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Friday 20 January 2012

THE VAMPIRES SUCKING NIG. WEALTH: The Opulent Life Of Diezani Allison-Madueke & Family

The novelist Bram Stoker, famous for introducing the character of Vampire Count Dracula, never had in mind that this horror fiction movie could actually exist in real life especially in the present Nigeria where the egoistic rich are sucking the Nigeria Economy dry.
The rich in Nigeria who are in the corridor of power use the privilege bestowed on them by the populace to defraud the country fortunes and accumulate ill-gotten wealth at the detriment of the masses sending them to absolute abject poverty.
The case of Minister for Petroleum, Madueke, was a display of one of the vampires that are sucking Nigeria Wealth. She was part of the group that wanted the hike in Nigeria pump fuel price; all this is to her advantage.
According to her: “People want us to fight the oil cabal and yet they don’t want us to remove subsidy, which is the main cause of corruption in the sector. We can’t fight corruption in the downstream sector with our hands tied.” Is she really fighting corruption when she is immensely involved? If she wants to do that she should start first from her side and show the world how honest and trustworthy she is with her appointment. I think she might be an executive of the aforementioned cabal.
The below reflects how the vampires in Nigeria are sucking the wealth of this oil rich country and the way they lavish it all over the world without remorse for humanity.

One of the photos shows Mrs. Alison-Madueke, long accused of involvement in a slew of corrupt deals in the oil industry, riding in a limousine with members of her family and NNPC officials.



 


                                                        







Another set of photos focus on the young son, named Ugonna Madueke. At a time that the majority of Nigerians are sentenced to extreme poverty and disillusionment, it is unconscionable that the minister and her family live in opulent splendor, their lives complete with private jet(s), expensive vacations, frolicking with local and international superstars such as Dbanj, Neyo and Cecil Hammond.


Signature: D'Prince

Thursday 19 January 2012

SPORT: IS MOURINHO STILL THE CHOSEN ONE (BARCA VS REAL MARDRID- Copa del Rey)?

Wipe thy tears, better days are coming
Slowly and steadily it is becoming a tradition of victory by the untamed Barca over its highly regarded rival Real Madrid. This is already the fourth time Barcelona and Real Madrid have met this season (twice in the Super Cup and once in the league) and they are guaranteed to play at least two more games (the second leg of this tie and the return game in the league, both at the Camp Nou). At the initial stage the first victory of Barcelona over the Rotyal Madrid was regarded as fluke or pseudo, however, the Guardiola (FIFA coach of the year) and Messi (FIFA player of the year) team has prove beyond reasonable doubt that they are better in all ramifications as compared to Madrid.

We can't stop celebrating

As usual the Real Madrid team always throws the first punch by scoring first with the hope that this will dismantle the non-formidable Barca team but this works other way round as it makes Barca so infuriated with anger of disrespect from Madrid and with this upset Barca always come back with the winning formulae to nail the Madrid to cross and remove their Royalty (Real-in Spanish means Royal). At the moment and without doubt the football royalty in Spain belongs to Barcelona and Guardiola remains the philosophical while Mourinho being the chosen one remains questionable.

Analysis of The Game:
11minutes: Benzema passes to Ronaldo who was on the run and with little stepover he displaced Pique off guard and drills a low finish through the legs of Pinto to make it his 26th goal of the season for Real Madrid. Real maintained a goal up through the first half of the match.
49th minutes: a superb corner kick from Barca was powered into the net by Puyol and Pepe was caught napping thereby bringing both sides at par
77th minutes: exactly at 77minutes, the three times world footballer, Messi, dinks the ball into Madrid’s box for Eric Abidal to give Barcelona victory in the first leg of their quarter final match.

The Big Question:
Can the chosen one (Mourinho) regains his lost reputation against Barca team same way Feggy (Sir Alex Fergusson) did against Manchester City?



