Checkout Outstanding Personalities of The African Sun Times

Checkout Outstanding Personalities of The African Sun Times

The African Sun Times is the No.1 and largest weekly African newspaper in America and has been publishing for the past 37 years.  It is the only African newspaper online and in print in the U.S.; and its Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Chika Onyeani, has won 73 awards for journalistic excellence, civil rights activities as well as philanthropic engagement.  Dr. Onyeani is the author of the phenomenally successful and No.1 best selling book, Capitalist Nigger: The Road to Success.”  Onyeani is also the author of the latest successful new book, “Roar of the African Lion,” as well as his blockbuster novel, “The Broederbond Conspiracy,” (aka The Black James Bond), and the children’s book, “ODUM: The Lion.”

Apart from Nigeria's former President Goodluck Jonathan, others are;

AFRICAN STATESMAN OF THE YEAR 2015:

Former President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania

Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.  President Kikwete served his country for 10 years of two terms and participated actively in the selection of the successor President John Magufuli, thereby continuing the tradition of democratic governance in Tanzania, in contrast to some of the neighboring countries where Presidents have abrogated the constitution to further their political ambitions.  President has received so many honors for excellence and so many honorary doctorates by many universities.  Africa would continue to need him for the peace negotiations he achieved not only during his presidency, but as well as when he was Tanzania’s foreign minister for 10 years.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2015:

 

Arik Air, the Nigerian international carrier, is the only African airline in West Africa to have met all standards of licensing by the American aviation authorities to fly to the U.S.  Under its General Manager, North America, Mr. Robert Brunner, Arik Air has made a great impact on multiple organizations that serve the Nigerian community in America.  No matter how big or small the organization is, Arik Air and its personal are always there to contribute and encourage the organizations in their mission of serving the community.  The organizations use the tickets made available to them by Arik Air in raising funds.

PAN-AFRICAN PERSON OF THE YEAR 2015:

 

Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the Institute of the Black World and the Pan-African Unity Dialogue.  There is a lot of fragmentation within the Pan-African Diaspora movement in the Diaspora, but Dr. Daniels has achieved success by bringing all the groups together, whether you are African, African-American, Caribbean or Latino American, he makes everybody comfortable and welcome to participate in the organization.  Dr. Daniels also has to be applauded for his 20 years of service to the people of Haiti.

DIASPORA PERSON OF THE YEAR 2015:

 

Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder and President of the African Union Diaspora African Forum (AU/DAF).  There is no greater sacrifice a Diaspora African could make than to leave the comforts of your comfortable abode in the United States and move to Ghana in furtherance of creating a symbiotic relationship between Africa and the Diaspora.  Ambassador Bennett has established the first Diaspora Diplomatic Mission in Accra, Ghana, and recognized as such by the Ghana government.  She has used her offices and continues to use her offices to criss-cross the continent as well as returning to the U.S. to encourage stronger bonds between the Diaspora and the African continent.  She is not only a person of the year  but also a woman of substance.

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON OF THE YEAR UNDER 40 2015:

 

Ms. Linda Ikeji, founder of the lindaikeji.blogspot.com.  Ms. Ikeji has achieved great fame and influence through her blogging, and is read by millions of people around the world who even get news about what is happening in their country through her blog.  Dubbed the African Queen Blogger by the African Sun Times, Ms. Ikeji has become a role model to thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria, male and female and who she is increasingly mentoring through financial grants and personal advise.

TOURISM AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR 2015:

 

Mr. Ikechi Uko, founder of the world famous Akwaaba Expo held every year in Nigeria, which has increasingly attracted international recognition.  Go to any country in Africa and mention the name, Ikechi, people would immediately recognize the name and applaud the work he is doing to increase tourism in Africa.  Unfortunately, a lot of countries don’t recognize or realize the great foreign exchange earnings of tourism and its effect on economic growth in countries, which is what Ikechi Uko is doing his utmost best to correct.

