Prague transport company Ropid wants to set aside carriages on some or all of its trains for singles seeking a soul mate.
The city-owned company will start polling passengers to determine whether they would be interested.

Spokesman Filip Drapal says the initiative is one of the activities Ropid hopes will lure people out of their cars and onto public transportation.

“We want to emphasise that public transport is not only a means of travel but that you can do things there that you cannot do in your car,” he said.

Prague, with a population of 1.2 million, attracted 5.4 million foreign visitors in 2012 with a mix of centuries-old architecture and cobblestone streets and cheap Pilsner beer.

The city’s three metro lines span more than 59km and transported 580 million passengers in 2011.

They say the love train could be up and running by the end of the year.

Throwing light on yesterday’s statement by Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, which sparked an outcry across the country, sources close to Aso Rock, the Nigerian seat of power, a source said the presidential directive covers only those held in lieu of escaped Boko Haram members.

The source there was no way President Jonathan could have ordered the release of confirmed terrorists since that would negate the on-going war against terror which necessitated the imposition of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Announcing the presidential directive, Brig.-Gen. Olukolade had disclosed the country’s Defence Headquarters would “be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.” He said the action was “consequent upon the directives of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria” and that “the move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.”

According to Olukolade, “The measure which is in line with Presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody.”

He said details of the directives and those to benefit had been communicated to field units and the military Joint Task Force (JTF).

“The beneficiaries will be released to the State Governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations,” Olukolade said.

Source News Express

The gesture is aimed at re-orientating the women and children, a source who prefers to remain anonymous told Pointblanknews.com.

According to a statement issued by the Defence Spokesman, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the order for the release of women, minors and others arrested over suspected terrorist activities had been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

The statement said: “Consequent upon the directives of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.

“The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

The measure which is in line with Presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody.

“The details of the directives and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

“The beneficiaries will be released to the state governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations.”

The statement added: “As the operation to rid our country of terrorist activities continues, the Defence Headquarters wishes to reassure Nigerians that the Nigerian military is quite capable and ready to discharge this duty professionally and creditably well.

“The report therefore in a section of the press that Nigerian troops are to be withdrawn from Mali to face the ongoing insurgency is a complete falsehood.

“There is certainly no need for such action now as the human and material resources of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are being meticulously deployed and quite able to meet its present internal and external assignments.

“As a matter of fact the normal and scheduled rotation of troops in various missions will continue.

“This routine should not be misunderstood or misrepresented to misinform Nigerians and the international community.”

The Governor said bad leadership gave rise to injustice which accumulated to bloody agitations by Islamic militants and other terror groups.

“The parents, the communities, the Local Government authorities, state government and the Federal Government are all guilty of the insurgency that is facing this country—we are all guilty.”

Kwankwaso who received members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of security challenges in the North, traced the security problem to failure of the leaders to take full responsibility of governance and offer dividends of democracy to the people.

He also regretted that family values are no longer upheld, “parents no longer take responsibility of their family. We have a situation in this part of the country where parents give birth to 20 to 30 children, chose only two out of them and send the rest away to God knows where.

“Children are sent to places that they don’t know. They are left to fend for themselves. We have a situation where you go round the city and find garrison of children—able-bodied youths begging.

“These children were abandoned by their parents and they were sent away and brought into the state. They grow up to hate themselves, hate their parents, hate the leaders, hate the government and the society. They feel they were deprived, they feel injustice and they become enemies of the state and constituted authorities; and thereby becoming vulnerable to crime and violence.

“These are the bitter pills we must swallow—that we are all guilty of what is happening today. We have to wake up and rise up to the challenges. What started in Yobe and Borno is everywhere in the North, it may eventually envelope the country if we don’t check it now. It is a national issue that must be addressed,” Kwankwaso stated.

The Governor who was also a former Defence Minister called on the government and Nigerians to eschew greed and ensure that what is meant for the people goes round.

“We should keep our eyes on what is happening; our leaders must plan properly—long-term planning. We must also do away with the issue of planning for a second-term while the business of governance suffers.

“As a former Defence Minister, I advise that the rule of engagement must be strictly followed by soldiers deployed to those areas we have emergency rule. I appeal to those affected in this insurgency to come to the table and dialogue. We have to reduce the issue of greed, if we cannot eliminate it. We have to ensure that the right thing is done under the worst circumstance. We also have to control our emotion,” Kwankwaso noted.

The chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Kabiru Taminu Turaki commended Governor Kwankwaso for his efforts towards ensuring security of lives and property in the state, even in the face of the insurgency.

He said the Committee was in Kano in furtherance of its nation-wide consultation geared towards initiating dialogue for peaceful resolution of the crises and insurgency facing the country and the North in particular.

