Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- November 12, 2024
- 163 views
UNTOLD STORY OF EQUATORIAL GUINEAS SEX TAPE LEAK
THE UNTOLD STORY OF EQUATORIAL GUINEAS SEX TAPE LEAKIn recent weeks, Equatorial Guinea has been rocked by an explosive scandal involving leaked sex tapes of Baltasar Ebang Mr Engonga, a senior civil servant and nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.What began as a salacious scandal may, in fact, be the latest power play in the fight over the country’s presidential succession.Dozens of explicit videos—estimated between 150 to more than 400— surfaced on social media, showing Mr Engonga, known as “Bello” for his good looks, engaging in sexual acts with multiple women in his office and other locations. Some of the women were reported to be the wives and relatives of high-ranking officials, adding fuel to the political firestorm.While the identity of those who leaked the tapes remained unclear, some speculated that the scandal was part of a coordinated effort to discredit Mr Engonga. He was one of several figures thought to be vying to replace President Nguema, the world’s longest-serving president, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979.As news of the tapes spread, observers began questioning the timing and purpose of the leaks. Just days before the videos surfaced, Mr Engonga was arrested on charges of embezzling state funds and was held in the notorious Black Beach prison. His phones and computers were confiscated, leading to suspicions that security forces may have been involved in leaking the recordings.Equatoguinean activist Nsang Christia Esimi Cruz, speaking from London on the ‘BBC Focus on Africa’ podcast, suggested that the scandal was part of a larger power struggle. “What we are seeing is the end of an era, the end of the current president, and there is a succession [question] and this is the internal fighting we are seeing,” said Mr Cruz.He believed Vice President Teodoro Obiang Mangue—who also happened to be the president’s son—was using the scandal to eliminate political opponents, including Engonga.The vice president made headlines before for his extravagant lifestyle, which included once owning a $275,000 crystal-encrusted glove worn by Michael Jackson. However, Mr Cruz alleged that the vice-president, along with his mother, was now clearing the path for his ascension to power by sidelining potential challengers.While the leaked videos captivated the public beyond Equatorial Guinea, some activists argued that the real issue was much larger. Equatorial Guinea was plagued by economic decline as its once-booming oil reserves dwindled. Despite vast wealth among a small elite, many of the country’s 1.7 million residents continued to live in poverty. The Nguema administration faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killings and torture, according to a United States government report.Activist Cruz expressed frustration that international attention focused on the sex scandal rather than the broader problems facing the country. “Equatorial Guinea has much bigger problems than this sex scandal,” he said, explaining that the leak is “just a symptom of the illness, it’s not the illness itself.”Indeed, palace intrigue has long been a defining feature of Equatorial Guinea’s political landscape. Although the country held regular elections, there was no meaningful opposition. Political rivals and activists were often jailed or exiled, and allegations of coup plotting were common. The scandal appeared to be the latest chapter in this ongoing struggle for power.In response to the scandal, Vice-President Obiang Mangue took swift action. On October 30, he ordered telecom companies to curb the spread of the videos. “We cannot continue to watch families fall apart without taking any action,” he wrote on social media. Despite the efforts, the clips continued to circulate.Engonga faced additional legal troubles. The police encouraged the women involved in the videos to file complaints, and at least one has announced her intention to sue him for non-consensual distribution of the tapes. It remained unclear why Engonga recorded his sexcapades, though some suggested…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 11, 2024
- 131 views
TRUMP TO KICK-START MASS DEPORTATION OF IMMIGRANTS, PARDON JANUARY 6 RIOTERS ON FIRST DAY AS US PRESIDENT
TRUMP TO KICK-START MASS DEPORTATION OF IMMIGRANTS, PARDON JANUARY 6 RIOTERS ON FIRST DAY AS US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s plans for his first day in the White House are quite ambitious, to say the least. After being asked if he’d be a dictator if re-elected, Trump responded that he wouldn’t be, “except for Day 1”. His agenda includes mass deportation of migrants, rolling back Biden administration policies on education, reshaping the federal government by firing potentially thousands of federal employees he believes are secretly working against him, and pardoning people who were arrested for their role in the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump plans to kick-start the mass deportation of migrants on his first day, AP News reports. Those arrested for participating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot can expect pardons from Trump. Trump also mentioned his intentions to “drill, drill, drill” and close the borders. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill,” he said of his Day 1 plans. When he took office in 2017, he also had a long list which included immediately renegotiating trade deals, deporting migrants and putting in place measures to root out government corruption. However, those things didn’t happen all at once. Trump had said in his second term, “within two seconds” of taking office, he would fire Jack Smith, the special counsel who has been prosecuting two federal cases against him. Smith charged Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump’s options for handling his state conviction in New York are limited. For instance, he cannot pardon himself for state convictions, as Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution only allows presidential pardons for federal offenses. However, as president-elect, Trump may try to leverage his status to expunge his felony conviction or avoid a prison sentence. Trump’s presidential win has put the spotlight on his campaign promise to pardon over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. This violent siege, sparked by Trump’s supporters, was an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. During his campaign, Trump referred to the rioters as “unbelievable patriots” and vowed to assist them on his first day in office. As president, Trump has the authority to pardon anyone convicted in federal court, District of Columbia Superior Court, or military court-martial. He can also halt ongoing prosecutions by instructing his attorney general to drop the cases. This move has sparked concerns about accountability and the potential consequences of such pardons. Critics argue that pardoning the rioters would undermine the rule of law and send a worrying message about the consequences of violent actions. Judges handling these cases have condemned Trump’s depiction of the event as a “day of love,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes committed. “I am inclined to pardon many of them,” Trump said on his social media platform in March when announcing the promise. “I can’t say for every single one, because a couple of them, probably they got out of control.”
