AHANONU KINGSLEY BLOG

Around the world scene, the year 2016 is ending not without recording some events, so remarkable as would stick longer to the memory. From terror attacks, to election results, to deaths, 2016 was by itself a stunning moment. Below are some of the events that shaped the world in the year 2016. 1. Donald Trump Win of the US Presidency If not the most astonishing, the victory of Donald J. Trump in the November 8 United States elections was one event that beat imagination, proving forecasters and political pundits widely wrong. The US elections has come and gone but not without leaving surprise on the many worldwide that passionately followed the trend. The intrigues that played out made it a center point of discussion and one memorable event of 2016. The elections was hewn around war of words, blackmails and accusations of mostly Moscow's influence in the polls. When Trump, in June of 2015 announced his presidential bid, he was not taken seriously to be given a space even

The year 2016 has been an interesting time, with remarkable things that defined it. By all measure, it was a memorable year with all the ups and downs that might have inundated the whole lots of the 365days that is today been rounded off. In Nigeria, here, the year has seen most of its moments defined very clearly by political, social and economic rigmaroles. Some of the eventful moments are highlighted below: 1.   Removal of Subsidy On May 11, Nigerians were jolted by the realization of the increment in the price of the commodity to which they produce, following the federal government acclaimed withdrawal of subsidy. The announcement of the hike in pomp price from N87 per litre to N145 per litre was greeted with mixed feelings, of support and rue. The petroleum minister in a statement said the decision was taken based on the current challenges and that Nigerians have been paying exorbitant prices for fuel. "We have just finished a meeting of various stakeholders presided o

Two people were said to have lost their lives on Wednesday, December 28, following a fight between an Igbo man and a Hausa man in the Gariki axis of Enugu. The incident which was alleged to have happened after a disagreement between one Ifeanyi and one Ali led to the later stabbing the former severally in the stomach after his victim insisted that he must pay N500 complete for using the abattoirs. Mr Ali, a meat seller, had come to the abattoirs inside Gariki to slaughter his cow. And as was custom there, he was expected to pay N500 but when Ifeanyi demanded for the said money, he was said to have given him N400. However, Ifeanyi insisted that the pay be completed to which Ali was alleged to have strongly refused. A fight ensued and at that point Ali brought his dagger and stabbed Ifeanyi severally on the stomach. Ifeanyi was said to have died on the spot. Angered by this, some mob descended on the Hausa man and lynched him and immediately rushed to the mosque in the vicinity

Gov. Obaseki The first social responsibility act of the new governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, seemed to be the exercise of capital punishment. As learnt from the Vanguard, despite the moratorium on death penalty, which Nigeria signed, the Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has signed the warrant for the execution of three death-row inmates at Oko Prison, outside Benin, Edo State. The death row inmates, who were executed on December 23, 2016 are Ogbomoro Omoregie, Apostle Igene and Mark Omosowhota. The death-row inmates in Benin Prison, were all convicted and sentenced to death about 20 years ago by military tribunals under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree as amended. In an earlier petition submitted to the governor by the executed prisoners on December 21, 2016 through LEDAP, protesting the plan for their execution, the prisoners had pleaded with the governor to shelve the planned execution because there was a pending case at the Court of A

Aliko Dangote Even as the combined effect of the US elections and the dwindling fortune of the oil commodity, the year ending 2016 recorded a mix of gains and losses in the world's billionaires fortunes with Africa's richest shedding $4.9billion. The fall in oil prices and the increasing exchange rate of the dollar to the naira forced the African multiple investor to lose that amount which is approximately one-third of his wealth and placing him at number 112 of the billionaires table, down from 42 he had been before June. Gates and Buffet Leading the pack of gainers, worldwide, is Warren Buffet. The US multiple investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway added $11.8billion to reclaim his spot as the second world's richest, a spot he'd earlier lost to Europe's richest and founder of Zara clothing, Amancio Ortega, who closed third having lost $1.7bn. While Bill Gates remained the richest man in the world with the co-founder of Microsoft Inc. closing the year

(Source: The Punch) A black American billionaire, Mr. Robert Smith, has volunteered to sponsor the education of 24 girls from Chibok community, including the 21 recently rescued ones. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday. He said beneficiaries of the scheme include the first set of escapees from Boko Haram insurgents. According to him, the girls will be admitted through negotiation at the American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola. “Smith has offered to pay for the education of the 21 Chibok girls released through negotiations and is offering to take responsibility for all the others who will, hopefully, be eventually set free," he said.

