The Codemasters has announced that F1 2015, the official video game of
the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship, will be available on PC,
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The game; featuring an all-new handling system and game engine, is set
to release earlier in the F1 season than previous titles.
For more information:
The English footballer; Fraser Forster is facing up to a year out of
football following an operation to repair serious damage to the
patellar tendon of his left knee.
The Southampton and England goalkeeper suffered the injury when he
collided with Sam Vokes in the 2-0 win against Burnley on Saturday
and, after a scan on Monday, he underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon.
By Eyizle Ene-Okon
27th March 2015
7:33am
Shortly after the announcement of his new contract extension, John
Terry sat down to talk with Chelsea TV about his dream career at the
club and remaining ambitious…
www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/03/chelsea-tv-exclusive–terry-looks-forward-and-back.html
7:12am, 27/3/2015
By Dickson Blessing
Political thugs opened up fire on Governor Amaechi's convoy on Thursday, 26th of March as he went for a political rally in Obi Akpor area in Rivers State.
The thugs reportedly attacked the governor's convoy with stones and bottle before setting up bonfires to obstruct his movement out of the town. As the convoy found a way of escape, the thugs reportedly shot at the vehicles.
Two young men associated with the APC were injured in the attack.
By Efio-Ita Nyok| 27 March 2015| 7:00 am
28 March and 11 April will go down well in the annals of this country as designated days in which Nigerians decided in favour of either 'change or transformation'.
Considering the quality of opposition posed against the ruling political party, namely, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) by the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the 2015 general elections billed for Saturdays 28 March and 11 April, there have been repeated calls for peace before, on and after elections. Numerous peace accords have been endorsed. In this edition, the political desk of Negroid Haven (NH) as chaired by Efio-Ita Nyok shall explore reasons why Nigerians should subscribe to a politics of nonviolence during the forthcoming elections.
1. Nigerians Partake In the Concept of 'Humanity'.
Nigerians are human beings; and humans, amongst other things, have been described as being rational. That is, they think, reason, reflect, contemplate, etc over issues. To resort to violence will undermine this illustrious paraphernalia that all humans share in. Violence doesn't suggests that we think, etc. It speaks otherwise. No right thinking Nigerian should resort to violence. There are institutions to address our displeasure of any sort, including that of politics.
2. It Will Ensure Continued Unity.
Nigeria comprises over 250 ethnicities. She is a multilingual society. It's a beautiful thing to see all these disparate tribes blending into a lump called Nigeria. Other members of the international community admire this uniqueness. Part of our greatness subsist in our unity in the midst of diversity. Violence will undermine this beautiful phenomenon. It will challenge the fact that Nigeria is not 'a mere geographical expression'. Love is the greatest theme.
3. It Will Define Our Sovereign National Genius(SNG).
By sovereign national genius (SNG) I mean to refer to that distinctive feature that defines any sovereign nation as been unique. Every state has this. For Nigeria it is -resilience!
You often here people say that Nigeria is an enigma, that a little as what happen in Nigeria, happen to other countries which causes the extinction of those countries, but more than that happen to Nigeria, and she still continues unfettered, as if nothing happened. Resilience is our 'selling point', it's our distinguishing genius. To resort to violence is to betray this national spirit.
4. Politics Is Diametrically Opposed To Violence.
It was Dr. Myles Munroe who said that when purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. When the essence of politics is not known, then the abuse of it is certain. If we resort to violence it suggest very strongly that we are ignorant of the purpose of politics. Politics entails the means by which any human society determine which view of government should prevail. Thus, it embodies negotiation. This explain why some refer to it as the peaceful means of resolving conflict. Here, one bring to mind the popular phrase: 'political solution', as against military solution. It stands to reason then that to then employ violence, as a means of determining which party should be voted into power, implies that you don't understand politics. In fact, you are negating the very essence of politics. We should play the game according to its rule. Any individual seeking public office but encourages violence is not a politician.
5. Violence Is Not A Component of Africa's Traditional Values.
Africa is distinctive from other continents of the world courtesy of its values system. For instance, scholars argue that Africans have respect for religion and the sacred. J. S. Mbiti once remarked in one of his seminal pieces that a typical African is 'notoriously religious'. Besides religion, the typical African has a value for life. Put differently, the value for human life is a paramount component of our values system. Nigeria is a leading African state and should thus express this value in preeminent degrees. Violence -political or otherwise, is 'un-African'.
