President Umaru Yar’Adua has approved the immediate recall of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, retired Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi, for “gross insubordination.”

Sources at the Nigerian embassy in Washington DC said the decision to recall Rotimi followed his running disagreement with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, over issues bordering on activities of the mission, policy, protocol and hierarchy.

The disagreement that was said to have started last year resulted in a series of correspondence between Maduekwe and Rotimi, culminating in a letter written by the latter in which he called the minister a tribalist and boasted, “I have dealt with people like you in the past. I was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian army that thoroughly defeated your ragtag Biafran army.”

Maduekwe who was piqued by the contents of the letter, particularly the reference to the Biafran war, formally complained to the President in a memo, attaching Rotimi’s letter.

Maduekwe in his letter to the President stated: “This man (Rotimi) has no temperament to be an ambassador of Nigeria in our most important mission.

“This is a strategic assessment of the situation. Anyone who has such a disposition may not be able to handle the Nigerian embassy in Washington, which is deemed in Nigerian diplomatic circles as a strategic and sensitive mission.

“The recommendation that he be recalled has to do with his capacity to run the place. It is not personal.”

It was on this basis that the President immediately approved his recall from the mission. In the interim, Ambassador Wakil, the Deputy Ambassador has been asked to oversee the mission pending the appointment of a replacement.

All efforts to reach the Ambassador last night on his mobile phone proved unsuccessful as it kept entering voice mail. Voice messages were not returned as at press time either.

A Nigerian embassy official in Washington disclosed that the root cause of the friction between both officials started sometime last year when Maduekwe wrote two letters inviting the Ambassador and his deputy, Ambassador Wakil to a meeting in Abuja to discuss the emergence of Barack Obama as the 44th US President and what it would mean for Nigeria-US relations.

Rotimi was said to have felt slighted that the minister wrote a separate letter to his deputy whom he regarded as his subordinate.

He subsequently wrote two protest letters - one to Maduekwe and a second one to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed. He also asked that the trip be rescheduled to enable him sort out one or two things.

Not satisfied, Rotimi further wrote to Senator Jubril Aminu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the same issue.

Rotimi then proceeded to Abuja when he did not receive an official reply from the minister. Maduekwe on the other hand was reportedly irked that the Ambassador proceeded on the trip without the necessary approval.

Rotimi’s action, an embassy official divulged, was seen as an infringement of an important regulation regarding the movement of public officers.

Insiders familiar with the Nigerian civil service set up said his trip was arbitrary given his protest letter and request for a postponement of the meeting, and that since he had not received feedback, it was seen as gross insubordination within foreign service regulations.

Similarly, Maduekwe’s effort to streamline the operations of the foreign affairs ministry, particularly the embassies, was said to have been resisted by Rotimi in Washington.

The minister’s brusque style of leadership has reportedly ruffled feathers in the foreign service where most officials are used to “business as usual” bosses.

As such, the little or lack of cordial relations between both men compounded matters, making it almost impossible to mend fences.

In addition, other occurrences pointed to strained relations between the public officers. The usual practice is that an Ambassador receives the foreign minister at the airport when he arrives a country, and sees him off at the end of his official trip.

This was not the case when the minister visited Washington sometime last year to give a talk at a think-tank in the capital city.

However, by January this year, Rotimi tried to seek a rapprochement when he led a delegation to receive Maduekwe who flew into Washington as the head of the Nigerian delegation to President Obama’s inauguration.

But the short-lived détente came under strain again when Rotimi, during the swearing-in ceremony, introduced Emeka Anyaoku, the president’s special envoy, as the leader of delegation in the presence of the minister.

THISDAY learnt that there was actually a disagreement before the trip as to who should lead the delegation to the event.

Eventually, Anyaoku was mandated to head the Federal Government team, while Maduekwe led the foreign ministry team.

But this presented an image problem for Nigeria, because it gave the impression that the home base was in disarray.

Another official of the Nigerian embassy in Washington alleged that Rotimi only appeared for work at the embassy thrice a week and retired to Florida where he has a home, for the rest of the week. “How can he effectively run a key embassy like this,” the official queried.

Before the latest incident that led to Rotimi’s recall, Anyaoku it was gathered, tried to reconcile the two men shortly after Obama’s inauguration, but failed.

Rotimi was a former military governor of the old Western State from 1971 to 1975. He arrived Washington DC on 31st March 2008, and presented his Letters of Credence to the then President, George Bush at the White House, on April 9, 2008.

