The president and a number of people know what Covfefe means - Sean Spicer

Wednesday evening, White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer addressed the President's viral 'Covfefe' tweet. While taking questions from journalists during the daily briefings, Spicer gave a whole new perspective to the word, saying, 'the president and a small group of people know exactly what he meant'.

The big question now is, 'What is COVFEFE'?

Cisi Eze: And Naiveté Said, “Give Us Biafra”

Once upon a time, a man married a rich woman. At first, they were happy, but as the years rolled by, she grew weary of the union. He was lording over her, even though she was the breadwinner.

As no one loves oppression, she protested. “I want to go back to my people!”

Her husband threw back his head as maniacal, mirthless laughter rumbled in his chest. When he was sated, he bellowed at her, “You are going nowhere! You are my wife and so you will remain.”

One day, she planned to run away, but her husband caught winds of her plans. He captured her, locked her in a cell, and beat her daily. Eventually, he beat fear into her and that fear dissolved the strong, crystalline notion that she could run away, free herself, from him.

There are days the memory of her trying to escape seems so vague, so far away, that when she reaches out her hands to touch it, it runs farther away from her, inch by inch, and she gives up. Coming to terms with the fact that she has forgotten an incident that should have felt so real, is a tough task. To soothe herself, and to reassure herself she is sane, she convinces herself that her act of trying to leave was all in her mind, something she had imagined. She must have played with the thought so much that she began to think her fantasy had miraculously materialised into reality.

At other times, she remembers! And when this happens, she scurries about in the house to pick her clothes and other things she owns. The ones she would not miss, she leaves behind. When she has assembled her clothes in one pile, when she is ready to put her clothes in the bag, Fear barges in on her. He pushes her violently, meanly – almost with a vengeance, to the bed. How dare she forget all that happened in the past, he says.

She trudges around the house with the heavy weight of fear strapped to her back. She has decided to stay, not because she loves him. She might not be scared of him. She only stays for peace. But how long would she stay for peace?

***

Lately, some people have been talking about how they want Biafra. Some people believe Biafra is the panacea to all the problems of Nigeria. How cute!

They have failed to accept, or maybe they are yet to realise, that the problem of Nigeria is Nigerians. Biafra would be made up of Nigerians; ergo, Biafra would suffer the same problems, if not worse problems, Nigeria endures.

I agree the concept of “One Nigeria” is a scam because of the disturbing level of ethno-religiosity we face here. Guess what! Some Igbo people do not like other Igbo people. Biafra would be divided, too.

Biafra is an amalgam of the South-East and South-South, but can we say the South-South is Igboland in the real sense? The South-South might end up suffering marginalisation, as “Core Ndi Igbo” would want the “lion share”.

This might lead to the top oil producing states (South-South) agitating for their own country. In the long run, Biafra might be like Nigeria – the “abusive husband” that refused to let his wife return to her people.

Some people are eager to have Biafra, but what lies await the moment we get Biafra? Good road network? Can Biafra feed itself in the first year? How many Igbo people are ready to delve into agriculture? Would we be ready to mine coal and thereby diversify our economy?

Are we going to have strong laws that would prevent the high rate of corruption? What crop of leaders are we going to have there? We should consider these few things before craving Biafra.

The only way forward is to move forward. It is time to embrace our diversity, and see it as our strength. Everyone can contribute in different capacities. Nigeria is blessed with human resources, but as it looks, we are not fully utilising our potentials as a people.

Other measures to take include implementing anti-corruption laws, constant electricity supply to encourage small businesses and entrepreneurs, banning importation of most goods and increasing local production of most goods, most importantly, we should drop hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is the only reason we move to countries that condone and embrace the values we condemn. Hypocrisy is the reason we have a high level of religiosity, while being very corrupt. It is time to strengthen our legal system, work on our values, and put strong institutions in place.

We should focus on how to fix ourselves as a nation – even if we had Biafra, minorities would feel oppressed. Besides, as I expressed earlier, there is a high chance we will face the same problem when we get Biafra. We have all it takes to make Nigeria a better place. All we need to do is work for it. We all have to start contributing to national growth in our own little way.

P.S. Some people want Biafra, but people from “their side” can’t marry people from “that other side”. Are Ndi Igbo even united?

P.P.S. South-South might refuse to go with South-East. I mean, they are not going to force SS, abi? In the event SE becomes Biafra, they would end up being landlocked.