He listed the Committee’s terms of reference to include constructively engaging Boko Haram members to dialogue and in the process restore peace and stability in the country.

The Committee will also find comprehensive and workable framework that will ensure total disarmament within a period of 60 days.

Turaki noted that in Kano, “we have seen changes taking place as far as the insurgency and insecurity is concerned. Security has so much improved.

We want to learn from you (Kwankwaso) how you have been able to do this.

“We are satisfied that Kano is well-secured. We also observe that the state government has rebuilt most of the structures that were affected. We thank you for the bold step you have taken to finding the root causes of the insurgency, by empowering the youths. We have seen how you have been making bold steps to creating opportunities to youths to become self-reliant,” Turaki stated.

He also promised that the recommendation of the Committee will touch on serious issues that will put an end to the insurgency, while soliciting for the cooperation of all stakeholders and Nigerians.

Specifically, the leadership of the party must see that the vacant positions are filled with strong and credible politicians capable of bringing back estranged members and as well attract new blood into PDP and also correct all cases of lopsidedness in some state executives.

A chieftain of the party, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan who gave the advice while speaking with political correspondents  in Abuja Friday, declared that the party (PDP) would regain its lost glory in the South West if all these are speedily and holistically attended to.

Olaosebikan, a former Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State and one of the leading  progressives in the party, said it would be a masterstroke if the party could use this rear chance to bring back all the estranged members of the party, with emphasis on a former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja  and benefit from their grassroots acceptance, national reach and democratic values.

Alhaji Olaosebikan maintained that the cries over marginalization by the region can only be averted if the party at the national and more so at the regional levels make the necessary moves and sacrifices and win the region for the national government.  To him, all the leaders in the region must be prepared to go extra miles in stabilizing and strengthening the party for all round victory in 2015.

Thisday

His book: Things Fall Apart made me to fall in love with Literature in my Form 3 in secondary school until I came in contact with Merchant of Venice and Macbeth. I could not understand the language of these two books.
Compared to Things Fall Apart, the two books became a no go area for me.
In form four, I abandoned Literature for Science subjects. Achebe’s Things Fall Apart brought Igbo culture and tradition to the front burner.
As we read it in our school in those days, you would think the events are happening in your backyard. You could feel it, you could imagine it, you see it, you celebrate it. We sang Things Fall Apart like songs. Things Fall Apart is un-putdownable, a masterpiece and a must read. It is one of Achebe’s greatest gift to humanity. It is this book that taught me how to put words on paper. It was this book that helped to prepare me as an Author and writer today. I thank Achebe for this.

Now,  if Things Fall Apart prepared me to be a writer, what did the small but mighty book, The Trouble With Nigeria do to my life as a Nigerian? I read the heavily loaded book in 1995 when I wrote my first book, Igbos:25 Years After Biafra . In that small but prodigious work Ugonabo Chinua Achebe gave us summary of the problems facing Nigeria as a political entity which he traced to failure of leadership.

Today, 31 years after, Nigeria is still being saddled with mediocrity in leadership. Nigeria’s repeated failures in the age of success helped in no uncertain terms to speed up the great man’s journey to the end. The failure of Nigerians to help the country to join the comity of great nations on earth in the midst of plenty led the sage to reject National Honors both from former President Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan. To make  matters worse, Nigerian leaders either by acts of omission or commission, fail to redress the injustice repeatedly meted out to a vital and significant section of Nigeria since the end of the Civil War 43 years ago. Achebe waited for 43 years for Nigeria to do some growing up and remove the kid gloves but Nigeria will not change. Ugonabo Ogidi responded with his latest work, There Was A Country. We all saw and read the controversies and dusts raised by this yet another great work from the man of letters. Nigeria  cannot change her national bad habits. No wonder he cried out in the Trouble With Nigeria : “No one can do much to change the weather, we must accept it and live with or under it. But national bad habits are different matter, we resign ourselves to them at our peril”

Odenigbo, Chinua Achebe left Nigeria a very sad man and this has always been the trend. Honourable Nigerians die leaving Nigeria worse than they met it. Critical mass of Nigeria must join forces together to stop this mess.

As the king of birds, the elephant, Ugonabo (a red cap chief with two eagle feathers) Ikenga Ogidi, Dike nammuta Ndigbo, Eze Akuko Ndigbo, Odeakwukwo mahadum Ndigbo goes home, let us hope that Nigeria will learn from the immortal  words of our Professor Chinua Achebe who saw and did something for humanity.