January in Iowa can be cold and dreary, but Gary Bertch is set to pull a surprise package for his workers that will make them have a feel of warmth in appreciation for their services. According to the CNN, all of the more than 800 employees of Bertch Cabinets in Waterloo will get a free trip to the Caribbean next month. The company announced the trip on its Facebook page.  Bertch told his employees the trip was a reward for them after they helped the company meet its goals for the year. He offered the cruise as an incentive a year ago.  "We just tried to get all of our people pumped up a little more to achieve the various goals, both customer-oriented goals and financial goals."

In providing former presidents and former vice presidents with vehicles, a total sum of N432 million has been earmarked in the 2017 fiscal year. Of this amount, Vanguard reports that the sum of N280 million goes to taking care of the vehicles for the seven past presidents and heads of state while the remaining goes for the five vice presidents and chiefs of general staff. The ex-presidents are General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan and Goodluck Jonathan. While the former veepees are Ebitu Ukiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo. Last month, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has raised the notice as to how some of the past leaders could not be paid ten months of the usual pensions. The reason given was due to shortfall in fund. Each of the past leaders that falls in the category of president is entitled to N350,000 per month according to the pension decree

A sad event, was reported yet to have happened in the Yuletide. This time around it occurred on Christmas day along the Jos-Makurdi road. The incident involved a man, who was carrying his family home for the celebration. The man happened to be driving the car and halted to answer the call of nature. He had stepped aside the road, leaving his family inside the car, and was urinating when a car rammed into him and crushed him to death. The vehicle that hit the man and left the family he was driving home grieved, confused and stranded, had lost control after its break failed. What shall we adduce then? That there should not be need to travel for the Yuletide or to embark on the journey on a Christmas day.

Boxing Day: 👊... or 👝... Yesterday happened to be boxing day, and I was, like, wow, "there could be the crazy understanding out there that it could be a day mapped out to box, to hit at a friend." So I decided to stay indoors, supposedly to avoid some folks with such feeling of waiting to hit on me. Don't jeer at me, seriously I was trying to be so cautious, trying to take that first preventive yet simple step of avoiding the circumstance of having, afterwards, to treat the resultant consequences. It was worth the proactive cautiousness, for it could and might have happened; coming from two, three or more people... and for some reasons. When we talk of 'boxing' what readily comes to mind? Ordinarily, and I suppose, it is that act that dominates our sports screen and which to many, it has become a fancy sight, an interest. That act that is done in a ring on a raised platform, between two people, usually men with bare trunk and having just knickers. They ex

Queen Elizabeth II, in following royal tradition, gave out a Christmas message that was quite inspiring, especially to unrecognized heroes, as she battles heavy cold. The message which was prerecorded and delivered at her Sandringham's private estate eulogized volunteers, carers,and community helpers, whom she described as 'ordinary people doing extraordinary things'. She said: 'I always draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organizers and good neighbors, unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special.' In eulogizing these quiet heroes, the 90 year old monarch referred to the great words of Mother Teresa, who was in September officially canonized by the Roman Catholic Church as one of its saint. 'They are an inspiration to those who know them and their lives embody the truth expressed by Mother Teresa.' ''She once said: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can

On the 2016 Christmas day, even as many world over were busy worshipping and celebrating, tragedies flew, holding some in unfortunateness. In faraway Russia, a military plane, heading to their Syrian base, crashed into the Black Sea, killing all 92 people on board. Among the victims were 64 members of the famous musical orchestra, Alexandrov Ensemble known popularly as The Red Army Choir, that was billed to perform for the military on New year's day. Back here in Nigeria, tragedy struck in Lagos, as a building in a Police college collapsed, killing two. Many are reportedly still trapped in the rubble that had been a storey building. May these Christmas victims find repose.