His sudden recall means that Nigeria will have to deal with the signals the incident would send to the international community, explained a diplomatic source.

One way to save face is to show that Nigeria is ready to revamp its foreign relations machinery and sharpen is focus on improving the effectiveness of the country’s foreign missions overseas, he said.

Source- Yemi Adebowale and Constance Ikoku (Thisday)

Although the conference hall at the headquarters of Surulere Local Government in Lagos where the maiden edition of Miss Virginity Pageant was held penultimate Friday was not packed full with the high and mighty usually associated with the more flamboyant female contests, the audience evinced reverence for the 43 virgin girls who attended the event.

However, when the event got to a climax, reverence gave way to excitement as 23 year-old Miss Titilayo Amudat Odekeye was announced as Miss Virginity 2009. The 43 girls had all been confirmed virgins the previous day by Dr. Ekemode- a Lagos-based consultant gynecologist.

Speaking to Vanguard Metro shortly after, Odekeye said:  “I am happy and I give God the glory that I emerged the winner of the crown”. The event was organized by Nigerian Virgin Girls, a subsidiary of Just For You Media.

Although she had no inkling that she would wear the crown when she entered for the contest, Odekeye prayed to God to give her victory.

 Speaking on what she plans  to do during her reign she said:  “ What I intend to do during my reign as Miss Virginity is to go out there and encourage young girls to keep their virginity until they get married”.

She pledged that she would continue to work with any individual or group for the purpose of encouraging virginity among unmarried young girls in the country.

Miss Odekeye who emerged Miss Virginity among 25 other contestants that vied for the crown, is a final year Microbiology student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (formerly known as Ogun State University).

She had sought for and received the support of her parents before she attended the programme that was organised by Nigerian Virgin Girls.

All the virgin girls agreed that it was not easy remaining chaste in various parts of the country where they lived.

For instance 20 year-old Isijola Adebola, a student of Lagos State Skills Acquisition Centre confirmed it had not been easy for her.

Said she: “I was determined to remain a virgin my marriage because I know my husband and his family would have a lot of respect for me when they know I remained a virgin before marriage”.

She said although she had some boyfriends in the past none of them lasted for more than six months mainly because she refused to succumb to their demands.

Said she: “I always told the few boyfriends I have had the point beyond which they could not go in our relationships. Some accepted but some did not”.

 Speaking during the occasion, the founder of the organization, Princess Adunni Adediran disclosed that the programme was initiated to reduce immorality that has become the order of the day in the country.

According to her, “This is the second time we will be organizing this programme. The first time was in January 2008 when about 60 girls registered and were examined by Dr. Ekemode. At the end, 43 virgin girls were certified.

Adunni told Vanguard Metro she had conceived the programme for a long time but was unable to commence because of financial constraints.

Said she: “When I looked at the way young girls were being molested and dumped through having sexual intercourse, I said to myself this  must stop. This is because it is after de-flowering them, that they will be abandoned. It is after the man might have slept with a girl that he will see her bad legs or that her nose is too long. At times, these girls would have gone through series of abortions.”

She said, some of these girls end up suffering from   mental disorder or other deadly diseases including staphylococcus, gonorrhea and the dreadful HIV & AIDS.  

While calling on parents and guardians to support the initiative, she said, it is an avenue where Nigerian girls will be taught the essence of keeping their virginity. This will also bring respect for the wife and her children’s children.

According to her,  it is also an avenue to reduce promiscuous acts and indecency amongst girls in Nigeria and to tell the men that the girls can still say no to immorality and wait till the night of their marriage because there is more joy in waiting for such a time.

When asked whether there is any religious restriction, he said the progranmme is open to all races including the daughter of a Pope, an Imam or an herbalist adding that her business is to ensure young girls keep their body till the night of marriage.

Her words: “We want people to begin to live normal lives where young girls would hate sex before marriage as children born by such women will know that their mothers were not promiscuous before getting married. Even the in-laws will respect such a lady and the community where they live will praise her.”

Speaking earlier at the occasion , Ambassador Segun Olusola praised the girls for keeping themselves chaste adding that it was not only Miss Virginity that was the winner, but all of them. He urged all of them to feel free to come to him for assistance at any time. Also present at the occasion was Dr. Yemisi Pitan, a clinical psychologist who gave the girls some tips on how to keep themselves safe.

 “Don’t walk in a dark place; don’t visit a boy alone; don’t take any drink after you have left it for a while because you could be drugged”, she said.

