Donald Trump – 100 days of supervisory garbage

God’s own country is plunged into a filthy sea of inexplicable leadership challenge and policy-making ambiguity

The psychological relevance of Tao Te Ching’s Art of War “The Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” basically signifies the strategic importance of operating goals, tasks, and actions – definitely not a journey from Trump Towers to the White House.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States understood this philosophy, when in 1933, he used his first three months in office to lay the foundation of his executive mandate. Following this, the “First 100 Days” has been strategically imbedded by default as an exceptional period in foretelling the values of governance and tenure effectiveness. It sets the tone of administration’s potential and substance – or lack of it.

Without twisting words, it is unquestionable that in just less than three months of Trump’s inauguration, God’s Own Country has already been hurled into chaos. From cutting regulations, creating jobs, through his actions on trade, ethics, national security, immigration, public safety, women, and minority’s affairs, Trump has operated haphazardly, without strategies, thus, exhibiting exceedingly, a disgraceful show of paucity of vision, purpose, arrogance, ignorance, and mediocrity.

Intoxicated by his supervisory mandate without the required strategies to move the country forward, Trump wildly relied on autocratic executive actions to induce a bulk of his accomplishments, but that is not selling. Some commentaries, especially those spewing from the right wing had structured their assessment of Trump’s stewardship to reflect his pugnacious determination to fulfill his electioneering promises. However, abusive use of executive orders to hurriedly fulfill incredibly questionable electioneering vows to generate Twitter likes and shares remain one of Trump’s policy-making miseries.

Most controversial among his orders was Executive Order 13769, signed on January 27, 2017, curtailing refugees and stone-heartedly suspending the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely. Trump was not done – this order also blocked nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States, signaling the harshest immigration policy in generations.

Trump’s Immigration policy excess was punctuated by the legal system he chose to sideline. Two judges restrained him. A Federal Judge in Hawaii issued a nationwide order blocking his ban on travel from parts of the Muslim world, whereas another in Maryland issued a separate Order, forbidding the core provision of the Trump’s travel ban from going into effect.

Anti-Trump protesters march along Lavaca Street in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday Nov. 9, 2016. Hundreds of University of Texas students marched through downtown Austin in protest of Donald Trump’s presidential victory.(Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Trump’s move to retaliate against States opposed to his immigration enforcement policies also met another waterloo, just as his tenure sailed into the 100-day threshold. A Federal District Court Judge William Orrick issued a ruling, blocking his Executive Order seeking to cut federal funding to “sanctuary cities” – jurisdictions that refuse to help the Federal Government apprehend and deport undocumented immigrants. According to San Francisco city attorney, Dennis Herrera, “This is why we have courts – to halt the overreach of a President and an Attorney General who either don’t understand the Constitution or choose to ignore it.”

It is a fact that Trump campaigned and won on imaginable election promises. However, it has been established that electioneering victory is neither a proof of decision-making aptitude nor a test of exemplary leadership, but purely, a process of democracy.

Trump already admitted he was more of a negotiator than a transformational leader. He lied to his constituents that he was a dealmaker, and bragged about negotiating the country into economic possibilities. Yet, he has shown no talent for bargaining policies. For instance, he dabbled into a so called Trump/Ryan Care as a substitution to Obamacare and crashed beyond redemption; he bombarded Syria in a raid that turned out as lavish social media promotion; and then, dropped a so-called “Mother of all Bombs” in Afghanistan with absolutely no strategic purpose on negotiating North Korea.

Trump’s cohorts argued that his iron-handed approach to foreign issues signals seriousness and superiority over rogue nations. Again, this issue is not just about his recklessness in discharging ammunitions, it is all about leadership integrity.

Trump had initially dismissed the Syrian issue and vowed not to spend America’s monies on global wars and security. He swore, “I’m not, and I don’t want to be the President of the world. I’m the President of the United States, and from now on it’s going to be America first.” Therefore, directing airstrikes in Syria reveals a fluidity of a foggy vision – the height of deception, and shows a total lack of integrity. Any leader who speaks from both sides of his mouth must neither be trusted nor respected. Hence, Trump remains a monumental train-wreck with fatalities on stand-by.