Signature: D'Prince

Wednesday 18 January 2012

TIPS FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT DRIVING

Now that the Government and her allies have finally imposed N97 as the official pump price of fuel on Nigerians, the citizens on their own part have to understand and adopt survival strategies to see them through the turbulence periods before they finally get used to it and devise another means of surviving with respect to their financial status. Below are some tips to assist with consumption rate of fuel while driving:
•Avoid aggressive driving: Abrupt starts and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 40%. Tests show that "jackrabbit" starts and hard braking reduces travel time by only four percent. The proper way is to accelerate slowly and smoothly, then get into high gear as quickly as possible.
•Drive steadily at posted speed limits: increasing your highway cruising speed from 100km/h to 120km/h can raise fuel consumption as much as 20%.
•Avoid idling your vehicle: Idling wastes fuel gets you nowhere. If you're going to be stopped for more than 30 seconds, except in traffic, turn off the engine. In
•Make sure your tires are properly inflated: This is to prevent increased rolling resistance. Under-inflated tires can cause fuel consumption to increase by as much as 6%.
•Select the right gear: Change up through the gears and into top gear as soon as possible without accelerating harder than necessary. Driving in a gear lower than you need wastes fuel; so don’t let the engine labour in top gear on hills and corners.
•Use your air conditioner sparingly on older cars: Using a vehicle’s air conditioner increase fuel consumption as much as 10% in city driving.
•Use the cruise control: On long stretches of highway driving, cruise control can save fuel by helping your car maintain a steady speed.
•Service your vehicle regularly: According to the manufacturer's instructions. A poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more fuel and produces up to 50% more emissions than one that is running properly.
•Tighten your gas cap: If you don't tighten up the petrol tank, gas can evaporate.
•Park in shady areas when possible: Besides helping to keep your car cool, which reduces the need for air conditioning, parking in the shade also minimizes the loss of gas due to evaporation.
•Plan your trip: always plan your routes to avoid heavy traffic.
•Make a commitment to drive less by walking to some nearby destinations: This is good for your health and the environment.


Signature: D'Prince

Monday 16 January 2012

WIKILEAKS REVEALS HOW NNPC COST NIGERIA BILLIONS OF DOLLARS-Beyond Imagination


In the middle of a mass resistance that has virtually shut down Nigeria in response to the government’s abrupt January 1 withdrawal of a subsidy on oil, a previously-unreleased United States 2009 Wikileaks cable has emerged which indicates official manipulation that may have cost Nigeria billions of dollars.
According to the cable [C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000767 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958], the scandal concerns prices paid by the government for imported fuel, as international fuel traders, taking advantage of massive corruption loopholes in Nigeria, engaged in falsifying the dates of bills of lading to reflect particularly high market prices. By so doing, they overcharged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by over $300 million.
The Chairman and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Corporation of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Chris Finlayson, told the United States (?) Consul General and the Economic Officer on April 2 that some marketers had been changing the dates when fuel shipments bound for Nigeria were loaded in order to take advantage of particularly high market prices.
Following that, on April 6, Femi Otedola, President and CEO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas, essentially corroborated Finlayson's report, saying over $300 million has been overpaid by NNPC for fuel imports, and that many leading international traders are involved in the manipulation of shipments that the NNPC curiously failed to notice. “Discrepancies were found when comparing dates on the bills of lading with dates of landing in Lagos,” the document said.
According to the cable, “Pointing to examples, Otedola said that while a tanker loading fuel at a refinery in Bahrain usually takes four weeks to arrive in Lagos, comparisons between the bills of lading and dates of arrival of some shipments reflected only a four-day difference, and in other cases, if taken at face value, indicated the journey took nine months. Otedola said 73 shipments from refineries in the Persian Gulf, England, and Venezuela listed delivery times of only one day. NNPC is attempting to get compensation for the over-charge. Otedola went on that most of the fuel traders supplying Nigeria are implicated in over-charging NNPC, and showed a list of 17 companies that supplied fuel in the first quarter of 2004, several of which, he said, are significant players in international markets, such as Trafigura and Vitol. Otedola added that three companies clearly not involved in the scandal are British Petroleum, ChevronTexaco and Shell.”
The most stunning part of the cable is the reported recommendation of Otedola who felt that Nigeria would “save some four billion dollars a year in expenditures on imported fuel” if the NNPC simply stopped contracting with international fuel traders and, instead, negotiated purchases directly from refineries worldwide.
In parenthesis, as background to the position of Mr. Otedola, the document noted as follows: “Prior to deregulation in October 2003, NNPC, then the sole importer of fuel, lost two billion dollars per year because it sold stock to retailers below purchase price. After October 2003, NNPC initially stopped subsidizing fuel sales, letting marketers import fuel to be sold at market prices. However, sources agree that NNPC is back in the business of subsidizing gasoline sales while it maintains a facade of deregulation by encouraging private marketers to import fuel that NNPC purchases at market price. NNPC then sells the fuel to marketers and retailers at a reduced price to ensure that those companies maintain a profit margin while holding consumer prices to informal caps set by the Department of Petroleum Resources.”
The American officials then concluded that the allegation that international traders bilked NNPC of hundreds of millions of dollars is yet another example of the poor management of Nigeria's energy sector, and highlights the complex links between crude sales, fuel importation, refinery maintenance, and energy production in the country, and slyly observed that the way NNPC looked the other way while Nigeria was being fleeced was deliberate.

