court acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate. I have the honour to forward the under-mentioned names for confirmation as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
The new Chief Justice-designate, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar was born on November 20, 1944. She attended St. George Primary School, Zaria and St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria.
In the late 1950s she went to Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somerset, England, Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire, England, Gibson and Weldon College of Law.
She was called to the English Bar in November 1966 and was called to the Nigerian Bar a year later in July 1967.
From 1967, she was a trainee State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria; Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government, 1971; Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973.
For nearly 10 years, (1977-1987) she was Judge of the High Court of Kano State; a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 1987-1993 and Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, 1993-2005.
A life member of the International Association of Women Lawyers, Justice Mukhtar has been a Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC) since 2005.