As Ugonabo goes home to meet his Creator let us hope that Nigerian leaders will rise above primordial sentiments to get Nigeria out of trouble. As Ugonabo goes home to rest, let us hope the lessons of Achebe’s life and times will be ingraned and do something quick to arrest the drift of the Nigerian state. Time is not on the side of Nigeria . Go in peace Ugonabo

Joe Igbokwe
Lagos

Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has doled out the sum of 5 billion naira for youth empowerment scheme under the “Youth Must Work” programme.

Okorocha stated this while addressing Imo youths during the launching the ‘Youth Must Work ‘ programme at the Heroes Square, Owerri.

The governor said under the programme, 100 youths will be trained as pilots in South Africa while another
200 youths will undergo entrepreneurial training in Singapore.

Okorocha explained that youths in each of the 560 communities in the state would form a co-operative so as to access an interest-free loan to from the N5 Billion Naira for integrated farm practice towards improving the economy of the rural communities.

He further disclosed that unemployed graduates in the state will be paid monthly stipend of N20,000 to sustain them until they gain employment.

He added that the state will partner with business establishments and companies for possible deployment of the unemployed youths so as to engage them positively.

He attributed the high rate of unemployment in the country to corruption, primitive accumulation of wealth and selfishness of the leaders.

The governor who lamented the level of corruption that marred the activities of the past administration, however called on the EFCC to visit the allegation of about 62 billion Naira allegedly looted by ex-governor Ikedi Ohakim and his aides.

Okorocha promised to partner with the Imo state House of Assembly to enact necessary laws for the sustainability of the Youth Must Work programme.

He advised the youths to take advantage of the programme by imbibing the spirit of honesty, sincerity and handwork.

The Need to urgently pay Stipends to Nigerian B.E.A. Scholars

It is with deep dissatisfaction and unfortunate circumstance we are writing you this note. Sequel to the advent of the Bilateral Educational Agreement between the Nigerian government and other countries which fell under this agreement including the Russian Federation which present young intelligent and merited Nigerians with opportunities to enjoy full rights to quality foreign education, these even becomes more interesting when these set of students/scholars are from financially average and less privilege homes. The full-time scholarship(which includes payment of school fees automatically by the Nigerian government and the payment of monthly stipends to scholarship students which carries away burden of demands and dependency parents of these scholars would have encountered while sponsoring their wards/Kids by themselves.  Over the years; the Russian government has live up to her bargain and part of the deal and  agreement by providing scholars with quality education and the regular payment of monthly financial stipends to all foreign scholarship students  as at when due irrespective of nationality. That is call responsibility and discipline government.

On the other hand, her counterpart, which is the Federal government of Nigeria; as continue to be defaulting and lackadaisical with payment of her scholars year in year out. These are signs of irresponsibility and a callous government towards the plight of her citizens. We can’t relate to the reason why this problem and challenge most continue repeating itself in every financial given year. Nigerian government scholars feel humiliated, dehumanize, embarrass, helpless and left to their fate amongst other foreign students here in Russia. Students here are exposed to most dangerous and life threatening circumstances due to financial inadequacies, students feed hand to mouth, can’t do important school and resident registrations, unable to afford quality medical attention, even in the case where is afforded, the health insurance is not enough to cover the entire medical treatment, and in turn exposes the individual to health problems which must have been handled appropriately, students finds it difficult to pay for their accommodation (hostel)fees, the lists goes on endlessly. These students are confronted with untold hardship since they live here in a country which isn’t theirs; neither are their parents nor guidance around them, let’s be frank and truthful to ourselves; how many politicians or highly place government official would find it funny or rather tolerate their children to such bedeviling situation?

Therefore; affording basic necessities of life becomes too far from reach, hence making them vulnerable to unhealthy and criminalizing activities which is to the detriment of their educational pursuit. The last time the Nigerian government scholars were paid study stipends here in Russia was a year ago (to be specific in June 2012). How possible is it to survive in a society not yours and where none of your family member(s) resides, with a year stipend which was paid in the June of 2012 to still be left with these students.

It is very obvious that we as a nation don’t learn from history, which puts us under the category of bad history students. How long most we continue to repeat the same mistake always. Most we allow publications to be done in the pages of dailies and newspapers before the attention of those responsible to be drawn to the fact that they need to adequately carryout their responsibility.

In view of this, behalf of all the Nigerian scholarship students in the Russian Federation under the B.E.A. hospices, the students in Rostov under the aegis of the Nigerian Community in Russia (Rostov-On-Don) solicit to the Nigerian Ministry of Education, the Federal Scholarship Board, influential individuals, parents with children in Russia under this arrangement, well-meaning responsible Nigerians, and any other that cares to listen to please make conscious effort to see that students are paid their stipends and allowances with immediate effect. Not waiting till the (students) are attacked by ulcer and other diseases due to lack of food. We make our plea and demands known to Hajiyah H.U. Abdullahi who is professional, an educationist and above all a mother, that your children, and most especially the new students in their language preparatory course who are very much younger and whose allowances were meager when coming to Russia are now suffering and crying. Hoping you use your good office to listen to our outcry. Because it is said that a stitch in time saves nine.

