Rotimi Adebari made history,becoming the first black mayor elected in Ireland, winning the election to lead Portlaoise, a busy commuter town just west of Dublin.Adebari, 43, a native of Nigeria, migrated to Ireland in 2000 with his wife and two sons, claiming political asylum based on religious persecution, although his application was rejected because of insufficient evidence.

He was later granted citizenship because his youngest son was born in Ireland. In 2004, Ireland stopped granting citizenship to parents of children born in Ireland, one of the few countries in Europe that had such a law.

Rapid immigration has changed the landscape of the Emerald Isle. More than 30,000 asylum seekers, mostly from Nigeria, have come to Ireland because of its booming economy and its relatively lax immigration rules. West African shops are abundant in Dublin and other cities in Ireland, and the immigration debate continues to stir passions in both Ireland and the European Union.

Because of his success, Adebari has encouraging words for other immigrants."I want to encourage immigrants to be a force in their communities, to engage with their communities," he said. "People will get to know you.Their perception of you will change just like that.That's what happened to me."Life does not get better by chance,but gets better by change.

Edited by: TOSIN AJIRIRE
Saturday, October 27, 2007


Can all these heroes die in vain While we slash and kill our own brothers Knowing already they are victims of the situation-Victims (1992)

When Lucky Dube wrote this song which formed the title track of "Victims", his 1992 album, little did he know that his worst enemy is his own brother . Even as he wrote in the same song quoting the reggae icon: ‘Bob Marley said how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand and look’, little did he know that one day the gunman will strike and make him a victim.

Though, Lucky is gone, he will forever live in the hearts of his numerous fans scattered all over the world. During a memorial service on Wednesday, thousands had gathered at the Bassline Theatre in Johannesburg to bid Lucky farewell.

In Nigeria, however, apart from paying tributes, artistes and fans have mapped out plans to immortalise the reggae icon who was senselessly hacked down by gunmen last week even as the government has vowed not to grant bail to his killers. Speaking on behalf of the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Professor Keorapetse Kgosile said Lucky was one of the most important and relevant reggae voices to come out of the country in the 20th Century.

"He was a global ambassador for South African musical talent and heritage, but also a world-renowned African composer, singer, band leader, cultural activist, visionary and performer," said Professor Kgosile.Gallo Music Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ivor Haarburger said Lucky's death was senseless and a loss to millions. He described him as a quiet and reserved person while his performances on stage were amazing.

"We had great visits to the world, he wanted to expose his music to the Americans and had performed in 81 concerts outside South Africa which were attended by thousands of people," said Mr Haarburger.SABC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dali Mpofu said: "He was a communicator and is still communicating with us even in his death.

"The question is whether we are still listening to his message. I think he is asking what has gone wrong with us."Paying tribute to their colleague, Lucky’s band members sang two of his songs and fans did what would have been expected of them if he was still alive - they jumped and danced.
Band member Skipha Shabalala said the band had lost a prophet and great teacher who believed in reality, truth and respect.

"We are all going to die one day, but why Lucky died in such as barbaric manner? We don't need such people in our country," a mourning Mr Shabalala said.Speaking on behalf of the Dube family, Job Dube said: "Lucky was a pillar of the family and we've lost, but God plans his things."

PMAN will immortalise Lucky Dube-Admiral Dele Abiodun, PMAN President Lucky Dube’s death is sad. We have lost one of the best reggae musicians from this part of the globe. We are in a mourning mood. The South African government must fish out the killers of this great son of Africa. The PMAN is setting up a very high powered delegation to represent the union at the burial. We are also planning to immortalise his name by organising a big concert and inviting big stars from Africa to perform. May his soul rest in peace.

They have taken his life but not his soul-Dr. Zimakoy, Vice President, PMAN Lucky Dube was a music icon, who came and conquered. Though, they have taken his life, they have not taken his soul. Lucky Dube will live forever in our hearts. Encounter with Lucky Dube swept me off my feet-Tunde Oshinibosi aka Laface,show promoter A long time friend in the music industry has gone. A very big tree has fallen, a tree bigger than the oak. A tree whose branches swing with great whistling music all across the world, a tree that stands tall and robs shoulders with others, a tree that provides perfect shade filled with love and affection, passion and emotions. I couldn’t be less amazed when our initial encounter at Johannesburg in South Africa swept me off my feet by the gentle, charismatic attitude of such a Great Tree.