Trump’s policy catastrophe might be worse than the tsunami. The LA Times Editorial Board in a few sentences captured a profile of a President that was wrong on arrival:

“He is a man so unpredictable, so reckless, so petulant, so full of blind self-regard, so untethered to reality that it is impossible to know where his presidency will lead or how much damage he will do to our nation. His obsession with his own fame, wealth and success, his determination to vanquish enemies real and imagined, his craving for adulation — these traits were, of course, at the very heart of his scorched-earth outsider campaign; indeed, some of them helped get him elected. But in a real presidency in which he wields unimaginable power, they are nothing short of disastrous.”

In his 100 days, he has accomplished absolutely nothing, but pour drums acid on the cord that unites the country. Already, he has plunged this God’s Own Country into a filthy sea of inexplicable leadership challenge and policy-making ambiguity. Till date, the only entity that has benefited from Trump’s 100-day policy wreckage is the Saturday Night Live – a late-night live television comedy and variety show constantly lampooning Trump’s decision-making meltdown and presidential disgrace.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin might have succeeded in leading a notorious cyber-hacking squad that fraudulently created the path to Trump’s election victory. But the truth remains: Trump is, not just an America’s problem, he is a Global Agony.

♦ Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D. is the editor of International Guardian, and the author of The Influence of Leadership.

Trump to sell planes to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram despite concerns over human rights abuses

Firefighters try to contain a blaze following a suicide attack on oil tankers in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on March 3. (Jossy Ola / Associated Press)

The Trump administration will move forward with the sale of high-tech aircraft to Nigeria for its campaign against Boko Haram Islamic extremists despite concerns over abuses committed by the African nation’s security forces, according to U.S. officials.

Congress is expected to receive formal notification within weeks, setting in motion a deal with Nigeria that the Obama administration had planned to approve at the very end of Barack Obama’s presidency. The arrangement will call for Nigeria to purchase up to 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft with sophisticated targeting gear for nearly $600 million, one of the officials said.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the terms of the sale publicly and requested anonymity to speak about internal diplomatic conversations.

Though President Trump has made clear his intention to approve the sale of the aircraft, the National Security Council is still working on the issue. Military sales to several other countries are also expected to be approved but are caught up in an ongoing White House review. Nigeria has been trying to buy the aircraft since 2015.

The Nigerian air force has been accused of bombing civilian targets at least three times in recent years. In the worst incident, a fighter jet on Jan. 17 repeatedly bombed a camp at Rann, near the border with Cameroon, where civilians had fled from Boko Haram. Between 100 and 236 civilians and aid workers were killed, according to official and community leaders’ counts.

That bombing occurred on the same day the Obama administration intended to officially notify Congress the sale would go forward. Instead, it was abruptly put on hold, according to an individual who worked on the issue during Obama’s presidency. Days later, Trump was inaugurated.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said last week that he supported the A-29 deal to Nigeria as well as the sale of U.S.-made fighter jets to Bahrain that had been stripped of human rights caveats imposed by the Obama administration.

Under Obama, the U.S. said Bahrain failed to make promised political and human rights reforms after its Sunni-ruled government crushed Arab Spring protests five years ago.

“We need to deal with human rights issues, but not on weapons sales,” Corker said.

The State Department said in a 2016 report that the Nigerian government has taken “few steps to investigate or prosecute officials who committed violations, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, and impunity remained widespread at all levels of government.”

Amnesty International has accused Nigeria’s military of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the extrajudicial killings of an estimated 8,000 Boko Haram suspects. President Muhammadu Buhari promised to investigate the alleged abuses after he won office in March 2015, but no soldier has been prosecuted and thousands of people remain in illegal military detention. Nigeria’s military has denied the allegations.

The A-29 sale would improve the U.S. relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest consumer market (with of 170 million people), the continent’s biggest economy and its second-largest oil producer. Nigeria also is strategically located on the edge of the Sahel, the largely lawless semi-desert region bridging north and sub-Saharan Africa, where experts warn Islamic extremists such as the Nigeria-based Boko Haram may expand their reach.

The aircraft deal also would satisfy Trump’s priorities to support nations fighting Islamic uprisings, boost U.S. manufacturing and create high-wage jobs at home. The A-29 aircraft, which allow pilots to pinpoint targets at night, are assembled in Jacksonville, Fla.

“It’s hard to argue that any country in Africa is more important than Nigeria for the geopolitical and other strategic interests of the U.S.,” said J. Peter Pham, vice president of the Atlantic Council in Washington and head of its Africa Center.