6. The Strategic Implication of Nigeria's Political Violence In Africa.
Apart from the fact that violence is 'un-African', political violence in Nigeria will certainly have a spiral effect on West African states and the continent as a whole. That is to say, as a big brother in Africa, political stability or otherwise, have consonant effects on other African countries. Would you want Africa to be sliced off the universe because of our irresponsibility? Nigeria's political instability or otherwise is Africa's political instability or otherwise. Let's strengthen democratic ideals in Africa by not resorting to political violence.
7. Democracy Is Absolutely About The People.
Democracy was rightly defined as government of, for and by the people. Democracy is not of, by and for the elite(Oligarchy). Political instability/violence ensues when we mistake democracy to be the latter rather than the former. Rigging or any other shade of electoral malpractice is anti the people. Exploring the route of violence to address discontent is anti the people. The people -the Nigerian people, should occupy a paramount place in the scheme of things among politicians. Anything they intend to do should be done in view of the people. Nothing more, nothing less. They should ask them selves, if all these people die because of me, who then would I govern?
We should give thoughts to these submissions as we cast our votes beginning from tomorrow in favour of whatsoever party of our choice.
We should remember and always remember that peace is one of the greatest themes.
Long live Nigeria!
6:45am, 27/3/2015
By Dickson Blessing
The All Progressive Congress Presidential Candidate Gen Muhammed Buhari(Rtd) has urged all Nigerians in a Letter to vote him into power come Saturday 28th of March 2015.
The former head of state had in his message titled ”Once to be great again” tells the citizens to realise that they were united in their fears and struggles for a secure nation and better economy.
This is a full text of Buhari's message
Time For Nigeria To Be Great Once Again
I want to take this last opportunity, before we go to the polls on Saturday March 28 and April 11 respectively, to thank everyone who has supported our campaigns. I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow Nigerians who have helped to carry the message of change across our great country.
This is the fourth time that I would be standing for election as the President of Nigeria. All these years, I have been driven by a keen awareness of the potential greatness of our country and the desire to provide the true leadership that will unleash this huge potential.
I believe that a stable and prosperous Nigeria is not only important to Nigerians. It is also important to Africa and the rest of the world. The evidence of this is the unprecedented attention that our country will receive this weekend. On Saturday, the whole world would wait with baited breath for the greatest black nation on earth to take charge of its destiny. We must therefore not miss the significance of this moment. We must not let ourselves and our country down.
At no other time in our history is Nigeria in such an urgent need of strong and competent leadership. Sadly, at no other time is this leadership so sorely absent in our country. We live in a time of great opportunities and great peril. It is only a leader that understands these in equal measure that can find the rightful place for Nigeria among the great Nations of the world.
I have travelled extensively around Nigeria in the last three months. In the course of my travels, I encountered directly, what I have always believed: that a Hausa man’s desire for security is not different from the Ijaw woman’s desire to feel secured in any part of our country.
An Igbo woman’s desire for her children to get quality education and find employment is not different from the Yoruba man’s dream for his children to become a useful member of our society. A wife’s desperate need for affordable and quality healthcare for her husband diagnosed with prostate cancer in Enugu is not different from a husband’s desire to save the life of his wife diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Lagos.
Invariably, our fears are the same; our dreams are the same; and our problems are the same. Regardless of the language we speak, or the way we understand and worship God, what affects anyone of us, affects everyone of us.
Our economy is celebrated as the largest in Africa, yet our country is home to the continent’s highest number of people living in extreme poverty. Our youth population is larger than the combined population of many of our neighbours, yet our failure to plan and create opportunities for them is turning them to a social time bomb rather than economic catalysts.
A band of ragtag terrorist group has threatened our territorial integrity, killed thousands of Nigerians, displaced our people and abducted our children. The almost 60, 000 Nigerians who have become refugees in neighbouring countries represent a budding threat to sub-regional stability.
However, even in the face of these daunting challenges, I see a great opportunity for change. We have to start by rebuilding the trust and confidence of Nigerians in their government. No citizen will respect a government under whose watch more than 200 girls were abducted.
This singular act can only portray the government as insensitive, incompetent or both. When I become president, reuniting these children with their families will, without doubts, be a top priority. Rebuilding the army and other security agencies will also be a top priority of my government. I will ensure that never again will terrorists find a safe haven in Nigeria.
Recent fall in international price of crude leaves us badly exposed and vulnerable. Dwindling oil revenue also means that we are going to face serious financial challenges in the months ahead. However, even as daunting as this appears, it also provides us with great opportunity to diversify our economy and finally give meaning to the widely held belief that our prosperity
No matter how much resources we have, if not properly utilized, it would only create a few billionaires and leave majority of our people in poverty. Under the current administration, corruption has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and this has been at the heart of most of our government failings, including insecurity, broken infrastructure and growing inequality in our country.
