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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

"YarÁdua, A Victim Of Spousal Abuse- Soyinka"


Efforts to see President Yar’Adua are being hindered by a cabal led by his wife, which constitutes spousal abuse, according to Professor Wole Soyinka. Soyinka has made this claim multiple times. Apparently, Yar’Adua has granted the BBC rights to an interview, and Soyinka thinks that he should also address the nation.
Soyinka is calling the people of Nigeria to action to take more control over their own country. He wants to remind them of their duty to themselves and their country to demand accountability from the government, because the government and the governed have a shared responsibility. In one of his talks, he said that “every Nigerian had the responsibility to protect his or her vote” and urged Nigerians to support the Save Nigeria Group along with other civil society groups. His main point is that “The system is geared towards large scale corruption. It is not beneficial to the country and it needs to be overturned”. Quite intense.
For more information, click here.

candidate search

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article02/070410?pdate=070410&ptitle=Presidency:%20Search%20begins%20for%20best%20from%20the%20North

The New


Quashing any doubts that he would merely serve as a figure, acting Jonathan recently approved the changes to the cabinet. The government is now his, and will remain his until President Yar'Adua returns or voters bring in a new leader next year. In his most recent speech, Jonathan spoke of how his country must hit the ground running - a portent of Jonathan's plans to try and get things done with his remaining year in office. Whether or not he will make good on that promise remains to be seen. For more information click here

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Nigeria: Truly Backwards or Oddly Progressive?

The North of Nigeria is generally characterized as a harsh area dominated by draconian Shar'ia Law and heavily conservative views. Shar'ia is a law system dictated by the fundamentalist readings of the Qua'ran. For instance the beating of adulterous persons is fully justified; "The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication—flog each of them with hundred stripes: Let no compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God, if ye believe in God and the last day.”, as is the execution of an apostate. Women are barred from ruling.
Except in the case of the Kingdom of Kumbwada, Nigeria in which only a female may occupy the throne thanks to an ancient curse that prohibits the crowning of males.
Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed is making strides in the generally oppressive air of Northern Nigeria. She lends an ear to women who come to her unhappy in arranged marriage or complaining of domestic violence in a region that typically disregards such grievances.
The one thing Queen Ahmed does not like but grants in necessary circumstances is divorce. She generally likes to engage in a sort of couples-counseling. "But if that's not possible, if there's no way she can have any compassion for him or love, it's not her fault or his fault. It's just natural." She says.
The queen hopes to see a female president of Nigeria one day,
"It's my most ardent wish. I think the problems in Nigeria have become intractable. Let's try a woman. Men have failed."