Once Congress is officially notified of the sale, lawmakers who want to derail it have 30 days to pass veto-proof legislation. That’s a high hurdle given Corker’s support. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, also said he backs the sale.

“We’ve really got to try to do what we can to contain them,” McCain said of Boko Haram.

In Trump’s first phone call with Buhari in February, he “assured the Nigerian president of U.S. readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism,” according to Buhari’s office.

A Feb. 15 White House statement that provided a summary of the call said “President Trump expressed support for the sale of aircraft from the United States to support Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.”

Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in mid-February that he was “leery” of the sale because of the Nigerian military’s impunity. Cardin said this week he’s not trying to block the deal.

“Ultimately we hope that the sale goes forward,” he said. “But there is progress that needs to be made in protecting the civilian population.”

♦ Culled from the LA Times

Ugo Ehiogu – emotional tributes flood in for Tottenham’s under-23 coach who died at the club’s training ground Thursday of a cardiac arrest

From Anthony Ogbo (Reporting from London)

International Guardian – Vauxhall, LONDON– Just about 24 hours ago after Tottenham Hotspur announced that their under-23 coach, Ugo Ehiogu, passed away in the early hours Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club’s training ground, tributes have been pouring in from all over the football fraternity. In her own statement, Tottenham said: “The club sends its deep condolences to Ugo’s family. Gemma has specifically asked that the family are given privacy at this difficult time. We should also like to place on record our thanks to all the medical professionals including those at North Middlesex University Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield Hospital for their care and support.” Ugo Ehiogo’s impact on football will not be forgotten, I’m sure the fans of the many clubs he honorably represented won’t allow his name to fall silent and vanish into the oblivion. Nor should the manner of his death be ignored. Football has had a tragic recent history with cardiac arrest. Fabrice Muamba’s uplifting death defiance is juxtaposed by the cruel death of Piermario Morosini. Sportsmen, in particular, should be aware of what to do when someone goes into cardiac arrest. To receive proper training, visit somewhere like Coast2Coast in North York. It might just be able to help avoid loss of life. Ehiogu was a fit and healthy athlete, the opposite of the precomposed images we have of someone who has suffered this fate. This is why it is truly paramount that as many people as possible are trained in CPR.

Here are a few annotated clips of reactions so far:

Ugo Ehiogu: Paul Merson breaks into tears during emotional tribute to former England defender

A tearful Paul Merson paid an emotional tribute to his ex-team-mate Ugo Ehiogu, the former England defender who passed away in the early hours of Friday morning. Ehiogu was rushed to hospital on Thursday after suffering a heart attack at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground, where he worked as the north London club’s Under-23s coach. Merson played alongside Ehiogu at Aston Villa between 1998 and 2000 and appeared on Sky Sports News following confirmation of Ehiogu’s tragic death, despite being visibly distraught.

England Manager Gareth Southgate Pays Tribute to ‘Colossus’ Ugo Ehiogu

England manager Gareth Southgate led the heartfelt tributes to Ugo Ehiogu following the sudden death of a coach who was described as an on-field “colossus” and a “father figure” to a generation of young Tottenham Hotspur players.

Ehiogu, 44, suffered a heart attack on Thursday morning at Tottenham’s Enfield training base, where he was the manager of the under-23 team, and died in hospital early on Friday morning.

Southgate, who was a close friend and team-mate of Ehiogu at Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and England, articulated the “disbelief” and deep grief being felt throughout the national game.

“HE WAS A COLOSSUS” Gareth Southgate pays emotional tribute to Ugo Ehiogu – his former England, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough team-mate

England Southgate said: “I’m stunned and deeply saddened by Ugo’s passing and clearly my initial thoughts are with his wife Gemma, his children and his family. “I know that football will be grieving because he was so highly respected by everybody he worked with and losing him at such a young age is difficult to come to terms with. “Most importantly, he was a gentleman and he is one of those characters that people would find it difficult to have anything bad to say about.

Ugo Ehiogu dies: Former England defender ‘a hugely popular football figure’

Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest, was not just a highly accomplished and successful defender who was forging a growing reputation as a coach – he was a hugely popular figure within the game. The reaction to his death after collapsing at Tottenham’s training centre, the club where he was an under-23s coach, is a reflection of the esteem in which Ehiogu was held. Ehiogu was a powerful, imposing figure as a player and a well-rounded character away from the game, making a career in the music business while also shaping the future of the next generation at Spurs.