“Otedola is probably right in suggesting that long-standing sweetheart deals between the NNPC and a variety of fuel traders [are] keeping the system inefficient. That may also explain why the [Government of Nigeria, GON] just can't seem to get its refineries running even after spending a billion dollars or more on maintenance contracts over the last four years. Otedola said he initially bid to purchase the Port Harcourt refinery offered for privatization, but he recently told President Obasanjo he will not invest in the refinery so long as NNPC purchases fuel from traders instead of negotiating directly with refineries in other countries and leasing ships itself to deliver fuel to Nigeria. It is not clear if Otedola's assumption that the international traders' stake in Nigeria's current fuel market is the main driver behind the country's refinery woes. But it is clear that the fundamentals of infrastructure security, interim supply stability, and transactional transparency must still be addressed if the GON is to be taken seriously about its efforts to deregulate and largely privatize Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector.”
This cable emerges to confirm the very argument of millions of Nigerians who have been trooping into the streets worldwide since last week in protest of the oil subsidy that the principal problem in the country is corruption and lack of transparency which will swallow whatever is saved from withdrawing the subsidy.

Read more.........


ANALYSIS OF THE ANALYTICAL SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI

He is the current Governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria  as appointed on 3rd of June 2009. Born on July 31, 1961 and from the lineage of Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a seasoned banker with banking experience spanning from the era of Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank of New York, Baring Brothers of London, United Bank for Africa, First Bank of Nigeria and to the present Central Bank Of Nigeria where he oversee the affairs and activities of the apex of financial institution.
With the ongoing nationwide strike against the removal of oil subsidy, below are his analyses:
·        INFLATION
On inflation, he stated that he expected inflation to rise about 14 to 15% by the middle of this year due to the impact of the subsidy removal.
“Clearly inflation was always going to go up with the removal of subsidy. I think what we’ve seen is the immediate shock impact of a sudden removal and things will settle down.  It took us one and half to two years from 2009 to come down to single-digit from 15.6 percent. I think a realistic target if we actually hit 15 percent, I think we will be looking at end of 2013 before we come back to single-digits,” the CBN Governor explained.
·        ON THE STRIKE & ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY:
The nationwide strike against government’s removal of fuel subsidy is costing the economy about N100 billion ($617million) daily, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said.
·        GOVERNMENT, LABOUR UNION, CIVIL RIGHT SOCIETIES & MASSES SAGA
“I think it’s time to make a deal, any kind of compromise should have a final deadline for removal of subsidy,” even as he suggested the option of keeping fuel price at N100 per litre and phasing out subsidies. But he insisted that the details should be left to the government and labour to decide.
Meanwhile, Sanusi while advocating for an agreement between the Federal Government and labour which would bring about gradual removal of the subsidy, said: “Look, the Federal Government can continue paying subsidy at N65 per litre for a while. I am not saying that it is not economically possible for that to be done, but speaking as a Nigerian, I will like to see a win-win situation.”
·        REVERSAL TO THE INITIAL OIL PRICE
Short-term reversal to N65 per litre that labour and civil society groups had been agitating for, would not hurt the economy.
·        STATE OF THE ECONOMY
“The country is not broke, but a responsible government does not wait for the country to be broke before it can act and that is the point. The signals are all over there and you cannot continue borrowing just to pay for fuel subsidy. Do we wait until we are actually broke before we take the right decision? Look you’ve seen Greece, Spain, the Asian financial crisis, the Latin American crisis and we are clearly heading towards that if we continue borrowing, and such borrowings are not going into the development of infrastructure,” he explained.
·        HIS IDEOLOGY ABOUT SUBSIDY
“Ideologically, I am a very strong supporter of subsidy, but those subsidies should be subsidies for production, for it to go to the poor and not middlemen. If we have a subsidy that supports the construction of refineries, I will support it, because the refineries will reduce our dependence on fuel, create jobs and probably enhance our export earnings. Subsidies for agriculture, by providing cheap feeds, cheap fertilizers to the farmers, training at low cost, I will support.”