Appreciating you for your prompt response.

Sincerely,
Secretary General
For; Nigerian Community in Russia (Rostov)

He could be the most demanding player at the club if he so wished but most lunchtimes he can be found in the canteen at the training ground sitting with the backroom staff rather than acting the big star.

There is no doubt, however, that a big star is what Bale has become – the first and possibly last man to persuade Tottenham Hotspur’s famously conservative chairman Daniel Levy to tear up his own pay structure more than once. Bale, at 23, is the ideal for any coach. He lives to play and his life is unaffected by any other distractions. His partner and young daughter are based mainly in Wales while he lives just a short distance from Spurs’ old Essex training ground.

The close bond he has with the club, who are in the process of offering him his sixth contract in six years, is one of the reasons why there has been no panic in the light of Spurs’ failure to make the Champions League. The club know they are not about to face another Luka Modric-style rebellion, or  another saga like the one that dragged on around Dimitar Berbatov’s £30.75m move to Manchester United in 2008.

The relationship with Bale has been built on their willingness to reward him with new, improved contracts virtually every season, even in the early years after his move from Southampton in 2007 when it looked touch-and-go as to whether he would make the grade at White Hart Lane. That policy is not confined to Bale; the likes of Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone and Kyle Walker also brought in at a relatively low cost as teenagers, have benefited from the same approach.

But it is in the case of Bale more than any other where the policy has really paid dividends in helping build a bond of trust with the player and protect his value to the club.

Since he signed his first deal in the summer of 2007, Bale’s development has been rewarded with new deals in August 2008, despite a serious ankle injury the previous season, and then, once his career really took off, again in May 2010, March 2011 and last June. Each time his wages have increased and in return, Levy and the club have extended his contract, thus putting themselves in the driving seat in any potential sale.

It is a simple formula to follow but it only works when there is an understanding between player and club. In the case of Bale, who has three years left to run on his current deal, Spurs are well aware that they are not about to be held to ransom by a bigger,  acquisitive club and a recalcitrant player.

There is an understanding between both parties this summer that if Bale is to sign another contract extension that the wages will have to go into a realm that Levy would have considered unthinkable just two years ago.

The likes of Berbatov and Modric earned nowhere near the £150,000 to £175,000-a-week deal that Bale could now command, but then his status in the game outstrips that of both those players in their Spurs’ years.

It is notable that the last three major sales by Spurs – Michael Carrick, Berbatov and Modric – have been on Levy’s terms. In the case of Modric, it was clear that the club were never going to sell to Chelsea in 2011, despite the player’s demands. Equally it looks extremely unlikely that they will sell Bale to another Premier League club – this summer or any other summer.

Levy does not always get it right. His failure to sign a striker in January may ultimately have cost Spurs a Champions League place. The club is inherently conservative in its spending and has no intention of making the kind of marquee signings that the top three, and possibly even Arsenal, will make this summer. That said, their Under-21 team has excelled this season and there will be an argument to use players like Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll and Jake Livermore more in the first team, as well as introduce Ryan Mason.

Essentially Spurs are not in the business of making a title challenge, not in this era of oligarchs and oil sheikhs. But by the same token they do a very good job of protecting what they have from leaving unless it is at full value. There is a lot to be said for that.

Courtesy The London Independent

The Olowo of Owo and paramount ruler of the kingdom, Oba Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, on Tuesday led other traditional rulers to the Governor’s office in Akure to express their solidarity with  Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s  administration…

Also on the solidarity  train are the Adase of Idase, Oba Okikiola Folagbade, Asuada of Isuada, Oba R.A Aladetange, OjomuOluda of Ijebu-Owo, Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo Elemure of Emure, Oba Adedubaje Adeyefa, Olupele of Ipele, Oba A.O Alade, Oluyere of Iyere, Oba Omotunde Adako and the regent of Uso, Princess Adekemi Oyinbade.

In his speech, Oba Victor Olateru-Olagbegi said that the visit was to congratulate the Governor on his victory at the election petition tribunal.

The monarch maintained that the  monumental infrastructural  facilities provided for the people in various communities of the State portray the Governor as a man with a  caring heart..

He particularly commended Dr Mimiko for the transformation of the entire Owo community.

While thanking his visitors, Governor Mimiko assured them of more infrastructural development during his second term in office.

He described Owo as the stronghold of progressive politics in the country and sought further collaboration with the people to move the State forward.