This was during the organization of the well acclaimed Felabration, in celebration of the great Fela Kuti. How I wish Lucky’s son had never seen his father get murdered. No one can understand what trauma he has had to experience through it all. A very lively young man inspired by his father to also appreciate the industry with his passion in Sound Engineering. With so much potential, I could tell his future will be very bright.

However, Lucky had this to say after his performance at Felabration last year: ‘I love Nigeria and its people, and it is my hope that long after I have gone to rest with my maker, that I’ll be remembered for playing at Felabratiion from my heart. I came, I saw, and I conquered.’ Death has definitely been cruel. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.We’ll hold vigil for Lucky Dube at the Afrika Shrine-Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti

I received the news of Lucky Dube’s death with shock and devastation. I thought it was a rumour until I got in touch with a friend in South Africa who confirmed it. A few days to the tragic incident, Lucky sent a message to me through his manager that he would like to come and perform at next year’s Felabration. He said he had so much enjoyed the show last year that he would want to come back. But few days later, I heard that he was killed. It was a devastating blow. Lucky is very talented. I really enjoyed his performance when he came for Felabration. We will miss him.We are planning to do a vigil for him at the Africa Shrine. On that day, we will play only his music. Though, his death caught us by surprise , we will do the vigil as soon as possible.I’ll forever cherish his autographed biography – Mike Dada, Executive Director, Zmirage Marketing Company

My closest encounter with Lucky Dube was in September 2004 where we boarded the same flight to and from Calabar upon the invitation of Governor Donald Duke to the Cross River State Christmas Carnival.

Lucky was a gentle, well focused and amiable guy who loved his family and Africa. We discussed at length on socio-political economy of the world especially the black race. He decried the poverty in Africa , which has made us slaves in our own land.At the end of our discussion, he gave me his biography which he autographed. This is one of the very few gifts I will cherish for the rest of my life. The book as well as Lucky ‘s life is always an inspiration to me.

Africa will miss the detribalised Lucky. And the rest of us, who are lucky to still be breathing, we should keep the flag of oneness, resilience and excellence flying, which Lucky Dube represented.
Lucky was one of the shining lights in Africa . Honestly, I still find it difficult to believe he is dead. He started from nothing, weathered the horrifying storm of life and became a phenomenon in world music. How could he have died after so much efforts of championing the cause of Africans and humanity through music

As one of our several presidents of the UN Security Council from September through December 2007, I strongly urge you to do everything in your power to ensure the deployment of the “heavy support package” and full deployment of more than 26,000 UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan, according to the timeline and benchmarks laid out in UNSC Resolution 1769 which passed unanimously on July 31, 2007. While we congratulate you on passage of UNSC 1769 and consider it a significant step forward, we are also concerned that we not lose sight of the essential steps necessary for its implementation over the coming months.

Each day of delayed deployment is another day of fear and suffering for millions of civilians, including more than 2.5 million displaced from Darfur, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Chadians. The reality on the ground includes recent air attacks in North Darfur and ground attacks among multiple combatants in South Darfur, as well as ongoing instability in eastern Chad, all of which displace and re-displace vulnerable women, children and men. Given the Government of Sudan’s record of obstructing peacekeepers in Darfur, it is essential that you ensure that UNAMID deployment moves forward as quickly as possible, and that command and control of peacekeepers in Darfur is turned over to the UN on schedule.

Darfur today is a place of violence and terrifying insecurity. With weapons readily available, the population is trapped in a web of armed attacks that grows ever more complex. Paramilitary forces armed by the Sudanese government continue attacks on civilians while more armed opposition groups emerge. Fighting often occurs between groups formerly on the same side. One thing has not changed: it is still civilians who pay the price.