Signature: D'Prince

Wednesday 11 January 2012

FEUL SUBSIDY SAGA: OUR MOSES TO THE PROMISE LAND, OKONJO IWEALA BUYS N1.2 BILLION ABUJA MANSION!

They are full of promises, quoting theories and hypothetical assumptions and statements about the benefits of the oil subsidy yet they have latent habit that cannot be cramped even with the cry of hunger, lack of shelter, lack of clothes and uncertain future of the masses. They have this lavishing habit of prodigal representative of the masses. They want the masses to suffer yet they jealously guide their spending untouched. They were not ready to part away with any kobo/penny of the money they are walloping from the seat of power called GOVERNANCE yet they are the crusaders of if we don’t do this (the hike in price) Nigeria will be in debit in the nearest future. Their local and international accounts keep growing at geometric rate while the earning per capital of the masses keeps reducing for their lack of integrity.
Charity, they do say, begins at home but not that of the Nigerian Lawmakers, Ministers, Commissioners, Representatives, Senators or their friends within the corridor of power. They were not ready to sacrifice for their father’s land they claim they love and patriotic to, yet they want the blood of the masses to pay for their own enjoyment at all cost.
Let’s the presidency reduces its spending on foods, entertainment, salaries, traveling and other related expenditures and see how Nigerians will rally and support its vision and mission regarding the oil subsidy. Let him leads by example (leadership by example) and let others too emulate him.  Surprising, the so called Messiah and our Moses, (Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) to the promise land was busy accumulating wealth while the bloods of masses are being spread within the country based on her advice that was not well guided at the implementing stage.
Imagine, the minister for finance who is saddle with the responsibility to see to the financial growth of this nation buying a mansion worth N1.2 billion in the city of Abuja while she claims that Nigeria has no money to finance the subsidy of the masses.
Read more.....

OIL SUBSIDY: SUFFERING AND SMILING.....PUTTING AN END TO THIS


The philosophical musician, Fela Anikulapo, fought endless against the corruption in Nigerian Government using his music (which was more political in nature), yet nothing substantial changes in the helm of authority called Government. Some years after the demise of the legendary Fela, Nigerians are still under the colonial rules subjected by their own government. Since her independence and to the present day, Nigeria as a nation is not suffering from natural disasters but human disaster called ‘Leadership or Governance’.
The dysfunctional nature of both the Nigerian government and her refineries have culminated to the ongoing unrest between the governed and the governance of this 8th largest oil producing country in the world and where two-thirds of the population of about 164 million live on less than $1.25 a day. The stigmatized corrupt Government of Nigeria, in a wake up decision literally removed the subsidy enjoyed by the masses on the 1st of January leaving the masses to bear the burden of hardship subjected by this removal without any cushioning effect put in place by the Government. Nigerians with NLC and other civil organizations have thrown their back against this unwarranted torture by the government through protest.
Today marks the third of the several protests by Nigerians across the nations and outside the nations and we are yet to see any concern from the Government that tagged herself as the government of the people despite the human life that have been lost during the protest. For instance, the minister for labour under the present administration said government will not remove the subsidy regardless of the level of persuade by the people. Is this an indication of good governance?
The masses, the labour union and civil right societies are lamenting over the unprecedented hike while the government is roaring and singing the song of no return to status quo. Nigerians abroad especially in United Kingdom and United States have demonstrated their non acceptance of the hike through the Occupy Nigeria Movement in London, Washington DC, New York and environ.  The New York Occupy Nigeria rally was held in front of Nigeria House in Manhattan while that of Washington DC was held in front of World Bank and International Monetary Fund head offices. These protests were in support of the indefinite nationwide strike on going in Nigeria.
Nigerians want not just the reversal of the pump price but an end to the suffering of the masses where other rich and untouchable groups, the so called ‘CARTEL’ are walloping the wealth of the nation at the detriment of others. It is high time we all combat the virus called ‘CORRUPTION’ so that we can create a future whereby citizens will not only benefits from the government on the principle of equality but the future leaders (coming generations) will have good legacy to follow.

Sunday 8 January 2012

OIL SUBSIDY SAGA: THE CHAMELEON ACTS BY THE PRESIDENT & REP

As the hours to the purported strike approach and tension escalates within the country, the President of Nigeria (who initially lacks the plan and implementation skills) launches the donation of 1600 buses in Abuja as part of his plan regarding the removal of the oil subsidy. The question is what comes first, the cart or the horse (the buses or the removal of the subsidy)? The act by the president is just a changing act to suit the tension set by the removal of subsidy and to cajole the citizens that he is actually a listening President after disrupting the social, political and economy situations of the country with the introduction of his hardship formula on the first day of the year (New Year Day) and shortly after the gruesome bombing of Christians on Christmas Day. What a way to show concern for citizens.
Are these buses meant for a particular local government or the whole country?
I think he needs to see the Lagos State Governor (Fashola) to learn about transportation management.