Ugo Ehiogu’s death leaves Chelsea’s Antonio Conte pondering own mortality

Antonio Conte has admitted that the sudden death of the Tottenham Under-23 coach and former England international defender Ugo Ehiogu will overshadow the build-up to Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham, the team with whom they are also vying for the Premier League title. The Chelsea manager said he expected there to be “a strange atmosphere” as Ehiogu is remembered before kick-off at Wembley, and that the news has forced him to consider his own mortality. Ehiogu, at 44, was three years younger than the Italian. “It is a shock, for sure,” he said. “When this type of situation happens I am a 47-year-old, a former player, and a coach. You think – for sure, this could happen to me. You think about this, and you hope that this situation never happens to someone. But when it happens, you reflect a lot about life. And sometimes you think [you should] live the life more, and not sometimes be angry for stupid problems. Because you don’t know if the day after you’ll be here, or another place.”

Leeds United head coach Garry Monk leads tributes to Ugo Ehiogu

GARRY Monk led the Leeds United tributes to former Whites defender Ugo Ehiogu who tragically died today aged 44. Ehiogu, who was Tottenham’s Under-23s coach, collapsed at the club’s training centre yesterday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The centre-back will be best remembered for enjoying almost a decade with Aston Villa but the defender also spent two months on loan at Leeds from Middlesbrough from November 2006 until January 2007. The former England centre-back made six starts for United and scored on his second appearance in a 2-2 draw at home to Barnsley.

Southgate: ‘It’s difficult to come to terms with’

We leave you with this fitting tribute to Ugo Ehiogu from England manager Gareth Southgate, who was his long-time defensive partner at both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

“I’m stunned and deeply saddened by Ugo’s passing and clearly my initial thoughts are with his wife Gemma, his children and his family. “I know that football will be grieving because he was so highly respected by everybody he worked with and losing him at such a young age is difficult to come to terms with…

‘Only the Good Die Young’: Paul Merson Pays Tearful Tribute to Ugo Ehiogu

Ugo Ehiogu’s death at age of 44 prompted tributes from all over the football world as former team-mate Paul Merson broke down in tears and said “only the good die young”. Former England defender Ehiogu, who was Tottenham’s Under-23s coach, collapsed at the club’s training centre on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. Ex-clubs and team-mates have paid tribute to a “gentle giant”, whose death was announced by Tottenham this morning.

Nigeria LNG Limited Undergraduate Scholarship, 2017

Nigeria LNG Limited is offering scholarships to pursue the undergraduate degree at Nigerian Universities for the academic session of 2017. These scholarships are available on the basis of excellence of the students of Nigeria.

The aim of the scholarships is to promote academic excellence through the support of top-grade students through tertiary institutions.

Nigeria LNG Limited was incorporated as a limited liability company on 17 May 1989, to produce LNG and natural gas liquids (NGL) for export.This was founded as a critical component of education intervention programme for our host communities in 1998 and later opened up to the rest of Nigeria in 2003.

Course Level: These scholarships are available to pursue undergraduate degree.

Study Subject: These scholarships are awarded in the subjects offered by the university.

Scholarship Award: The value of the scholarship has been reviewed upward from N100, 000 to N300, 000 per awardee for an academic year and it runs throughout the duration of the student’s course.

Number of Scholarships: Not known

Scholarship can be taken in Nigeria

Eligibility: The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for these scholarships:

Have excellence/very good West Africa School Certificate (WASC) or National Examination Council results at ONE sitting Be top-scorer at the Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board (JA/v\B) examination Council results at ONE sitting
Be top-scorer at the Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board (JA/v\B) examination
Be a Full-Time Year-ONE student of any of the Nigerian Universities
Not be on any other Scholarship Award
Not be a spouse, child, ward or direct relation of staff of Nigeria LNG Limited

Nationality: Students from Nigeria can apply for these scholarships.

College Admission Requirement

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must be a full-time year one student of any of the Nigerian Universities.

English language Requirements: Students meet the necessary language proficiency requirements of the host institution.

Undergraduate Scholarship

How to Apply: Applicants can apply via online mode.

