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."