- Foreign Affairs
- November 10, 2024
- 84 views
EXPERTS SUGGEST LEADERSHIP MODELS FOR AFRICA TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT
EXPERTS SUGGEST LEADERSHIP MODELS FOR AFRICA TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT The PMI in a recent report had said Africa must address the current manpower shortage in project management for capacity building for growth. Experts at the Project Management Institute (PMI) South Africa, have put forward innovations which seek to challenge the leadership approaches in Africa, in order to foster growth and development. The PMI in a release to celebrate the International Project Management (IPM) Day 2024 said the experts brought forward “traditional and international project management standards” with authentic insights. The PMI in a recent report had said Africa must address the current manpower shortage in project management for capacity building for growth. According to the report, there is an increase in the number of jobs requiring project management skills, especially in developing and emerging countries. Meanwhile, the key expert, Dr Lambert Ofoegbu at the PMI South Africa charter under the global project management umbrella said, “This groundbreaking innovation seeks to promote leadership perspectives on Agile and Hybrid Approaches throughout Africa, fostering growth, development, and raising traditional and international project management standards with authentic insights.” Ofoegbu also led a virtual panel discussion featuring distinguished PMI Fellows who examined his contributions to shaping global practice standards and noted that they were truly remarkable. The statement said Ofoegbu, who is past President of the PMI Nigeria Chapter, and a pioneer in the field of project management, has enhanced PMI’s global project management standards. The event attracted a large and engaged audience of project management professionals from around the globe. The panel of experts, comprising seasoned PMI Fellows, shared their invaluable insights and experiences on the challenges and opportunities presented by Agile and hybrid methodologies. Frank Saladis, a PMI Fellow and a founder of IPM Day, oriented the discussion by highlighting the tenets of Agile (Adaptive) and Waterfall (Predictive) Methodologies, exhibiting over 35 years of professional practice. Consistently, other PMI Fellows as panellists – Beth Ouellette (a Programme Management Professional and a Disciplined Agile Champion), and Dr Alphonso Bucero (Portfolio Management and Risk Management Professional) honed the discussion from the leadership perspectives to determine how to apply a project management methodology in hybrid projects with complex requirements. The distinguished PMI Fellows equally dissected the role leadership play in managing team dynamics and communication within a hybrid Agile-Waterfall framework, where methodologies may sometimes clash. They also highlighted common challenges and how to overcome them. “Point Blanc with PMI Fellows” is a virtual panel discussion series established by Dr. Lambert Ofoegbu and Mr Thomas Walenta (a PMI Fellow, and a past Global PMI Board Member). The statement said the series aimed to provide a platform for PMI Fellows to share their expertise on emerging trends and best practices in project management. The “Point Blanc with PMI Fellows” series, conceived and led by Dr. Ofoegbu, has proven to be a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and networking within the project management community. The PMI South Africa Chapter said its hosting of the event further solidified its commitment to delivering high-quality professional development opportunities by the Chapter Leadership. The PMI South Africa Chapter President Tunde Ojo-Aromokudu, a Project Management and Construction Professional (PMP, PMI-CP) and the VP of Professional Development Victor Chidongo, a Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) appreciated PMI Fellows and the Convener of “Point Blanc with PMI Fellows” Panel of Discussion series for bringing the IPM Day edition to their doorstep.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 10, 2024
- 205 views
ISRAEL ACCUSES IRAN OF PLOTTING TO DESTABILIZE NIGERIA