We therefore also strongly urge you to ensure that: (1) UNAMID is instructed and trained to act robustly and proactively to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians; (2) UNAMID is fully resourced with the capacity and mandate to protect against and monitor, investigate and report human rights violations, including rape and other gender-based violence; (3) UNAMID personnel are trained in human rights and humanitarian law and no one reasonably suspected of responsibility for human rights violations is allowed to join the force; and (4) an effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program is implemented for all armed groups operating in Darfur. In addition, we ask you to work to reinforce the Security Council’s capacity to enforce the UN arms embargo on Darfur.

Thank you in advance for your active support to bring peace and human rights to the people of Darfur. I look forward to hearing your response to these urgent concerns.

C.S.E.Ojeremen

Bill Gates’ visa application for Nigeria was rejected by its government initially. They wanted Gates to show proof that he would not reside in Nigeria indefinitely and cause a strain on Government’s services.

Bill Gates was recently visiting Africa, probably for his Gates Foundation charities, wanted to travel to Nigeria. He needed a visa from Nigerian Government, so when he applied for the visa, Nigeria denied him. The Nigerian government required proof that the Bill Gates would not stay in the country for a long time and become a burden to Nigeria’s social services and immigration.

Nigeria because of its oil wealth, many from other African countries immigrate illegally, so the Nigerian governement required assurances from Bill Gates that he will not be in the country for long.

A travel document expediter CIBT helped the billionaire Bill Gates overcome the hurdle by helping him with his application, obtained a letter from Gates’ bank that reassured the Nigerian authorities, who later approved his visa.

Gizmodo.com writer says his holiday plans to Nigeria goes down the drain, if Gates has problems getting into Nigeria, he has absolutely no chance. No, not even with a Gizmodo email account as collateral—shocking.

I don’t know where the Nigerian government got the idea that Gates is going to stay in Nigeria for long; it must have been embarrassing for Gates. At least we have to admire Nigerian officials they didn’t care who the person was and just followed the government procedures.

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“Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure' - grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s “Freedom From Fear.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the majority of votes in the 1990 elections in Myanmar. However, the authorities refused to hand over power. Since the elections, the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has detained hundreds of opposition party members, including members of the NLD and student activists.

Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest, not allowed to leave her property, from 1989 until 1995, and again from 2000 until 2002. While she was travelling in May 2003 to meet NLD party members outside of the capital, she, along with 250 NLD members, were reportedly attacked by members of the police and military.

She was placed in detention and was held without charge or trial. Authorities have continued to extend her detention arbitrarily, and she is currently still being held in Insein Prison in increasing isolation and with only infrequent visits by her doctor. Aung San Suu Kyi is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Born in 1945, Daw Aung San Suu is the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), an opposition party in Myanmar. Her father Aung San negotiated Burma’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. She is a Buddhist advocate of non-violent resistance and a mother of two.

After studying abroad, Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Burma in 1988. Following mass demonstrations for democracy in March 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi founded the National League for Democracy (NLD). She campaigned for a democratically elected government, respect for human rights and peaceful settlement of conflicts. She was put under house arrest in 1989 by the military who had overthrown the government. Despite this, the NLD won the national election, with approximately 60% of the vote and 81% of the seats. However, the ruling military government (known as SLORC) ignored the election results and have since remained in power.

Aung San Suu Kyi has remained in Myanmar, despite threats for her safety and despite being repeatedly placed under house arrest for her unwillingness to remain silent. After her release in May 2002, Aung San Suu Kyi campaigned with other pro-democracy groups and was arrested and imprisoned. She was again placed under house arrest where she remains today, despite overwhelming global opposition. Since the most recent protests by thousands of people in Myanmar and around the world, the pressure is on to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners of conscience, who are among the 1,150 political prisoners detained in Myanmar, are released without delay.

Amnesty’s Involvement

Amnesty International has been working on the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since her first house arrest in 1989, as well as on the cases of the hundreds of other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. Recently, AI Canada has issued news releases and actions on the detainment of Aung San Suu Kyi in Insein Prison, and has called for her immediate and unconditional release, as well as for the State Protection Law, which allows for arbitrary detention, to be amended or revoked.