P.P.P.S. Something says I should go’ an’ find Yoruba man to marry. I love Nigeria so much! I can’t let go of Nigerian jollof.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Scott Griessel

About Cisi Eze

Cisi is a freelance writer, comic artiste, and 2D animator. To kill boredom, she reads anything and everything in sight. Cisi wants to bring positive social change in Nigeria by provoking people to rethink and reconsider certain beliefs they have clutched to their chests like it were a medal. She aims to do this through every form of art at her disposal. Cisi lives in Lagos, Nigeria

You Don’t Want to Miss this! Etisalat Sponsored Stage Play Love and Recession Stage Play Makes an Encore in Lagos | June 3rd & 4th

The Etisalat sponsored stage play, Love and Recession, produced and directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa of Iopeneye will hit the stage in Lagos for the second time this June. The play which made its debut in December 2016 is set to intrigue arts, culture and literary enthusiasts with 5 shows.

Date: Saturday, June 3rd & Sunday, June 4th, 2017
Venue: Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Ifeoma Fafunwa offers a sneak peek into why the satire, Love and Recession will be showing again, saying “since the satire, which addresses social norms such as the pressure young women and men face regarding getting married, particularly in times of economic recession, was staged in Lagos, we have been inundated with requests by people who want another opportunity to see it”.

This won’t be the first time Etisalat will be showing support for the arts as emphasised by Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani, “At Etisalat, we are proud to continue to support Iopeneye Productions, whose plays such as the popular ‘HearWord’ and the more recent ‘Love and Recession’, have themes that address important social issues that affect Nigerians. We remain committed to supporting arts and other aspects that are of interest to our customers.”

Watch this space for more information on ticket purchase or follow our social media handle, @etisalat_9ja.

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Igbos please learn from history not experience Jaw-jaw is always better than war-war | Akin Omoz-Oarhe

I just read a piece by Edith Omelebele Onyebgaju on 50 years of Biafra. She spoke of how Biafrans were "Murdered in Cold Blood". Talk to every young Igbo and this the picture they all have of the Igbo's quietly seated at home when a combined Army of Nigeria, Britain, Germany and America, invaded and killed them in cold blood. A truth is that the average Igbo youth does not attempt to know the truth about the war beyond the oral narration of their aged parents who knew very little of what transpired. The best of them may have read Story Teller Chinua Achebe's story version.
The truth however was that Ojukwu wanted that war so badly. There was just nothing Gowon did not do to prevent it. This was not only because he did not want a war but also because the propaganda machinery of Biafra was very intimidating that he actually dreaded engaging Biafra. On the side of Ojukwu, he actually felt that Biafra could do Nigeria in a couple of months. No wonder, just a month into the war, he had the temerity to make an incursion into Midwest not only with the goal to colonize the West and Midwest but also to March on Lagos and capture Gowon alive!
 As one of the numerous efforts to prevent the war, Gowon set up a National Reconciliation Committee. The other two Southern Regions were delegated to go plead with Ojukwu to be part of it. Awolowo lead the Western delegates while Chiefs Onyia and Mariere lead Midwest delegates. The meeting with Ojukwu held in Enugu on 6/7th March 1967.
 Below is an excerpt from Ojukwus contribution. You can feel the air of Arrogance, Confidence and Power with which he talked. The meeting lasted 12 hours but Ojukwu refused the entrities. After this was Aburi and then, the war.
So young Igbos, be informed that the Igbo's were the reaggressors before the war commenced.

OJUKWU:
"I appealed for settlement quietly because I understood that this was a naked struggle for power and that the only time we can sit down and decide the future of Nigeria on basis of equality will always be equality of arms. Quietly, I built up. If you do not know it, I am proud, and my officers are proud, that here in the East we possess the biggest army in Black Africa. I am no longer speaking as an underdog, I am speaking from a position of power".

A GLIMPSE AT ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM IN NIGERIA DURING JONATHAN'S PRESIDENCY | Akin Omoz-Oarhe

In 2013, Seventeen States were beneficiaries of N2b each for Ecology.

1. Abia............PDP
2. Anambra.....APGA (A Department of PDP)
3. Bauchi.........PDP
4. Bayelsa........PDP
5. Benue..........PDP
6. Cross River...PDP
7. Delta...........PDP
8. Eboyin.........PDP
9. Enugu.........PDP
10. Gombe........PDP
11. Kaduna........PDP
12. Katsina........PDP
13. Kebbi...........PDP
14. Kogi.............PDP
15. Ondo............PDP
16. Plateau........PDP
17. Taraba...........PDP

We can see that:
**Ecological Problem has direct correlation with Party affilliation.