ISRAEL ACCUSES IRAN OF PLOTTING TO DESTABILIZE NIGERIA The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said on Tuesday that Iran’s “nefarious activities” have spread from the Middle East to Africa and particularly, Nigeria. He added that the Iranian forces were “working to destabilise” Nigeria. The Israeli envoy made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday at the screening of the documentary titled ‘We Will Dance Again: Surviving October 7th’ by Yariv Mozer organised to commemorate first anniversary since Hamas invaded Israel and abducted its citizens. The militant group abducted 396 partygoers in Israel and released some of them following the intervention of the U.S. and UN. But 101 people are still being held hostage and used to negotiate with Israel. Mr Freeman described Iranians as “tyrants” whose proxies from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon wreaked devastation on different countries and threw millions into misery, noting that Nigeria was among the nation’s victims. “The tyrants in Tehran are responsible for the destabilisation of countries and the misery of millions,” the Israeli envoy claimed on Wednesday. “Yet, Iran’s nefarious activities are not limited to the Middle East. Let me be clear, Iran’s leaders are also working to destabilise Western Africa, including here in Nigeria,” he alleged. Israel had extended the war on Gaza to Lebanon —one of Hamas’s strongest allies—launching missiles that have killed hundreds and destroyed critical infrastructure. Mr Freeman stated that Israel would halt its incursion on Lebanon on one condition, —”the full implementation of UN resolution 1701” stipulating demilitarisation and disarmament of Hezbollah forces. “The war in Lebanon will only end with the full implementation of UN resolution 1701 – with Hezbollah unable to rearm, and pushed back beyond the Litani River and the Lebanese army in control of the South of Lebanon,” Mr Freeman insisted. The envoy thanked the Nigerian government and the U.S. for standing by Israel during its war against multiple nations. “Over the past year, the support shown by President Biden, as well as by Republicans and Democrats alike has been overwhelming and I am confident that whoever wins today’s (Tuesday) presidential election, will continue that steadfast support. But it hasn’t just been the U.S., and I want to thank all of those countries that have stood by us, publicly and behind the scenes,” said Mr Freeman “I also want to thank all of our friends in Nigeria who have stood with us.” The Iranian authorities did not immediately return comments to claims of plotting to destabilise Nigeria. Mr Freeman stated, “This is not a war we wanted. This is not a war we started. Hamas and Hezbollah attacked Israel. And today we face a war on seven fronts – all of it sponsored by Iran.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 9, 2024
- 104 views
I WON’T STEP DOWN FOR DONALD TRUMP – POWELL, CHAIR, FEDERAL RESERVE
I WON’T STEP DOWN FOR TRUMP – POWELL, CHAIR FEDERAL RESERVE Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had a clear, direct response when asked during a press conference Thursday if he would step down if asked to do so by President-elect Trump. “No,” said Powell, whose term as chair ends in 2026 When asked to elaborate and if he would be legally required to leave, he again said, “No.” Powell later said it is “not permitted under the law” for the president to fire or demote him or any of the other Fed governors with leadership positions. Trump appointed Powell during his first term in 2017 but repeatedly and publicly criticized the Fed and its chair for not cutting rates fast enough throughout his tenure. Powell also said in 2019 that he would not resign if asked by Trump. President Biden reappointed Powell in 2021 despite objections from progressives who have criticized the chair saying he has burdened the average American by keeping rates too high for too long. Trump suggested earlier this year that Powell, a lifelong Republican, was “political” and would cut rates ahead of the 2024 election to help Democrats. While the Fed did cut rates in September by a whopping 50 basis points, Trump handily defeated Vice President Harris this week. The Fed is a politically independent agency and closely guards its reputation. But in August, Trump suggested he should “have at least a say” in monetary policy, including interest rates, because he has “made a lot of money.” Trump later walked back his comments during an interview with Bloomberg. “I think it’s fine for a president to talk,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that they have to listen.” “A president certainly can be talking about interest rates, because I think I have very good instincts,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I’m calling the shot, but it does mean that I should have a right to be able to talk about it like anybody else.” Trump also said over the summer that he would let Powell serve out his term, “especially if I thought he was doing the right thing,” but that he would not reappoint him for another term.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 8, 2024
- 121 views
A WAVE RACIST TEXT MESSAGES SUMMONING BLACK PEOPLE TO REPORT FOR SLAVERY SHOWED UP ON PHONES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
