Quote of Wisdom

UN urges civilian transfer in Burkina Faso

UN threatens to impose economic sanctions if the army does not hand power to civilian rule. Last updated: 03 Nov 2014 06:11

The United Nations has threatened to impose economic sanctions on Burkina Faso, if the army does not hand over the power to civilian rule. The army stepped into the power vacuum left by President Blaise Compaore, who was forced to resign in the wake of violent street demonstrations over his 27-year-rule that some have likened to the Arab Spring. UN envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said on Sunday he had pressed the demand in a meeting with the country's top military brass. If the army refuses, "the consequences are pretty clear", he said. "We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso," he added. The US State Department also called on the military to immediately transfer power to civilian authorities, while the European Union urged the army to respect the people's right to peaceful protest. Unity government On Sunday, the army vowed to install a unity government after tightening its control over the landlocked country. Troops moved into Place de la Nation in the capital Ouagadougou and took over the national television headquarters in a show of force. West African regional bloc ECOWAS urged dialogue and restraint as one person was killed on Sunday close to the television headquarters, where soldiers fired shots in the air to disperse protesters. The army said the victim was likely struck by a stray bullet. Opposition figures have said around 30 people have been killed in a week of violent protests. Hospital sources told AFP news agency that there had been at least six deaths, including two by gunshot wounds. Compaore's 27 years of being in charge of Burkina Faso ended abruptly on Friday after two days of mass protests aimed at thwarting his bid to change the constitution to extend his rule. The army then selected Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as transitional leader, overriding an earlier claim by the army chief of staff. But on Sunday there were signs of discontent with the appointment as thousands gathered in Ouagadougou to demand a return to civilian rule, in line with the West African country's constitution. Locals blame Compaore for not doing more to tackle poverty in the nation of 17 million people by reinvesting government earnings from the gold and cotton sectors. Neighbouring Ivory Coast confirmed on Saturday that Compaore had arrived there with his family and entourage but did not specify where he was staying. from :aljazeera.com

The protest in Hong Kong

For Hong Kong youngsters, protests bring taste of freedom http://f24.my/1q6iA4l 

Hong Kong youngsters, protests bring taste of freedom

HISTORY : THE CMS CHURCH IN UMU OKABIA.-ORSU

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Amaimo, Elugwu-Okabia ,Umu Okabia .
Umu Okabia is located in Orsu local government area in Imo state currently. Umu Okabia. With the slogan Okabia citizen. The Igboland have many communities with the name Umuhu , Okabia or Umuhu okabia that are not even closer to us or are of other states in the Igboland -south east . Ours is Umu Okabia , that mother's 3 Autonomous communities namely Elugwu-Okabia ,Etiti-Okabia and Umuhu Okabia. These communities are under one Umbrella called Umu Okabia united citizen .
Every communities in the Igboland have seen the touch of God in their communities and in the lives of their people. The truth is that the word of God in the book of John 1:1-6 (vs6) talks about Missionaries , wherever the word of God comes it comes with Light to liberate to bring the people out of darkness ,primitive life ,backwardness into Light ,modern way of living God's way ,Liberated souls ,being update with life .
100, One hundren yrs ago , JESUS CHRIST came to Umu Okabia through the Missionaries about 1914- 1918 , the RCM -Roman Catholic Mission came first , In 1917 Another missionary of the CMS church came around , the man's name was Rev. James Ibeneme , great man of God , an Awkuzu man , then living in Onitsha who went around Igbolands establishing churches .
Late Chief George Olejeme Amaechi, got the warrant in 1916 with the help of chief Egole idim ,then started negotiation with missionary body to bring church to his community .finally ,by 1917 his approaches to Rev James Ibeneme started yielding fruits when he asked to go home and come with the sum of 12.00(twelve pounds) . This sum was to cover the cost of sending him a teacher. Mr. Timothy okeke of Nnewi was sent
and church was established at the outlet of olejeme `s compound in 1st of January 1918.
The early converts includes Mr. Isaiah Iwuchukwu , Jonah nwalokutere , Stephen ogueteaka, Aaron anozie , unamba amaechi , Abraham ozobi, Edward okorie , Joseph onu , Samuel onuchukwu okafor , john okeem , George igwe , Samson okorie and Michael okonkwo.

HISTORY: THE IGBOLAND AND WHITEMEN.

The first contact between Igboland and Europe came in the mid-fifteenth century with the arrival of the Portuguese. From 1434-1807 the Niger coast acted as a contact point between African and European traders, beginning with the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally the English. At this stage there was an emphasis on trade rather than empire building, in this case the trade consisting primarily of Igbo slaves. With the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 came a new trading era, concentrating on industry (palm products, timber, elephant tusks and spices). At this point the British began to combine aggressive trading with aggressive imperialism. They saw the hinterland as productive, and refused to be confined to the coast. In 1900 the area that had been administered by the British Niger Company became the Protectorate on Southern Nigeria, also incorporating what had been called the Niger Coast Protectorate. Control of this area then passed from the British Foreign Office to the Colonial Office. Long before it had officially been conquered, Igboland was being treated as a British colony. Between 1900 and 1914 (when Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated) there had been twenty-one British military expeditions into Igboland. In 1928 for the first time in their history, Igbo men were made to pay tax – they were a subject people.

Egypt widens military trials of civilians to cover 'terrorism'

CAIRO (AFP) - 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday enacted a decree allowing military trials for civilians suspected of attacking state infrastructure, after a string of deadly attacks on soldiers.
The decree came after Sisi promised a tough response to what he called an "existential threat" to Egypt posed by militants, following an attack Friday on an army checkpoint in the Sinai that killed at least 30 soldiers.
It places state infrastructure including electricity towers, major thoroughfares and bridges under military protection for two years, allowing the army to try anyone suspected of attacking the public facilities.
"Crimes against public institutions, facilities and properties fall under the jurisdiction of the military judiciary," the decree states.
Egypt has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since the army, then led by Sisi, ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi from power in July 2013.
Morsi's ouster also unleashed a deadly police crackdown on his supporters that has left hundreds dead and thousands in jail.
The government has cracked down on protests after Morsi's overthrow, passing a law that banned all but police-sanctioned demonstrations.
The military was already empowered with trying civilians for attacks on the army, but Sisi's decree considerably expands its powers by defining state infrastructure as "military facilities."
Sisi's spokesman, Alaa Youssef, told AFP the decree was not meant to target protests but would deal only with "terrorism".
"There is a big difference between attacking public installations and protesting," he said. "They are two different things."
The law, he said, was aimed at "protecting public installations and utilities from terrorist attacks."
Rights groups say military trials can carry swift and harsh verdicts.
An end to civilians appearing before military tribunals was a core demand of the revolutionaries who spearheaded a 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Following Mubarak's ouster, thousands of people accused of a range of crimes were tried before military courts during an army-led transition before Morsi's election in mid-2012.