Source - Okey Ndiribe & Ebun Babalola (Vanguard)

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a concert in the East Room honoring Stevie Wonder, who will be awarded the 2nd annual Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress. 

The concert which would hold on February 25^th will be broadcast February 26th on PBS as part of its “In Performance at the White House” series in celebration of African American History Month. 

In other related developments, President Obama spoke with King Juan Carlos I to convey his desire to build on the close relationship the United States and Spain enjoy.  The President noted the historical bond between the American and Spanish people and regretted that he will not be able to join the King when the King and Queen Sofia visit Florida to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the first Spanish settlements in Pensacola. 

The President recognized the King’s important role in advancing Spain’s modern democracy and said he looks forward to working with President Zapatero to address the common challenges our countries face.

A 74-seat Q400 Bombardier aircraft, operated by Colgan Air, was flying from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and preparing to land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport when it crashed into a house literally ligthing up the night sky.

Witnesses heard the twin turboprop aircraft sputtering before it went down in light snow and fog around 10:20 p.m. Thursday. Flames silhouetted the shattered home after Continental Connection Flight 3407 plummeted into it around about five miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of crash investigators to Buffalo early Friday. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, said there was no indication terrorism was involved.

President Obama released the following statement; “Michelle and I are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic accident outside of Buffalo last night. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones.  I want to thank the brave first responders who arrived immediately to try and save lives and who are continuing to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.  We pray for all those who have been touched by this terrible tragedy to find peace and comfort in the hard days ahead,”.

Source - AP

The Federal Government on Tuesday asked Nigerian doctors working in the United States and other parts of the world to return home and contribute to the development of the country’s weak health sector.

About 24,000 doctors are said to be practising in America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Southern Africa.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, made the remark while receiving a delegation of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas led by its President, Dr.Julius Kpaduwa, in Abuja.

He said the country was in dire need of their services, especially in tackling the myriad of infant and maternal deaths, and other endemic diseases bedeviling the nation.

He said government had provided a level-playing field for physicians and health workers to realise their aspirations, stressing that their skills were most needed in areas where the government resources were not adequate.

Also on Tuesday, the Peoples Republic of China donated 432,000 boxes of anti-malarial drugs for the treatment of malaria in the country.

Presenting the drugs to Osotimehin in Abuja, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Xu Jianguo, tasked the government of Nigeria to do everything necessary to eradicate the disease.

He said that China was able to eradicate the disease several years ago, and it was unfortunate that Nigeria was still struggling with the control of the disease.

He said that China was willing to do anything to assist Nigeria to overcome the burden of the disease through the provision of drugs and insecticide-treated nets.

Osotimehin, in his response, admitted that malaria was one of the scourges that the country was trying to contain, adding that government would employ its resources to eradicate it.

He thanked the Chinese government for limiting the flow of fake drugs from Asia to the country.

Source - Punch

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed S.352, a bill to postpone the DTV transition date to June 12th to allow for more time for the American consumers to prepare for the switch from analog television.

The President made the following statement with respect to the bill; “During these challenging economic times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my administration. This law, which was crafted in a bipartisan way and passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate, ensures that our citizens will have more time to prepare for the conversion. 

Millions of Americans, including those in our most vulnerable communities, would have been left in the dark if the conversion had gone on as planned, and this solution is an important step forward as we work to get the nation ready for digital TV.

My administration will continue to work with leaders in Congress, broadcasters, consumer groups and the telecommunications industry to improve the information and assistance available to our citizens in advance of June 12.”

The most populous country in all of Africa had always been referred to as “the giant”, an acronym synonymous to the wealth and strength and perceived potentials of Nigeria. Unfortunately over the preceding years, the acronym changed to phrases such as “the sleeping giant” and even more insulting “the wingless eagle”. Gone were the days when the eagle on the tail of the defunct Nigerian airways was a pride to behold.

Whoever changed the eagle to an elephant may have probably indirectly sent out a curse. Just a thought though. Well, intellectually speaking and based on a recent article I published titled “10 reasons to consider investing in the Re born Nigerian Economy” I would not be in the position to agree that Nigeria has yet shed its wings.

It’s great to note that Nigeria is a country of ambitious and determined citizens so much in a hurry to do lots of things but refusing to learn the dynamics of the act of “crawling”. Hey, let’s face it; our post independence 50th is approaching.