FORMER PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN NAMED INTERNATIONAL PERSON OF THE YEAR

The African Sun Times, Africa’s number one and largest newspaper in America, has announced its Persons-of-the-Year, as well as the Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year.   The categories the newspaper has chosen this year include International Person of the Year, African Statesman of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year, Pan-African Person of the Year, Diaspora Person of the Year, Most Influential Person of the Year Under 40, and the African Tourism Ambassador of the Year.  

Former President Goodluck Jonathan emerged the International Person of the year 2015. That's great!

INTERNATIONAL PERSON OF THE YEAR 2015:

Former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who shocked the whole world by swiftly calling current Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and conceding his defeat in the March 29 Nigerian presidential election, thereby stopping the predictions of violent bloodshed in Nigeria, and keeping his words that he would not allow the blood of a Nigerian to be shed to further his political ambitions. 

President Jonathan must be applauded for creating a solid foundation for the growth of democracy in Africa.  The world has started to recognize President Jonathan’s courageous act.

Ex PDP chairman Mohammed Bello, arrives court in wheel chair

  Ex PDP chairman Mohammed Bello, arrives court in wheel chair

 

 

Former PDP Chairman Mohammed Bello arrived the Federal High Court Abuja in a wheel chair for his trial in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal. 

He was arrested in December last year for receiving N600m from the office of the National Security Adviser in the name of Bam properties. The money according to the EFCC is part of the $2.1 billion funds meant for the procurement of arms for the military during the last administration. 

He was supposed to appear before the court last week Wednesday but couldn't due to his health challenge.

Police Sergeant shoots husband-to-be 3 days to wedding in Anambra

 

A Lagos based businessman identified as Sam Belonwu Dim pictured above left, was killed by a drunk police sergeant on Sunday, December 27, at Uruagu Nnewi, three days to his own wedding.

According to a report by Sunday Sun, the deceased had gone for a wedding of one of his In-laws when he encountered the drunk police officer who killed him. Father of the deceased, Chief Lazarus Dim while narrating what transpired said his son had reluctantly agreed to attend the wedding of an inlaw. Sam had received a call from a friend of his identified as Eloka who convinced him to attend the wedding.

Reluctantly, Sam attended the tradition­al wedding with one of his friend, Sunday Oguego. On arrival at the ceremony, Elo­ka received him and Oguego and as Sam was about to sit down under a canopy set up outside for guests, a mobile police sergeant just pointed his gun at Sam and shot him. The bullet went through his heart and exited from the back. At the sound of the gunshot, everybody scampered for safety, including Eloka, who invited Sam to the event.

It was Oguego who summoned the courage and began shouting for help when Sam slumped. As the bullet exited through Sam’s back, it hurt another person, who miraculously survived, and was said to have responded to treatment in a hospital. Till date, no one knows the reason why the police sergeant shot at the deceased.

Chief Dim is demanding the Nigeria police to launch a full scale investigation into the matter and fish out the sergeant that shot his son. He lamented the way police and other security agents were allowed to carry guns freely at ceremonies.

He charged the Inspector General of Police to look into this anomaly, querying: “Why should the number of police escorts at many events be more than the number of invited guests?” Since the tragic incident hap­pened, the Sam’s would-be-bride has been inconsolable. At the fami­ly home of her late groom, she has been speechless and downcast.

Hazard's injury not as bad as Chelsea first feared

Chelsea have been handed a boost with the news that Eden Hazard’s groin injury is not as serious as first feared, sources have told ESPN.

Hazard was forced to limp off after just 15 minutes of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace after suffering the groin injury.

Hazard suffered a similar injury in Jose Mourinho’s final game in charge against Leicester City last month and was forced to miss the win over Sunderland the following week.

The Belgium international underwent a scan on the problem on Monday and tests have shown no serious damage to the groin.

Chelsea are hopeful that the injury will only sideline Hazard for two weeks which will rule him out of the FA Cup clash with Scunthorpe and next week’s Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.