Ahaa! Christmas is here again!🎄🎄🎄 We all know Christmas. It's not a new feel, and especially to the adults. Even among the children, it has become an occurrence which they have come to know; if not for as many times as uncountable definitely it's something that has been witnessed. We could however spare the newly borns, like my little nephews of two, three, four years, Dike and Chuks, who understandably have not experienced the flair before going by the very reason that they were not opportune to be born in the previous memorabilia or lack of its grasp-they readily loose memory of it. Yes, for these, we could allow the benefits to be ecstatic, to be surprised, to be wild and to evince all sundry emotions that may swirl; it is their first. These emotions are quite expected, for man's wildness to phenomena unexperienced and unexpected. Indeed, for the entire children, we could relax on the privilege to be super excited, to be physically fun-filled and thrilled. Oh! 

Telecom giant, MTN has fired its Nigerian staffer that played a major role in its fine reduction. Amina Oyagbola was fired, supposedly, in order for the telecom giant to save face before any foreseeable investigation into the shody nature of how the N1trn fine by NCC was slashed to less than N350bn. Before her present travail, which appeared uncontrollable, Ms Oyagbola, was slammed with double promotions as reward for her effort The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused to be the government kingpin that benefited from the bribery that saw to the Nigeria Communications Commission whittling down the exorbitant fine. Uptill this time, the Buhari's administration that claims to have a strong disdain for any clue of corruption has yet to relieve Mr Abba Kyari or call up an investigation. Mr Abba Kyari is a very right hand man of the president. It was he together with Mr Mamman that was accused of controlling the Buhari's government, and it is yet to

The  buzz of rush hour is unceasing, and it is one which if care is not taken, appears to have come not just to see but to stay. From steady observation, it has been noted of how people prefer the rush hour or rather prefer to take it more seriously. This, as well, has led to the deduction that may be it is the view of certainty, of 'oh finally, so this or that would happen'that the eleventh hour presents that reinforces the zeal and spur the preparedness of people for the said occasion. It is the closeness and hence the apt assurance of the eventuality of an event that galvanizes the expectant; and this suddenness is not spurned on just one or two, but on many. The crowds, indeed, are the respondents of the rush hour, and it is their magnitude that makes the rush hour so rushing and immensely inconveniencing. The Christmas celebration, as with other occasions, is bedeviled with the inconveniences that are the results of having to be reminded of the certainty and the need t

Wednesday, the 21st of December 2016, was a day of reprieve for embattled James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state, and to the many followers of his who have all time seen him as a demigod. On this day, the Southwark Crown Court in London, by its ruling, denied the request by the Home Secretary for the further incarceration of James Ibori . James Ibori ruled Delta State betwenn 1999 and 2003, and was in 2012 convicted of offences bothering on money laundering and fraudulent activities. He was accused to have ripped the state he had governed to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. It was a case, which the Nigerian government initiated and for which, also, its judiciary flopped in giving a conclusive end. Mr Ibori dribbled the Nigerian judiciary and got away with his outrageous scam and deceit. However, before a more virile and probing system, he pleaded guilty to the charges before the British judiciary. The political figure, well renowned in his hom

"From our thoughts we spew out the workable solutions of the problems which by our selfsame thoughts have held us stagnant."-Anonymous Indeed, by conversation, we are consciously able to build ourselves and society. Hence, it is with a profound sense of warmth and that of great optimism that I invite you all to this forum. It is a medium contrived out of a seething desire, out of a ferocious wish. It is the wish to inspire a widespread desire for the needed change we yearn for a prosperous and an egalitarian society anchored on the very basis of values, of appreciable commitments. I emplore all to see this platform as a forum to bare it all that concerns great initiatives, lofty ideas and sublime efforts that seek to foster growth, in mind and heart, of individuals who themselves would become the engineers of a stronger and more virile society. When we engage ourselves in earnest discussions that seek to find the true intents of the mind, we are encouraged to