The Chilling North Wind

Disturbing news is emerging from Nigeria as the local Al Qaeda has approached the country's muslims offering weapons, training and defense. The offer comes after the recent riots in Jos, which increased Christian-Muslim tension in the area, and the speech was riddled with the usual religious rhetoric.

"You are not alone in this test. The hearts of Mujahideen are in pain over your troubles and desire to help you as much as possible, in the Islamic Maghreb, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Chechnya," said the local emir (Al Qaeda leader) Abu Mus'ab Abdel-Wadoud.

While the offer is stated as being a way of helping defend the Muslims in the area, Al Qaeda's gaining of another stronghold in Africa would definitely come as a boon to extremists who specialize in melting into the chaos of underdeveloped countries. The grandmasters of the current global conflict: the West and Al Qaeda, are making moves reminiscent of the cold war. At the time, the Soviet Union and the United States had made motions to gain footholds everywhere they could, essentially wielding the third world countries as puppets.

If Al Qaeda gained a strong loyal base in Nigeria, they would have made a significant movement south from the Middle East. With their generally diffuse location, they would doubtlessly appreciate a solid hold in Africa.

Let the games begin...

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Air Ambulance Secured for Yar'Adua

Vanguard News Online : Yar’Adua: Saudi king grants use of air ambulance

Saudi Arabian Monarch, Sheik Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, has finally granted permission for the ailing Nigerian president Yar'Adua to use his air ambulance back to Nigeria, sources say. Saudi Arabian sources have not specified a date yet (will this saving grace ever come for Nigeria?) But they say the main thing to do is prepare the indisposed Yar'Adua for his return trip home.
Unfortunately, an uncomplicated trip back from Saudi Arabia is not the only thing that Nigeria is waiting on. On Wednesday, Senators passed a resolution asking Yar'Adua for a letter of a Medical Leave of Absence, something they will wait two weeks on before taking further action. Impeachment, something senators used to say was not in this equation at all, may be on the horizon if Yar'Adua and his minders continue to shroud his medical stay.

MEND is back

Yesterday MEND issued a warning that they are taking up arms again because the Nigerian government has not delivered on the promises they made in the cease-fire agreement last October. Today Royal Dutch Shell has shut down three oil flow stations after a pipeline began leaking into an area river, probably due to sabotage, though no group has taken responsibility. Apparently, when MEND agreed to a cease-fire, they thought the government would restore control of the resources back to the people, and share a greater amount of the oil profits with the local people, because it is on the grounds that these demands are not being met that they are resuming their war against the imperialist invaders. Jomo Gbomo issued a statement saying that MEND was not directly responsible for this most recent sabotage incident, but that it was probably a response from a freelance group to MEND's new call to arms. It is interesting to note that there are "free-lance" militant groups, suggesting that MEND doesn't have as much control over their message or implementation as any wisp of legitimacy would warrant. Also, the sabotage to the oil pipeline causing it to leak into a creek, resulting in environmental damage. Why they would choose to attack their oppressors in ways that result in such damage to their own society is beyond me.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201002020649.html

In God We Trust

The plot thickens as ex-president Obasanjo has called for President Yar'Adua resignation if his health is, indeed, failing. This comes across as deeply suspicious, as Yar'Adua's ailing health would not have been hard for Obasanjo to discover during the campaign, when the leaving president endorsed Yar'Adua as the best candidate. If Yar'Adua resigns, Vice President Jonathan, Obasanjo's godson and, unlike the current incumbent, a Christian, will take office.

Meanwhile, among the political backdealing, the First Lady has been doing her best to bring her husband back to his feet. She has been in contact with many spiritualists looking for guidance and healing. Whether her prayers will be answered or not remains to be seen.

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