Hazard has endured a difficult season to date at Stamford Bridge, having failed to score so far this season, while he was also singled out for criticism from by some of the club’s fans after Chelsea’s poor start to the season led to the sacking of Mourinho last month.

Fuel Subsidy: Group opposes planned nationwide protest by NLC

 

 

A group known as Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD) has opposed the plans by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to mobilize Nigerian workers to embark on nationwide protest over its strong oppositions to the proposed removal of fuel subsidy.

It also stated that the major reason given by NLC for this planned protest is purely politically motivated rather than for the overriding good and interest of the masses of Nigeria.

Comrade Igbini Emmanuel, National President, VATLAD, posited that that the leadership of NLC for years now has never been sincere with Nigerians over the issue of deregulation of the petroleum sector and proper pricing of petroleum products.

According to him, rather many of the labour leaders have used it to mislead million of Nigerian masses while very few individuals continue to fraudulently enrich themselves through the so-called fuel subsidy.

Emmanuel maintained that the group long expected NLC to have mobilized her members and Nigerians to demand a probe and prosecution of those involved in the fuel subsidy scam and the monumental fraud and corruption in the upstream and downstream of Nigerian petroleum sectors.

Again, he said the group expected NLC to embark on nationwide protest against the few unpatriotic Nigerians who have made it impossible for Nigeria refineries to function.

‘’We know for sure that the Nigerian refineries are in good working conditions and that the Nigerian workers of the refineries are ever willing and capable to putting the refineries in use but some power-that-be refuse them’’

‘’Why NLC would base its decision on the fact “opposition politicians who encouraged the mass action against the former administration (PDP) to remove the fuel subsidy were now agitating for its removal”? Must leadership of NLC expects Nigerians to continue to support the perpetuation of wrongs of the past while Nigerian masses are dying?’’

However, the group strongly objected to government plans to fix the price of petroleum product after removal of subsidy, saying to do so would negate the spirit of deregulation and principles of economic of demand and supply.

‘’Government must hands off fixing of prices of petroleum products in a deregulated environment but instead concentrate on sanitizing the management of the refineries and NNPC and create conducive environment for private investors to compete,’’ Emmanuel said.

Gov Ambode Signs N662.5bn “People’s Budget” into Law

 

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has signed into law the N662.558bn 2016 budget.

The budget coined “the People’s Budget” according to him, is an “article of faith with Lagosians.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said that the 2016 budget “will enable our government focus on security, traffic gridlock resolution and infrastructural development which has thrown up new challenges quite different from our past experience.

“The Appropriation Law has been tailored towards the realization of our mission of delivering a Lagos that works for all in spite of age, gender, tribe or status.”

In an address delivered at the occasion, Ambode made a partial breakdown of the budget.

He said: “The total revenue estimated for 2016 fiscal year is N542.873Billion which shows that the balance of N119.714billion will be funded through deficit financing. The Capital Expenditure is N386,933bn and Recurrent Expenditure of N275,655bn with an aggregate Capital to Recurrent ratio  of 58:42.”

He appealed to all tax paying Lagosians “to fulfil their civic obligations as we promise to leave no stone unturned in delivering value for every Kobo spent.

“We recognize that this period is very challenging, considering the dwindling Federal Allocations due to falling crude oil prices. However, ours is a budget that will be driven by Internally Generated Revenue”.

Governor Ambode made a special note to recognize “Honourable Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly under the dynamic leadership of our Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa” for their “expeditious attention given to the passage of this Bill into Law. This is no mean feat considering the long hours spent and meticulous scrutiny provided on this Budget by the House Committee on Appropriation.

“In conclusion, I will commend this Budget to all Lagosians and enjoin them to continue collaborating with us in building the Lagos of our dreams.”

Also, in a series of tweets after the signing, Ambode expressed excitement at the road ahead and promised to bring value to every Kobo spent by Lagosians.