My government will have a zero tolerance for corruption. I will set a personal example and run a government that truly serves the people rather than serve themselves and a privileged few. Like I have repeatedly maintained that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
We must not allow Nigeria to die. Therefore, we must do all that is necessary to root out this evil that has reduced our great country to a laughing stock of the world. We must begin to rebuild the social fabrics of our society and teach a different experience to our youth in the values of hard work, discipline, integrity and service.
The change that I seek therefore; is a change from the current regime of mindless of corruption and profligacy; a change from fear and insecurity to peace and stability; a change from religious and ethnic divisiveness to unity, equity and justice. This is the change that my party stands for. This is the change that I am committed to bringing about as President. Give me the chance to lead you in rebuilding a Nigeria that all of us can be proud of once again.
As we come out to vote on Saturday, I appeal to all Nigerians to shun violence in whatever form. It is the right of every adult Nigerian to vote and expect that their votes would count in a free, fair and credible election. However, we also have a responsibility to respect the choice of others and grant them the same treatment that we expect.
I also want to call on all our men and women in uniform, the Judiciary, and all others who have constitutional responsibility to safeguard our democracy, to remember that their responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and the survival of Nigeria. They must therefore not allow anyone to use them to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. I believe that their dreams and aspirations are not different from those of other Nigerians.
I have no doubt that with God being on our side; together we can make our country great once again.
Gen. Muhammadu BUHARI, GCFR
When I look back at my life, and all the stuff I did as a carefree, young and restless youth, I can't help but shudder at some of my very bad habits. Yes, I was once short-fused; blowing off at the slightest provocation. It was pitiful. Over time I have managed to rid myself of such sad habits but that can't be said for a lot of men some of who, even late in their lives can't still get over it, thereby losing their cool in their homes. No be small thing sha.
Domestic violence is an under reported crime in Nigeria, almost accepted as norm. Some men feel it's their right, some feel it's always the women who bring out the beast in them, while others will readily admit its a way of stamping their authority in the home. Sadly, many don't see anything wrong with beating their wives. How sad! Yes, am aware there are women who beat up their husbands, but those are in the minority and this piece ain't about them. The most guilty perpetrators are usually men and the victims are mostly their wives and sometimes their children too.
Men abusing women is like a defence and coping mechanism for being or feeling WEAK in other aspects of life, sometimes including deep analog beliefs about masculinity. Men who abuse loved ones tend to blame other things or people for their violent outbursts. In some cases, it is a cycle: “my father abused me and my mom, so, it's normal”.
Society doesn't help either, it ingrains in a man's psyche that macho bullshit; how he should be strong and if he can't exhibit that in his daily public life, it's ok for him to go home and prove his strength.
Abusive men are not limited to a particular status, it ranges from a bricklayer to a CEO or even a President, causing their women to perpetually live in anxiety and fear. Most of them tip-toe around their husbands, not because they respect these men, but because of fear.
A violent man might have grown up in a dysfunctional household but this is still not a reason to be abusive. It is an excuse, and a flimsy one at that.
Some men don't come from humble homes where women are appreciated. Some of us come from homes that expose us to sex, gossip, male macho bullshit. Values for treating women start with where you're coming from, your background. However, beyond these, what fucks most men up is our BIG FAT EGO. It has everything to do with selfishness or overrated feeling of self-importance. QED.
Ego is the source of many negatives in the world. It is the false 'self' that Jesus said we should let die before we can gain everlasting life. Ego craves to be first, but we must be willing to be last. Unconditional love comes with humility, selflessness, abundant generosity, perfect responsibility, fearless confidence.
I no go brag, am not all that, but I dey try. God knows!
Now, for the man who feels trapped in this mad dance with his loved ones and is trying very hard to rid himself of this very terrible habit, do like me. If you start to feel that your fuse is about to burst, try and say nothing, hold it in for a few minutes and relocate yourself to another space, either in your house, or outside. Allow some time to elapse before you express yourself, never talk or let your fist run amok when you're upset; it doesn't make for a good picture.
Even though I have cured myself of my short fuse, i still get tempted from time to time. What works best for me now is silence. I go and lock myself in my room and will never utter a word to my lady until am sure am in control of my faculties. Since many moons ago, I have discovered that this is a very effective option in dealing with a very bad temper.
So next time you are with your woman and you feel like turning her into a punching bag, change the game, beat her with your silence for the period you feel like blowing your fuse. Na my way be that oooooo.
This is just my take sha, how you see the matter my guys?
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By William Oyo-Ita 25 March 2015 10;38pm
All these fire occurrences just two days to election. The Federal High Court in Abuja is currently on fire.
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