Amnesty International’s Concerns

There are more than 1,185 political prisoners in Myanmar. These include prisoners of conscience imprisoned for peaceful assembly or expression of their beliefs or engagement in peaceful political activities. Many have been subjected to torture or ill-treatment, have been held incommunicado without access to lawyers, and have been sentenced through the use of repressive legislation in unfair trials. By the end of 2006, most senior opposition figures were imprisoned or detained.

Prison conditions in Myanmar are extremely poor. Many prisoners of conscience have been in poor health, and have faced torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Access to medical treatment is inadequate.

In Myanmar, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association are restricted, as is access to the internet. Members of opposition parties, students unions and other organizations have been harassed, threatened and attacked, and many are currently in prison.

To:
Foreign Minister Nyan Win
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Naypyitaw
Union of Myanmar

Dear Minister

I am deeply concerned by the reports that thousands of monks and other peaceful protesters, including well-known activists Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, Aung Thu, Aung Gyi, Zaw Htet Ko Ko and comedian Par Par Lay, have been detained.

I strongly urge the Myanmar authorities to release them and those connected to them immediately and unconditionally, unless they are to be charged with recognizably criminal offences. I call on the authorities to ensure that, while they remain in custody, all the detainees are held only in official places of detention, and are given immediate access to lawyers, their families and any medical treatment they may require. I also call on the authorities to ensure that the detainees are not subjected to torture or any other ill-treatment.

I also call on the authorities to release all long-standing prisoners of conscience, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the NLD, senior political representatives of the ethnic minorities and members of student activist groups and to reveal the identity and location of all detainees, guarantee their wellbeing and allow immediate access to them.

I call on the authorities to ensure that all people in Myanmar are able to peacefully exercise the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly without fear of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary detention, in line with international human rights standards.

Sincerely,

C.S.E.Ojeremen
Supporting Amnesty's work to protect human rights globally.

From Kabir Alabi Garba, Paris
October 26, 2007

IN a tension-soaked election, Nigeria yesterday secured a seat on the board of the World Heritage Committee (WHC). The announcement was made early yesterday throwing the Nigerian camp at the conference in Paris, France, into wild jubilation. The good news coincided with the arrival of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode who is due to address the 34th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) today. The conference opened on October 16.

At the first round of the poll on Wednesday evening, Nigeria got 65 votes. Although, it topped the list of the five African countries that participated in the first round, the 65 votes were not enough to get Nigeria a seat. Angola polled 36; Burkina Faso, 37; while the duo of Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo got 27 votes. Twenty-two countries contested for the eight available seats in the 21-member committee at the first round of the election on Wednesday evening, and four countries beat the cut-off votes of 80. They were China, 103 votes; Australia, 99; Bahrain, 86; and Egypt, 81. A total of 155 countries participated in the election.

Before the start of the second round late on Wednesday evening, efforts to convince other African countries to step down for Nigeria did not yield much result except that Togo later joined Yemen and Iraq that had withdrawn from the second round contest.

But out of 13 countries that took part in the run off, only Nigeria and Brazil got the required majority votes with 68 each. A total of 128 countries voted. The remaining two seats were later secured by Poland and Sweden after the fourth round.

Overwhelmed with joy, Nigeria's Permanent Delegate to UNECO, Prof. Michael Omolewa expressed belief that the on-going 30th anniversary exhibition of the FESTAC '77 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, contributed to the eventual victory.

Coincidentally, the delegates of the WHC General Assembly must walk through the exhibition ground on their way to the Room XI, venue of the election meeting.

Surprisingly, Nigeria's desire to return to the committee faced a stiff opposition on Wednesday. Investigation indicated that some of the opponents in the election were using domestic issues in their bilateral relationship with Nigeria to campaign against the country's candidature.

Nigeria left the committee in 2005 after the expiration of its four-year term. It won the seat in the 2001 election at the 31st General Conference of the global body. But the morale of the Nigerian camp was boosted during the electioneering campaign on Wednesday with the arrival of the Director-General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM), Dr. Joseph Eboreime. He quickly joined the campaign team, led by Omolewa who had deployed his personal contact and interaction with delegates from other state parties to the convention to secure the victory.