A WAVE OF RACIST TEXTMESSAGES SUMMONING BLACK PEOPLE to REPORT FOR SLAVERY SHOWED UP ON PHONES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES The N.A.A.C.P. said that messages were received in nine states, and attorneys general in two other states reported the same on Thursday, two days after the presidential election. The F.B.I. said in a statement that it was “aware of the offensive and racist text messages” and that it was coordinating with the Justice Department and other federal authorities. The texts, which began as early as Wednesday morning, were reported across the South, and from New York to California. The office of the New York attorney general, Letitia James, said the messages had arrived in phones of middle school, high school and college students in New York City and its suburbs. In a statement, Ms. James called the messages “disgusting and unacceptable.” Some examples of the messages were shared by recipients and reviewed by The New York Times. They followed a pattern: addressing recipients by name, telling them they had been selected to “pick cotton” on a plantation and ordering them to show up at a specific time to be picked up by slave handlers. Some included a reference to the president-elect, Donald J. Trump. A spokesman for the Trump campaign, Steven Cheung, said in an email that the “campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” Mr. Trump stoked racism throughout his campaign in speeches that included false accusations against immigrants and inflated crime figures. He demeaned the intelligence of his opponent, a Black woman; repeatedly amplified a lie that Haitian immigrants were eating neighbors’ pets in Ohio and held a rally near the end of his campaign at Madison Square Garden that was rife with bigotry and misogyny. The messages hark back to the most painful past for Black Americans. “Our executive slave owners will come get you in a brown van, be prepared to be searched down once you’ve entered the plantation,” one version said. Derrick Johnson, the president of the N.A.A.C.P., said in a statement that the messages reflected how racist groups had been emboldened after Mr. Trump’s victory, and represented a sharp increase in “vile and abhorrent rhetoric.” These actions are not normal,” he said. “And we refuse to let them be normalized.” The N.A.A.C.P. said people had received versions of the message in Alabama, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. They seemed to circulate heavily on college campuses, but were not limited to colleges, said Alicia Mercedes, a spokeswoman for the N.A.A.C.P. The University of Southern California said in a statement that students on its campus had received hateful messages, and the Ohio attorney general’s office also said it was investigating reports there. Among other schools targeted were Fisk University, in Nashville, and Howard University in Washington, D.C., two historically Black universities. Howard is the alma mater of Vice President Kamala Harris and hosted her campaign’s watch party on Tuesday night and her concession speech on Wednesday. E.J. Hunter of Chicago said that her daughter, a freshman at Howard, was at home when she received the message on Wednesday afternoon, as she prepared to watch Ms. Harris’s concession speech. Ms. Hunter immediately wondered how the sender got her daughter’s full name. “Seeing this triggered every ounce of mama bear in me, to want to protect my child,” she said. “I know Kamala said we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work, but I didn’t think it was going to be, literally, on Day 1.” At Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala., at least two students received the messages, said Monique Norwood, a parent whose 14-year-old daughter got the text on Wednesday. “When she read it to me,…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 8, 2024
- 146 views
TRUMP APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE CHIEF OF STAFF IN US HISTORY
TRUMP APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE CHIEF OF STAFF IN US HISTORY United States President-elect, Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, a longtime GOP operative, as his White House chief of staff. Wiles was Trump’s campaign manager and has been widely credited for running what was Trump’s most disciplined and well-executed campaign. Trump had given a special thanks to Wiles for her prominent role in the campaign during his victory celebration on Wednesday. He described Wiles as tough, smart, innovative and said she is universally admired and respected. “Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns. “It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” Trump said.