For a people of over 140 million, we are still a young Nation. Realistically though, we have had the combined opportunity and abilities to have surpassed the current level of development a hundred times over. Multiple transitions, democratic experimentations and conflict of visionary interests have deterred such a steady promising growth.

 Only recently, the Federal ministry of Information and National orientation under the youthful and dynamic stewardship of Hon. Min. Frank Nweke Jnr embarked on a project tagged “Heart of Africa” depicting Nigeria as the focal point of the continent. Its official launch held at the Ronald Reagan building / International Trade Center Washington DC to the admiration of curious spectators.

The two day event was characterized by photo exhibitions and a fashion show put together by Legendary Gold limited. Great concept I must say but there is so much more reality to all of these. Nigerians as a people and I am being specific about the millions of those not classified as rich folks are those that really need a direct National RE-ORIENTATION.

 The orientation should start from within. Any true healing whichever way you view it starts from inside. Even the Human Skin or the endodermic portion of the skin heals from inside. You may apply all the penicillin ointment in the world but the healing process must start from within.

It’s just a natural phenomenon. So an attempt to change the stigma or stereotype from outside would probably be one done in futility. I am one of those that may be considered as residents of the United States but with the rare privilege of being able to visit my motherland a couple of times yearly.

There are numerous issues that need to be addressed from within on a grand scale. As I write this piece, my phone rang with the sad news of the death of a close pall in Nigeria. I can tell you that the absence of up to date medical facilities to diagnose and control the spread of diseases such as cancer contributed to his early exit. Healthcare is a major issue.

How do we begin to explain to the masses that the in availability of drugs in public hospitals is a taboo or the absence of infrastructure to support medical records and billing is not a normal thing in the 21st century; you need to visit a general hospital in Nigeria to understand.

The re orientation in as much as it should start from within had been attempted in the past and in some cases worked. Probably a lack of vision and true love for fellow citizens by subsequent leaders squashed the good deeds of previous leaders with programs such as “War Against Indiscipline”-WAI. I guess if such a program had been adopted there would have been no need for units like the EFCC.

Let’s face it, we are dealing with an impending epidemic of a large number of citizens that have been born into the current chaos and confusion and who unfortunately believe it’s a normal way of life. Guess what? If the psyche of the present generation is not changed or re orientated, I foresee the build up of active magna in an active volcano ready to erupt.

We all know what happens during a volcanic eruption. A massive internal reorientation may be the way forward. The “Heart of Africa” concept should look inwards and start to develop modules for an effective re orientation campaign.

How do we put in place basic infrastructures to meet the needs of the teeming number citizens such as Health care facilities, portable water, transportation with extreme reference to the roads and power generation and distribution; there are so many claims of billions of naira being spent on all of these infrastructural developments but in reality, are they visible? It is usually a great fallacy to see billboards on major highway congratulating the president on a job well done on rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, a few meters away would reveal a death trap in form of a huge crater. Same goes for others next to dry boreholes and so on and so forth. Without power how do we expect the majority of the working class citizens to be effectively productive when they cannot even experience a good night sleep from extreme humidity or in other cases from extreme fear caused by lack of security.

The Ministry of orientation should adopt an academic approach and pass out questionnaires, analyze the results and debate on the key postulations. All this has to be done in house. It’s also a tragedy that because of lack of power, majority of Nigerians are not properly informed.

Televisions and radio sets are in most cases in the homes as decorative pieces. In the absence of power, the Ministry should be innovative by adoption such measures as the development of viewing centers in multiple localities. Lagos which may be described as the most populated city in Africa with regards to density is just a worst case scenario.

Lack of Federal funding due to political wrangling has largely hindered the developmental abilities to ensure the proper habitations for its citizens. It has taken the dexterity of the private sector and that of the state government to pull through.

The Heart of Africa project and its USA launch may have put some pride in some of us with the display of rich culture and intelligent speeches comprised of promises for a better tomorrow but in reality, home is home.

That’s the reality check. Phone calls, e mails and letters from home tell the true story. We must approach the spirit of National Orientation by adopting the microwave effect and start the healing from the hearts of millions of masses back home.

The Hon. Minister was recently criticized by statements he made on the voice of America News network claiming that Nigerians in Diaspora are inconsequential. By virtue of my profession which entails numerous world travels and using USA as a case study, I must say that Nigerians in Diaspora are an untapped gold mine. In the USA, Nigerians have formed very professional associations that have created wealth and various platforms for intellectual developmental growths amongst members and their children.