**All beneficiaries were PDP States.

**Only One Igbo State, Imo State, which was APC did not benefit.

**Only one Yoruba State which was PDP benefited.
**No screams of Marginalization was heard from the Yoruba people.

**Bendel use to be a State but apparently only the PDP part of that defunct State, now Delta State, had ecological problems.

**Ondo used to be a state but only the PDP part of the defunct state, still Ondo State, had ecological problems.
..........................

Some of us will never forget the role the 'SUPPOSED HERO' assumed in his dealings with the entirety of the Nigerian people.

My Daughter with Cerebral Palsy Was Battered by the Therapist I Trusted

I’m Bukola Ayinde, Founder of P4:13 Foundation and author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum.

Getting a diagnosis which says your child has Cerebral Palsy is a parent’s worst nightmare. I had my period of living in denial; wishing the problem would go away, like it was all a dream, but the reality stared me in the face.

My husband and I decided to face the challenge before us squarely.

We engaged different specialist; Neurologist, Paediatrician, Physiotherapist, Speech therapist, Occupational therapist, Special Needs Care Givers. At one point we were scouting for a very good physiotherapist.

A parent of a special needs child recommended a young lady to me. I mentioned her name to one of my daughter’s therapist who confirmed that the lady was very good at her job. However, she also confirmed that the lady could be arrogant. I spoke with another therapist on the field who also confirmed that the recommended Physiotherapist was good at what she does but she could be rude.

Well, at that point of my life, I didn’t mind if she was going to be rude to me or arrogant as far as she was as good as everyone had said, I was fine with that. All I wanted was to see was my child’s improvement, I could take any sh*t in between.

She came on board as my daughter’s physiotherapist. She was very professional and dedicated, but she didn’t come cheap. She didn’t come cheap at all.
My daughter attended a mainstream school that allowed her to use the sickbay as her pullout room for her physiotherapy session.

In June 2016, my daughter’s school proprietress requested that my husband and I should make out time to see her. When we eventually did a week later, she told us that the physiotherapist had manhandled our daughter and she was going to show us a CCTV recording to prove it.

At the back of my mind I felt the woman was exaggerating because therapy could be demanding at times. My child may cry, if she didn’t like the exercise or if the exercise was tasking.
However, when I watched the video, I was shocked beyond words that someone I trusted with my daughter could treat her worse than an animal. I believe that even an animal shouldn’t be treated that way.

I mean, she came highly recommended; she is a Masters degree holder. She is not an illiterate.
Apparently she didn’t remember that there was a CCTV in the room or she felt nobody would be checking the TV at that particular time.

It was heartbreaking to see my daughter treated by a health worker in such barbaric act.
I watched my daughter as she fell down several times hitting her head on the tiles. There were times she hit her head on the edge of the wooden bed before falling to the ground.

Her Physiotherapist slapped her three times; the third time with her cell phone. She left her head hanging upside for 5 minutes. She twisted my daughter’s hands several times; at a point she sat on her hands, at another point she tied her hands behind her head. I watched as my daughter fell from her chair while her neck was stuck in between the space at the vertical back rest and the flat wood used for sitting down. I watched on as this lady typed on her phone 90% of the time only taking some time off to torture my daughter. Did I mention that she took out time to take her selfie? Up to five times.

After we watched the recording, my husband could not control his tears. My heart bled.
My daughter’s Neurologist said we cannot ascertain the level of damage to her brain because we did not bring her immediately it happened. He said an MRI would have been done to ascertain any damage.
I got her arrested.
She said she was sorry
She claimed depression and ill health
I didn’t believe her then, I don’t believe her now.

I had to make a decision, to leave my daughter in the hands of her nannies at home (which maybe another source of abuse) and follow through to ensure the physiotherapist was duly punished. (Bearing in mind the justice system in Nigeria) or drop the charges lodged at the police station and allow Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba to handle the matter.

I dropped the police charges. I decided to stay with my traumatized daughter.
I handed the Physiotherapist over to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba.

Her punishment:
• Three months withdrawal of her practicing license.
• Three months work in a general hospital under supervision without pay
• She was to undergo a psychiatric test
Like seriously? Are you kidding me?
She had been practicing for a year without renewing her license and all you could do was to withdraw her license officially for a mere three months?