Somewhere around the eagle square where the so called GEJ, Nigeria President, was launching the new buses, the house of representative were deliberating on the oil subsidy issue before the final resolution of suspending the removal of the subsidy. From the live broadcast of the House of Representative Meeting, the House ask Jonathan to suspend the removal of the oil subsidy. Another question is, why should the House of Rep waits till the purported strike by Labour, Occupy Nigeria, Nigerian Students, Nigeria Bar Association, Medical Associations and other non-governmental organizations before suspending the fuel removal? They claimed were not were consulted about the removal of the subsidy. Another chameleon act of telling the citizens they care.
Somewhere else across the ocean, the Occupy Nigeria Protest will be held in Washington DC and New York as reactions to the removal of the oil subsidy in Nigeria. The protests are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday respectively. Likewise in Nigeria, the NLC purported strikes and mass protests will still commence as scheduled despite the resolution by the House of Representative.


The table below shows the PMS price per litre compared to the minimum wage of other OPEC Countries.
OPEC Member PMS Price/Ltr MinimumWage Population Prod '000 bPD-2007
Venezuela-------3.61 Naira-------95,639 Naira----29,105,632----------------2,340

Kuwait----------34.54-------------161,46-------------3,566,437----------------2,340

Saudi Arabia---25.12-------------99,237-----------27,136,977----------------9,800

Iran------------102.05-------------86,585-----------75,330,000----------------3,700

Qatar------------34.54------------101,250------------1,696,563------------------810

UAE--------------78.18----------------------------------8,264,070---------------2,500

Algeria-----------63.55-------------55,957-----------36,423,000---------------1,360

Libya-------------26.69-------------23,813-------------5,670,688---------------1,650

Iraq--------------59.66-------------25,813------------30,399,572---------------1,481

Nigeria---------140-200-----------18,000-----------167,000,000---------------2,250
The big question:
Who owns Nigeria? The Citizens or The Government.

Saturday 7 January 2012

CELEBRATING D'PRINCE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY




Is genius made or born?

This is the question that comes to mind when you come in contact with Prince Adetunji. A resourceful individual with acquired knowledge and skills in major departments of organizations. That is, he has functioned in different areas such as consulting, training, human resources management, marketing and IT departments yet is an icon in business development process and re-engineering.  He is also motivational speaker and facilitator for certain consulting companies in Nigeria.

Prince spends part of his time writing (as freelance writer for international newspapers, magazines, and blogs), innovating or developing business. The other part is put aside for fun and relaxation as a guy with a well balanced lifestyle. This quiet genius is gifted with immeasurable innate skills, abilities and qualities that have saw him through various challenges (work or life related issues). He is not just an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur that is fond of creating and breeding other CEOs and in this he derives joy. A onetime recipient of who is who in modern Nigeria Award.


As a Capricorn, he fit into many of the below characteristics:

    ·        Ambitious and Powerful
    ·        Born Leader
    ·        Stubborn Nature
    ·        Always stand out
    ·        Love to live the Good Life
    ·        Romantic at Heart
    ·        Deep Thinker
    ·        Loyal to friends
    ·        Ever ready to learn and try out new things
    ·        Serious about life
    ·        Like to make others happy
    ·        Not too Introvert, Not too Extrovert
    ·        Smart and Well dressed.                                     

BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM LASGIDILIFE TO YOU:

We send across our best wishes to one of the best persons we know, who is like a best friend to us and has given us the best possible times in his life. Here's raising a toast for your Happy Birthday!


Friday 6 January 2012

SOLDIER BRUTALITY ENDS A NEW YORKER'S LIFE




A young man, Niyi Ehindero (New Yorker), was on Thursday allegedly shot dead by soldiers attached to Operation MESA Unit on Bada Street in Mushin area of Lagos (Nigeria).

Eyewitnesses told the correspondent that the soldiers shot Ehindero at close range in his car, when they went to the area to disperse hoodlums who were engaged in a fierce battle.

A friend of the deceased, who craved anonymity, said, “Ehindero and I just came to Bada Street to see a friend when we heard some gunshots.

