THE IGBOS AND THEIR UNHEALED PERSECUTION COMPLEX - Austin Emaduku

In a recent article titled “IGBO-HATERS, THE AREWA ULTIMATUM AND OUR NATION ” Ruben Abati, former Presidential spokesperson said in the opening sentence: “Fifty years after the civil war ended, Igbos do not yet feel a sense of belonging, acceptance or safety in the federation called Nigeria.” Dr Abati went on in the article to build on this statement as the reason for the Igbo agitation. As is with everything written by erudite Abati, the piece was written in the highest delectable prose. He gave several instances, some of which sounded far fetched to give credence to this opening statement of his article.

Austin Emaduku

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

(For Omoyele Sowore, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Bayo Omisore, Moses Ochonu, Dapo Rotifa, Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo, Yommi Oni, Yomi Okusanya Scott, Jesse Bay, Peter Oshun, Obinna Aligwekwe, Olutoyin Adeyinka Eweje, Ayo Turton, Inibehe Effiong, Gimba Kakanda, Abdul Mahmud, and so many valiant warriors in your shoes within and without Fatherland.)
I was fourteen years-old and in Form Four when I first encountered the Greek philosopher, Plato. No, I did not encounter him in the classrooms of Titcombe College, Egbe. I encountered him through Baba Adesanmi’s disciplinary regime: a hybrid of Roman Catholic, African-traditional, and Spartan colonial disciplinary methods.

@SaharaReporters: What manner of journalism?

By Adewale Adeoye            
There are different types of journalists. We have conservative – they report press releases of government officials and corporate organisations. They attend press conferences and even assist the authorities to shape their often-wobbling logic on state affairs.

President sacks aviation agencies’ heads, appoints Akinkuotu, others

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sacked the heads of four aviation agencies and promptly appointed their replacements.

The agencies affected include the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Accident Investigation Bureau.
A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Sabiu Zakari, on behalf of the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, stated that Buhari approved the appointment of Capt. Fola Akinkuotu as the Managing Director of NAMA.
“Capt. Akinkuotu is a seasoned transport pilot, flight and aircraft maintenance engineer, airline chief executive and a trained aviation industry regulator,” the ministry said in the statement.
Akinkuotu, until his appointment, was the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest and second largest commercial carrier.

FG Says It Has Started Payment Of Promised 5,000 Naira

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari says it has now started the payment of 5,000 Naira monthly stipends to the poorest and the most vulnerable in Nigeria.
It says the payments are being made through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of its Social Investment Programmes (SIP).
The amount was part of campaign promises the administration made to Nigerians before they were elected.
A statement by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said that under the CCT, one million Nigerians would receive 5,000 Naira monthly payments, as a form of social safety net for the poorest and most vulnerable as budgeted for in the 2016 Budget.

Gambian authorities shut two radio stations amid post-election crisis

Gambian security forces closed down two private radio stations based near the capital, Banjul, the main journalists' union said on Monday, amid an escalating political crisis caused by President Yahya Jammeh's refusal to accept his election defeat.

Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, initially conceded defeat to opposition rival Adama Barrow but then called for fresh elections, drawing condemnation from local opponents and foreign powers.