As at 4.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m., Nigerian time) on Wednesday, Omolewa and Eboreime embarked on another round of campaigns, meeting the 155 delegates, with the hope of turning around the chances of Nigeria in the election. The election began at 5.00 p.m. Eboreime cast the vote on behalf of Nigeria at 5.05 p.m.

Earlier in the day, an attempt to introduce electronic voting was rejected by the delegates. The delegates argued that the system could not guarantee secret voting as prescribed by the rule of the procedure governing the convention.

The committee is composed of 21 States Parties out of which nine seats were vacant. In accordance with Article 9 of the Convention, "the terms of office of half of the members of the Committee will expire at the end of the on-going 34th General Conference."

The Republic of Benin was the only African country among the nine states parties that had their terms expired. Others were Chile, India, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Norway.

In line with the dictate of the convention's regulatory framework, Barbados, in an earlier election, won the one seat reserved for "State Parties with no property on the World Heritage List," Five countries participated in that category of the election. They were Angola, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Maldives, and Vanuatu.

The convention entered into force on December 17, 1975. Nigeria endorsed it on October 23, 1974. The convention was designed to ensure protection and conservation of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value. A total number of 851 monuments have been enlisted on the World Heritage List with Nigeria having two namely - Sukur in Adamawa (1999), and Osun Grove in Osogbo (2005).

James D. Watson, who shared the 1962 Nobel prize for deciphering the double-helix of DNA, apologized “unreservedly” yesterday for comments reported this week suggesting that black people, over all, are not as intelligent as whites.

James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, in London this year. In an interview published Sunday in The Times of London, Dr. Watson is quoted as saying that while “there are many people of color who are very talented,” he is “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa.”

“All our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.In a statement given to The Associated Press yesterday, Dr. Watson said, “I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said. There is no scientific basis for such a belief.”

But his publicist, Kate Farquhar-Thomson, would not say whether Dr. Watson believed he had been misquoted. “You have the statement,” she said. “That’s it, I am afraid.”Late yesterday, the board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research institution in New York, issued a statement saying it was suspending the administrative responsibilities of Dr. Watson as chancellor “pending further deliberation.”

On Wednesday, Bruce Stillman, president of the laboratory, had issued a statement saying the laboratory’s trustees, administration and faculty “vehemently disagree” with the sentiments of Dr. Watson, who has served as director and president of the laboratory, whose school of biological sciences is named for him.

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor study plant and animal genetics, cancer and other diseases. Dr. Stillman said they did not “engage in any research that could even form the basis of the statements attributed to Dr. Watson.”

Dr. Watson is in England to promote his new book, “Avoid Boring People: Lessons From a Life in Science” (Knopf). In a statement, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for Knopf, said only that it was “understandable that his comments have caused upset throughout the world.” There is wide agreement among researchers on intelligence that genetic inheritance influences mental acuity, but there is also wide agreement that life experiences, even in the womb, exert a powerful influence on brain structure. Further, there is wide disagreement about what intelligence consists of and how — or even if — it can be measured in the abstract.

For example, in “The Mismeasure of Man,” Stephen Jay Gould, the evolutionary biologist, dismissed “the I.Q. industry” as little more than an effort by men of European descent to maintain their prominence in the world.

Nevertheless, Dr. Watson, 79, is hardly the first eminent researcher to assert that inherited characteristics like skin color are correlated to intelligence and that people of African descent fall short. For example, William B. Shockley, a Nobel laureate for his work with transistors, in later life developed ideas of eugenics based on the supposed intellectual inferiority of blacks.

His ideas were greeted with scorn, and Dr. Watson is encountering a similar reaction. According to the BBC, the Science Museum of London canceled a speech Dr. Watson was to have given there today, saying that much as it supports robust discussion of controversial ideas, Dr. Watson’s assertions on race and intelligence are “beyond the point of acceptable debate.”

Henry Kelly, president of the Federation of American Scientists, a private group that works to bring science to policy making, said it was “tragic that one of the icons of modern science has cast such dishonor on the profession.”

By CORNELIA DEAN
The New York Times
Published: October 19, 2007