- Foreign Affairs
- November 8, 2024
- 91 views
NIGERIAN-BORN UK CONSERVATIVE LEADER, KEMI BADENOCH, BLASTS FORMER BRITISH COLONIES, FOR BLAMING THEIR UNDERDEVELOPMENT ON COLONIALISM
:NIGERIAN-BORN UK CONSERVATIVE LEADER, KEMI BADENOCH, SAYS IT’S SCAM FOR FORMER BRITISH COLONIES TO BLAME THEIR UNDERDEVELOPMENT ON COLONIALISM The newly elected leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch, once claimed it is fallacious for developing countries to always blame their underdevelopment on British colonialism. The Nigerian-born British lawmaker who once served as UK business and trade minister said this in a viral video in October. In a recent video, the new UK Conservative Party leader said many countries claim the British Empire is responsible for their lack of socio-economic growth, but that the UK government should be celebrated for ending slave trade and not be seen as the bane of global development as propagated by some former British colonies. She said: “There are many countries now who want to use guilt to try and exploit the UK. They asked for reparation. I saw it as a trade minister. It is not a culture war. “I was at the WTO. I won’t name the minister from another country. And he was telling me we need to give up some of the things we were doing because of colonialism and they needed time to develop. These arguments are a scam. Don’t fall for it. “We need to make sure we put this country first, we work well with our neighbours, we work well with other countries. But we have to look after ourselves. “There are many things the British Empire got wrong but there are many amazing things the British Empire also did. We need to be honest about it and stop pretending that it was all bad. The British Empire ended slavery, the Atlantic slave trade. We need to talk about that more.” Similarly, Kemi Badenoch made headlines in April for her bold statement that the UK’s wealth and economic success shouldn’t be attributed solely to its colonial history or racial privilege. This statement sparked controversy, adding to the list of times Badenoch has been at the centre of public debate. The lawmaker said: “It worries me when I hear people talk about wealth and success in the UK as being down to colonialism or imperialism or white privilege or whatever. “It matters, because if people genuinely believe that the UK only grew and developed into an advanced economy because of exploitation and oppression, then the solutions they will devise will make our growth and productivity problem even worse. “It matters in other countries too, because if developing nations do not understand how the west became rich, they cannot follow in its footsteps.” “And it matters when, as your trade secretary, I go to the World Trade Organization conference negotiating on the UK’s behalf, and some of my counterparts spend the entire time in meetings talking about colonialism, blame the west for their economic difficulties, and make demands that would make all of us – not just in this country, but around the world – poorer,” she added. At a recent summit in Samoa, former British colonies renewed their call for slavery reparations from the UK government. King Charles III acknowledged the painful legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, stating that it continues to resonate today. However, he avoided discussing financial reparations, instead encouraging leaders to focus on understanding history to inform future choices and address existing inequalities. Earlier this week, the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that her office reached out to Kemi Badenoch, but received no response. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa said Badenoch’s action shows that she is not willing to identify herself as a person of Nigerian lineage. She stated that Nigeria would not compel the British politician to embrace her Nigerian roots…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 7, 2024
- 115 views
HOW ELECTORAL COLLEGE, NOT POPULAR VOTE PICKS US PRESIDENT
HOW ELECTORAL COLLEGE, NOT POPULAR VOTE, PICKS US PRESIDENT Although the United States prides itself as the world’s pre-eminent democracy, where each person can have their say about who should be president, the Constitution calls for states to choose “electors” who do the actual electing. This is known as the Electoral College. Since the first presidential election in 1789, won by George Washington, there have been 59 U.S. elections. In all but five – two in this century – the president had won both the popular votes and the Electoral College votes. In 2000, Democratic candidate Al Gore garnered 543,895 more votes nationwide than Republican George W. Bush. But in a contentious race that went all the way up to the Supreme Court, the judges decided to end a recount in Florida, giving the state’s then 25 electoral votes to Mr Bush. This took Mr Bush past the magic number of 270 electoral votes and ensured him the presidency. In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a much bigger margin, receiving 2.9 million more votes nationwide. But Mr Trump became president because he garnered 304 electoral votes to Mrs Clinton’s 227. Join the Premium Times WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. If the number of electoral votes is tied, then the election is decided by the newly elected House of Representatives. How the electoral votes workEach state is allotted electors equal to their number of representatives in Congress. This means there are 538 electors in total: 435 representatives and 100 senators, plus three for the District of Columbia. If a candidate wins 270 electors or more, therefore, he or she wins the presidency. In 48 states, the candidate with the most votes, however slim the margin is, wins all the state’s electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska do things differently and allocate electoral votes by individual congressional districts. Some critics regard the Electoral College as an anachronism and prefer it be replaced with the national popular vote. They say that the Electoral College makes a mockery of the “one person, one vote” system the country extols. Furthermore, it causes candidates to concentrate their campaigns primarily on a handful of swing states where the vote could go either way, turning the majority of voters elsewhere in the country into bystanders. But proponents say the reverse would happen if the president were elected by the popular vote. Then candidates would concentrate their campaigning in the big states – California, Texas and New York – and voters in smaller states would be the onlookers. But what really do the two major candidates in the US presidential election represent? Kamala Harris is the first woman, first black person and first person of South Asian descent to be vice president of the United States. After four years in the second-highest office, she now wants to make history again by holding the top job. She received President Joe Biden’s blessing when he stepped back from being the Democratic candidate just three months ago, triggering her whirlwind campaign. Ms Harris was born on 20 October 1964 in Oakland, California. She often touts her middle-class upbringing to voters. Her father, Donald, migrated from Jamaica to study economics while her mother, Shyamala, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist, came from India. They married in 1963 and separated when Harris was 5 years old. Mrs Harris, 60, has largely played down her gender and race. But she has said that India is an important part of her life. When she and her younger sister Maya were children, their mother travelled with them to India almost every other year to see relatives there – and to instil in them a love of…
- Foreign Affairs
- November 7, 2024
- 118 views