North, A Problem to Nigeria

On Wednesday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (a regional forum designed to let locals voice their opinions) declared that the North has become Nigeria's problem area due to high levels of violence and an overall deterioration of the average state of life for residents. The AFC calls for the areas leaders to take action to fight the problems that the North is facing. The North is having quite a few issues at the moment; the Jos crisis (a religious clash between the Muslims and Christians in Plateau State in which the death toll is at 460) followed two similar crises. Unemployment rates are up and the education system is deteriorating, two facts stressed by the ACF as important factors in the areas current state. Hopefully the Northern leaders will be able to find solutions to the areas problems before the overall damage worsens and affects the welfare of the entire country. For more information, click here.

Taking a Break From All Your Worries

Calm Returns to Torn Nigerian City; Toll Unclear

After a breakout of violence in Jos between Muslim and Christian gangs, peace has finally returned to the city. Current estimates by the Human Rights Watch place the death toll at above 200, however the Plateau state commissioner, Gregory Anyating, maintains the deaths resulting from fighting numbered only 23. There is no public explanation accounting for this difference.

Meanwhile, leading Muslim official Mohammed Ishaq, secretary of the Ulama Council, said he counted 70 bodies at a mosque alone. Although tensions have diminished, possibly due to the increased military and police presence in the city, the sectarian rift has by no means disappeared.

Nigerian Movie "2 rats" part 1/10

6:00 Nigerian song about sending the white men away during Nigerian Independence in 1960

7:42 A quasi-judicial proceeding conducted by family elders

Nigerian Delta Situation is Not "On the Mend"

According to Jomo Gbomo, the spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Delta (MEND), the group will be announcing "on or before January 30, 2010" their position regarding the tenuous ceasefire they signed last October. This came just days after an attack on a delta oil refinery which did not involve MEND fighters. However, MEND condoned the attack and is becoming increasingly upset with the Nigerian government whom they claim has began the "repair of pipelines, exploitation of oil and gas as well as the deployment and re-tooling of troops" and has "been disseminating propaganda aimed at foreign investors claiming that the situation in the Niger Delta is under control... offering bribes to a number of militants who surrendered their birth rights under its amnesty program in the form of contracts." Basically, they are still getting screwed by everyone, and are not happy about it.

most recent article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201001120174.html
article detailing their dissatisfaction with events after the ceasefire: http://allafrica.com/stories/200912190039.html

Riots in Jos : Indigenes Evacuated

Vanguard Nigeria

Truant presidents and absent governance are not the only things currently plaguing Nigeria. Starting in early 2010, sectarian riots between Muslims and Christians broke out in Jos the capital of Plateau State. Since then there have been at least 200 deaths. The next phase of government interference is the evacuation of the indigenous groups of neighboring states from Jos. Perhaps this is exactly what the provokers of the Jos riots wanted, which will cause positive feedback loops for an already tumultous Nigeria; riot to get what one faction or another wants. Looks like Nigeria started the year of on shifty footing- hopefully things get better with the upcoming local elections...

The Man Behind the Curtain

So basically everyone in the campaign knew the Pres was sick when he took power, so that's making me wonder why anyone would actually let him on. John McCain, after all, was haunted by voter fears that he would keel over and die while in office. I'm guessing that the endorsements by the old president gave Umaru the edge he needed to take the win. But now things are looking a little sketchy. With Vice President Jonathon next in line for office (shifting power back to the Christians), there's some level of suspicion going on about ex-President Obasanjo's endorsement. Could the man have been sly enough to help get someone who he knew would expire in power, so that the batton would be passed right back into the hands of the Christians? Sounds like politics to me.

And if Obasanjo is capable of that manipulation, who's to say he hasn't got more of the Jonathon-admin-to-be wrapped around his finger? For more information, click here.