Interested applicants should visit www.nigerialng. Com to apply. Click on the ”Our CSR“ menu to select ”Education“ from the drop down menu, then click on Scholarship link on the page to
Passport sized photographs Scholarship Award.
ASC or NECO result
JAMB result
University admission letter University student ID card LGA Letter of identification
University admission letter University student ID card LGA Letter of identification

Application Deadline: The application deadline is April 30, 2017.

Scholarship Link

PM-Opposition showdown as Brits opt for a fly-by-night midyear election

Analysts predict that a vigorous summer victory at the polls would further reinforce May’s regime and boost her prime ministerial mandate.

Theresa May wins overwhelming MPS’ support for a quick poll on June 8 but the Labour is not backing down

From Anthony OGBO and Nelly ONWUCHEKWA Reporting from London

International Guardian , Vauxhall – LONDON – British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s plan to hold an instant general election on June 8 received an overwhelmingly MPs backing earlier in the week, flagging off what might be a tense campaign moment. The House of Commons voted 522 votes to just 13 in favor of the poll. Traditionally, Mrs. May needed a two-third majority of MPs to scale through her proposal – most surprisingly, she effortlessly passed the 434 required votes with the support of Liberal Democrats and Labor, whereas the SNP abstained.

Mrs. May stunned her nation shortly before noon Tuesday, announcing an early general election, to be held on June 8, 2017 – three years ahead of scheduled elections, which were due in May 2020. May’s move surprised the British population because she had said multiple times that she wouldn’t call an early election. Mrs. May’s argument was considerable. She said that, “The only way to guarantee certainty and security for years ahead is to hold this election”. While the government is already in a strong position, having successfully triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (which begins the formal process of exiting the EU), analysts predict that a vigorous summer victory at the polls would further reinforce May’s regime and boost her prime ministerial mandate.

Mr. Corbyn is not moved by the odd political wind. He is ready for a fight. Just yesterday, he appeared confident, setting the election tone by vowing to target the British establishment.

Opposition however differ, accusing the PM of failing to keep her own words. For instance, The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn objected bitterly depicting Mrs. May’s proposal as betrayal of trust. Mr. Corbyn said he welcomed the proposed election but questioned Mrs. May’s U-turn on the issue; subjecting her near seven-year record in government as a proof that she could not be trusted.

The battle ground is set for an early summer showdown; a ballot which could offer the ruling Conservative Party an opportunity to significantly increase its working majority in the House of Commons. Currently, it stands at just 17, but recent polls suggest the Conservatives could lock in a sweeping victory in June, with a parliamentary majority as high as 68. To her advantage, Mrs. May’s personal approval rating far exceeds that of left-wing Mr. Corbyn, who has failed in recent times to excite his own base.

But Mr. Corbyn is not moved by the odd political wind. He is ready for a fight. Just yesterday, he appeared confident, setting the election tone by vowing to target the British establishment. He said he would defeat a “cosy cartel” at the heart of British politics, molding himself as the anti-establishment challenger; pledging to deliverer higher taxes on the wealthy; and cracking down on powerful corporations. A victory for the veteran left-winger would defy opinion polls already pointing to a heavy defeat.

In such a poll that leaves only a few weeks of electioneering engagements, Mr. Corbyn might have to battle to salvage control over his own divided Labor Party. He must be aggressive in taking advantage of a widespread voter frustration with the political elite.

The significance of a Britain’s general election to the United States ally remains an optimistic endeavor. A greater majority in the House of Commons this summer by the Conservative government would certainly fortify a US-British coalition. Analysts believe that an energized British government and prime minister with a powerful mandate from the British people would essentially reinforce a US-British relationship. In her first 10 months in office, for instance, Mrs. May has shown firm commitment to guaranteeing success of the Brexit. Furthermore, she has was able to establish a constructive working relationship with President Donald Trump.

As America’s most important friend and ally on the world stage, it is evident that the outcome of the polls in Britain will have a direct impact upon the United States and U.S. strategic interests.