They have largely adopted the microwave syndrome. Such groups include the Eko Club International USA, Moremi Club, Pan Ndigbo Foundation, the Peoples club, Nigerian Reunion Corporation, Naijafest to mention a few.

I know for a fact that members of these clubs form the effective tools to propagate the true spirit of Heart of Africa thereby making the Diaspora extremely consequential. What the Minister should do Is create an interactive platform with the leadership of the clubs and feel the dynamic potential capabilities. Another group of Nigerians in Diaspora, the medical practitioners travel home multiple times a year to render FREE services to thousands of dying patients.

One of such groups is the Imo State medical mission who recently visited Adamawa and managed through surgical procedures in unprintable conditions. Nigerians know where it pinches and largely know how to heal. We must use ourselves and not outsiders to communicate our own issues. Adopting the microwave technique includes adopting indigenous communication outfits, indigenous venues and utilizing the brilliant potentials of our academics.

These are some of the areas reconstructions may begin. We have the strength, talent and ability to create an atmosphere of success through the adoption of the microwave orientation strategy.

The article was written by Tosan Aduayi tosan@trendyafrica.com  in December 2006 and archived on the link below;

http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2006/dec/074.html

TOKYO – Nissan is slashing 20,000 jobs, or 8.5 percent of its global work force, to cope with what Japan’s third-largest automaker expects will be its first annual loss in nine years.

“The global auto industry is in turmoil, and Nissan is no exception,” Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn told reporters Monday in Tokyo.

Nissan Motor Co. now expects a 265 billion yen ($2.9 billion) net loss for the fiscal year through March — joining a raft of other Japanese corporate giants, including Toyota, Toshiba and Sony, in slashing jobs and projecting annual losses.

The last time Nissan racked up an annual net loss was for the fiscal year ended March 2000, at the start of its alliance with Renault SA of France, which sent in Ghosn to rescue Nissan from the brink of collapse. Then, a bloated Nissan had lost money in seven of the previous eight years.

Among other measures, production will be reduced and inventory will be controlled, according to Nissan.

Shift elimination, work stoppages and shorter hours will help reduce global production by 20 percent, or 787,000 vehicles, from the initial plan, by the end of this fiscal year, it said.

Inventory is being reduced by 20 percent to 480,000 vehicles from 630,000 in March 2008, Nissan said.

Nissan sold 731,000 vehicles worldwide in the quarter ended Dec. 31, down 18.6 percent from a year earlier. Nissan’s vehicle sales suffered especially in the U.S., where they dropped 29.7 percent in January.

Nissan remains committed to developing electric vehicles and other zero-emission technology, Ghosn said.

“We don’t think this crisis is going to last forever,” he said.

Nissan shares slid 5.8 percent to 261 yen. Earnings were announced after trading ended in Tokyo.

To commemorate the annual celebration of Black History month, the Irving Arts Council of Dallas Texas organized and presented an exhibition titled “Images Captured by the Lens: Past and present”. The visual Art Exhibition and reception held on the 7^th of February 2009 and attracted an appreciative crowd of attendee’s.

An African Photographer of international repute, Uche Ogbonna was amongst the selected artist presenters as he showcased about 31 photos comprising of unique visual art and imaginative skills. Amongst his works included a 3 dimensional (3D) photo display that drew the attention of lots of guests.

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Ogbonna who manages “Image and Likeness Photography” was recently acknowledged internationally for a photograph he captured at a wedding reception. The photo was that of a life size cake that was the replica of the bride.

The president of the IBAC, Vincent Wilson was on hand to greet and host guests while Wesley Walker rendered tunes on the Saxophone to the delight of all. Other exhibitors include Orville Brown, Floyd Ferguson, Zunoraine Holmes and Giraud Polite.

The exhibition is scheduled to remain open throughout the black history month.

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The traditional marriage rights as well as the white wedding Ceremony of Nneka and Emeka Alugbuo both took place in Imo State, Nigeria. The recent Christmas festive season was the right choice for the couple as friends from home and abroad joined in the festivities.

While the traditional marriage held at the family compound of Prof. Okam, the Church event held at the CKC chaplaincy of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. The reception followed suite at the Lobic Meridian Hotel, Owerri.

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The USA based newly wed had the great support of family and friends as the ceremonies went on successfully and full of glamour. There was also a rich taste of culture to spice up the occasion.

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Photos by Obii Okororie