“I ran into a nearby house but Ehindero was not fast enough. Eight soldiers ordered him to come out of his car but he argued with them. Suddenly, one of them shot him in the crotch and he died immediately.”

Hundreds of people gathered to see KUSH’S corpse, which was lying in a grey Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Van with number plate Lagos FF605 KRD.



When will brutality from uniformed men will end?

The Vultures: Scammers In Malaysia


They want quick money, wealth, assets and possession at the detriment of any victim irrespective of his/her financial background. They live life on the fast line, spending others peoples’ money like no tomorrow. There is no word like ‘prudent or frugal’ when it comes to spending money by these vultures that scavenge their preys to penniless. Hotels and clubs are their chosen habitats where they live paradise life, lavishing money on drinks and women like the so called musical superstars and Hollywood actors: Champagne popping life.
The money made off their victims are usually spend on designers materials such wristwatch, phones, shoes, clothing, exotic cars and things you can’t even pronounced (as mentioned by Mase in one of his songs). Their skillful means of getting their preys involve the usage of Information technology especially the internet. They wire into your computer system various scam e-mail messages that will sound palatable to the readers especially those that are gullible and also looking for means of double their money than the usually legit means. Another adopted method is through the means of expression of the so called inexplicable love (rather lust if permitted to use the word) to lure their victims to their venom and when they victims are brainwashed (Menticide), they sting like a bee and sent the poison that eat into their finances into their bone marrows and blood streams of their victims.
They are deadly like a scorpion, fast in thinking and watchful like a hawk. They are master of disguise as they change voices and identities like chameleons. Different names, different identities in different countries/locations. Their Biographies are neatly crafted to suit anyone who is interested. Living the pseudo life which they are not ready to earn through their own hard work but on the pain and agony of other people's earnings and sweat.
Beware as they might be your neighbor in disguise as distant businessmen, foreign investors, females/males seeking love, someone with money seeking investors/partnership and in any form of disguise. All in all they are after your money and wealth and to make your life miserable. They are vultures that have no respect for the living.
The video below revealed these scammers' tricks.

Refrences:
Youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMQSpOZE_MU
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bulawayo24News

Tuesday 3 January 2012

LASGIDILIFE: CALABAR CARNIVAL----THE 2011 MOST CELEBRATED CARNI...

LASGIDILIFE: CALABAR CARNIVAL----THE 2011 MOST CELEBRATED CARNI...: Like the popular Brazilian and Trinidad and Tobago carnivals the Calabar carnival in Nigeria has...

CALABAR CARNIVAL----THE 2011 MOST CELEBRATED CARNIVAL IN NIGERIA







Like the popular Brazilian and Trinidad and Tobago carnivals the Calabar carnival in Nigeria has become a recognized festival within and outside the shore of Africa.  Calabar where this festival originated from has some pedigree in Nigeria history as the first ever capital of Nigeria but presently the capital city of Cross River State with a population of 371,022 at the 2006 census. On the other hand the Calabar Festival which originated in the year 2000 as a street parade was mainly to showcase the resources of the State and there were no special costumes then. However, in 2004 the carnival took a different form with the introduction of costumes and other activities such as the music by various famous Nigerian and International artists. This carnival is a now a tourism source for River State attracting people from different areas around the world while also booming the economy of this State. The only festival that is close to this in Nigeria is the Eyo festival which is celebrated by Lagosians and Osun Festival celebrated by the Osun people.
The beauty of this festival is the happiness on the faces of the people celebrating it. During this occasion, cultural and language diversities become one without a trace of differentiation. Even if you are mathematics guru you cannot use calculus to differentiate the differences among the people celebrating this festival as they were bonded with love.
Unlike the EYO festival in Lasgidi (Lagos) where one particular color is the official color of the occasion, the Calabar Festival can be synonymous to Rainbow. If one is color blind, he/she needs no other miracle to see different colors paraded during this festival. All around you, you will be surrounded with different types of colors even those you can't even identify or name. The festival is so colorful and of highest fashion phenomenon. The 2011 festival was a whole month festive activities with the appearances of guest artists like Cool and the Gang, Sean Kingston, 2Face, Darey, Asa, Yemi Sax, J-Martins, Eldee, Naeto C, Rick Ross, Banky W, Whizkid, P Square, Gyptian, D’Prince, Wande Coal, D’Banj and host of others.
Below are the clips from the most celebrated festival in 2011.