She went back to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists to ask for permission to travel to USA to get treatment.

I called to check on the case, and I was told she had travelled for treatment
I was told not to worry as she cannot practice anywhere else in the world without a letter from the board.
Some months later, I was told by a reliable source that she was not taking any major treatments but attending a masters programme in US.

So she got away with child abuse, assault, battery, in fact attempted murder.
This is only possible in Nigeria right?

I went back to Medical Rehabilitation Center, I was shocked to find out that the case had gone cold.
What stops her from coming back into the country and working with other children?
How many Nigerians ask for practicing license before employing a professional?

I strongly believe that the least the board should have done was to declare her unfit to work with children.
In respect to my daughter, the signs were there: She had been withdrawn for a while in fact she had stop smiling, interacting with anybody in the house or attempting to answer questions in school. I kept asking the care giver that followed her to school about the sudden change. The caregiver said she had no idea. I came up with my own theory and I brushed it aside.

How would I have known that a health worker, someone I trusted with my child could be so cruel? The Physiotherapist had been with us for over two years. I can only imagine….

Well, I pulled my daughter out of school and started her own mini school at home. I let go of my current caregivers for good reasons and got new ones. With care and love, she added weight, came out of her shell and got better. Right now she attends a school three times a week and we are making progress.

Child abuse is real…from the people you least expect. Protect your children.

Watch the CCTV footage here:

Photo Credit: Sidelnikov | Dreamstime.com

About Bukola Ayinde

Bukola Ayinde is the Founder of P4:13 Foundation - Diary of a Special Needs Mum Initiative. She is also the Founder of FLIPP Foundation (whose mission is to inspire a culture of reading, writing and building strong positive values among African children). Based on her experience as a mother of a special needs child, Bukola has become a voice for families who have children living with special needs in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. She will be releasing her book - "Diary of a Special Needs Mum" soon
Bukola is married to Olumuyiwa and they have two lovely daughters.

Meet Haillie Sumney: Ghana's most sought after TV personality and actress!

The past year has seen a steady rise in the profile of delectable screen goddess, Hailliote Nyameye Sumney.

Simply known as Haillie Sumney, this Canadian born talent is currently one of the hottest and most sought after faces in the Ghanaian entertainment Industry.

 

Before her foray into entertainment, pretty Hailley was registered nurse back in the United States, but according to her, 'entertainment and TV has always been my passion and the saying goes, It;s never to late to follow your dreams'.

About a year ago, she made her debut with leading Ghanaian Urban TV station. 4Syte Tv as a presenter and since then, her career and profile has grown in leaps and bounds.

As an actress, she's featured in the popular sitcom "Heels and Sneakers" produced by Yvonne Nelson. She also featured in a Chris Attoh produced movie that'll be hitting the cinemas in the coming weeks.

In December 2016, she hosted a couple of high profile events including the Ghana movie awards alongside Comedian DKB, the MTN 4syte TV awards and on May 20, 2017, Hailley hosted the maiden edition of the Ghana Entertainment Awards in New York alongside dancehall legend, Samini.

Her brand, passion and personality transcends TV and entertainment, she's also a fashionista who was recently signed as a brand ambassador for the famous bespoke British Shoe Brand Jesu-Ségun London; shoe brand that has been endorsed and worn by global celebrities like Snoop Dog, Chelsea Handler, DJ Duffey, footballer Stephen Appiah and Michael Blackson.

In the coming weeks, Haillie will be unveiling new projects as her profile and brand continues to soar across the African continent and beyond.

Tweet of the day from acting president, Yemi Osinbajo

Word! Another tweet after the cut...

Moji Olaiya's death certificate was issued in Canada yesterday - Yomi Fabiyi shares more details on her burial plans

Yomi Fabiyi, the publicity secretary of late Moji Olaiya's burial committee has shared more details about her burial and return of her body to Nigeria.

According to the actor, Moji Olaiya's birth certificate was issued yesterday and  the government of Canada has also released her body to her brother a friend of the industry Mr Yinka Farinde for burial. 

Read his full statement after the cut....

Whoever posted a wrong picture and invariably tagged Late Moji Olaiya's name to it is just being mischevious. 
We promised to keep friends and family up to speed as event unfolds. We are well aware that friends, fans and family are agog and wish to pay their last respect.

To those reminding us about religious sentiments, we wish to state that after her demise, it took up to 3-4days before the AUTOPSY was finally concluded and body released by the government of Canada to the brother of the deceased and a friend of the industry Mr Yinka Farinde for burial. Body now with relevant funeral home.

The death certificate was issued yesterday and processing the entire necessary documentations for her smooth journey to Nigeria with the daughter had began in earnest. Two people from Canada had volunteered to escort the body and child to Nigeria and we are eternally grateful. 
We do not wish to speculate. In few days we shall pass information regarding the exact arrival date and other burial plans. And we appeal against distracting comments, as the committee is trying as much as possible to avoid joining issues with any one publicly and we will not like when left with no other option than to respond. We ask for respect for all parties. 

The committee will like to thank all members of the public especially her fans for your kind understanding and emotion extended to her family and friends at this trying period. 
Kind regards

Yomi Fabiyi
Publicity Secretary
FOR: LATE MOJI OLAIYA BURIAL COMMITTEE

Green Party of Canada

Its broad and multi-issue political platform reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence. It has been led by Elizabeth May since 26 August 2006.

The party broke 1% of the popular vote in the 2004 federal election, when it received 4.3% and qualified for federal funding. Its support has ranged between 3.1% and 14% since the 2006 federal election. In the 2008 federal election, the Green Party of Canada was invited to the debates for the first time^[8] and achieved a high mark of 6.8% of the popular vote. With just under a million votes, it was the only federally funded party to receive more votes than in 2006, but it still failed to win any seats. In the 2011 federal election the Green Party of Canada decided to focus on increasing seats over increasing votes,^[9] and succeeded in sending its first MP to Ottawa, while its share of the popular vote dropped to below 4% for the first time in eleven years.

On 30 August 2008, independent MP Blair Wilson joined the Green Party during Parliament's summer recess, technically becoming its first Member of Parliament (MP). He was defeated in the 2008 federal election, which was called before he had a chance to sit in the House of Commons as a Green MP.

On 2 May 2011, Green Party leader Elizabeth May became the first elected Green Party MP to sit in the House of Commons. She won the riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands in coastal British Columbia.^[10] In winning her seat, May also became one of the few Greens worldwide to be elected in a federal, single-seat election.^[7] On 13 December 2013, Thunder Bay—Superior North MP Bruce Hyer, who had left the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2012 to sit as an independent after breaking party lines to vote in favour of a repeal of the Long Gun Registry, joined the party, resulting in a record two-member caucus in parliament.^[11]

In the federal election on 19 October 2015, May was re-elected in the riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands and was the only Green Party member to win a seat.^[12] Hyer lost the election to Liberal Party candidate Patty Hajdu in his riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North.^[13]

Our rice to compete with international brands soon – Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said that Nigerians would soon start seeing the manifestation of some of the reforms taken by the Federal Government in the agricultural sector as the country would soon start producing local rice that would compete favourably with any brand in the world.

Osinbajo said this in Abuja during an interactive session with some middle level civil and public servants on the ease of doing business.

He called on Nigerians to increase their patronage of products manufactured locally, adding that this would enable the government to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

Citing the example of rice production, he said that Nigeria has enough capacity to grow quality rice that would meet the demands of not only Nigerians but all the countries in Africa.

He said if Nigerians can consume what the country produces locally, the twin problems of poverty and unemployment would be easily addressed.

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He said it was worrisome that rice imported from China, India and Thailand are sold at a cheaper prices to those produced locally, adding that this was as a result of subsidy enjoyed by farmers from these countries.

He said the government was mindful of this development and would do everything within its powers to encourage local farmers to improve the output and quality of local price.

Osinbajo said, “It is worrisome that locally produced rice is still expensive than imported rice from India, China and Thailand.

“Rice produced in these countries, are subsidized by their respective governments making rice from the region cheap and affordable.

“By subsiding rice production for farmers, more jobs are created. We are planning to introduce some kinds of assistance to our farmers in due course. Our rice will have to compete with any rice in the world. We will hold meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture every day”, Acting president said.

Adorable photos of infant twins embracing while sleeping go viral

The twin babies were left by the mother, lying side by side (left) but by the time she returned, they were lying in each other's arms (right)

The photo quickly went viral with a lot of people thinking it's really adorable while other people had a few problems with the photo; like why the children were left with a blanket which could suffocate them.

A staff at a hospital has said that this is quite a normal sight and it happens all the time whenever twins are laid next to one another.