On the contrary, a victory for the Labour Party would likely jeopardize the future of Brexit; and might ultimately complicate the relationship with incumbent Republican administration in Washington. As America’s most important friend and ally on the world stage, it is evident that the outcome of the polls in Britain will have a direct impact upon the United States and U.S. strategic interests. For instance, a victory for the Conservatives with an increased mandate would mean a robust US-UK alliance in the next few years. A collaboration that would boost an Anglo-American free trade agreement and advance prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

While Mrs. May touts her feat in possibly leading the machinations of the coming negotiations in Brussels, Mr. Corbyn vows to tackle public anger about stagnant wages and businesses that pay low taxes. On Thursday, he vowed, “We will no longer allow those at the top to leech off those who bust their guts on zero-hours contracts, or those forced to make sacrifices to pay their mortgage or pay their rent… Instead of the country’s wealth being hidden in tax havens, we will put it in the hand of the people.”

Trump agency wants to end temporary protection for 50,000 Haitians in U.S.

A woman and a child sit on a buckets amid the ruins of their home destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, in Jeremie, Haiti, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Almost a week after Matthew’s assault, power is still out, water and food are scarce, and officials say that young men in villages along the road between the hard-hit cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie are putting up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt convoys of vehicles bringing relief supplies. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

President Trump’s immigration agency is recommending that the U.S. end temporary protections by next January for 50,000 Haitians allowed to remain in the United States following a series of natural disasters that have crippled the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation.

James McCament, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, concluded in a letter last week that conditions in Haiti have improved enough to end “temporary protected status” for Haitians, according to a copy of the letter obtained by USA TODAY.

The Obama administration first offered temporary protection to Haitians following the devastating 2010 earthquake. The protection has been extended several times, the latest set to expire July 22. McCament proposed an extension to January to allow for a “period of orderly transition” but said the program should not be extended beyond then.

A final decision on the Haitians’ fate rests with Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Spokesman David Lapan said Thursday that Kelly has not yet made that decision.

The recommendation upset Republican and Democratic members of Congress who have pleaded with Kelly to extend the protections. Last month, 10 lawmakers from Florida, where many Haitians reside, wrote to Kerry outlining recent disasters that have slammed Haiti.

That started with the 2010 earthquake that displaced hundreds of thousands and destroyed government buildings throughout the country. Haiti was struck by Hurricane Matthew six months ago, killing 1,000 people and crippling ongoing reconstruction work. All the while, Haiti has dealt with the worst cholera outbreak in its history, which has killed 9,000 people and continues to plague the country.

“Haiti is still struggling to recover from two major natural disasters that killed more than 200,000 people. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and right now it’s unable to support the roughly 50,000 Haitians that are currently receiving protected status here in the U.S.,” Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Thursday. “The U.S. should be focused on helping Haiti recover, not sending people back to a country that can’t support them.”

Temporary Protected Status is offered to foreign nationals, including legal residents and undocumented immigrants, who cannot return to their home country because of armed conflict, a natural disaster or “other extraordinary and temporary conditions.”

The U.S. is currently giving protection to those from 13 countries: El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The recommendation is a sharp departure from the immigration agency’s report in December, when President Barack Obama was still in office.

“Many of the conditions prompting the original January 2010 … designation persist, including a housing shortage, a cholera epidemic and limited access to medical care, damage to the economy … political instability, security risks, food insecurity, and environmental risks (as exemplified by the impact of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016),” the report said.

That prompted then-Secretary of State John Kerry to ask the Department of Homeland Security to extend protections for Haitians because “certain extraordinary and temporary conditions related to the 2010 earthquake continue to exist.”

In the new report, agency acting director McCament said he tried to solicit a recommendation from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson but received no response.

McCament said Haiti has not completely recovered from the earthquake, but enough progress has been made. He said the Obama administration started sending some Haitians home in 2016.

The conclusion came as a shock to Esther Olavarria, a senior counselor at Homeland Security under Obama who helped institute the first protected status for Haiti in 2010. She said if Kelly follows through on the recommendation, “it would be a travesty.”

“What they’re trying to argue is the temporary aspect of this has ended and we’ve returned to, ‘Haiti as it was, always poor,'” she said. “But that’s just not the case.”

At Easter, Trump has yet to find a church home in DC

FILE – In this Jan. 20, 2017 file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania walk to their vehicle after attending church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House in Washington. At Washington churches, presidents have long been seated in the pews. Bill and Hillary Clinton favored a Methodist church. Jimmy Carter taught Baptist Sunday School. And Barack Obama dropped in at an Episcopal church next to the White House. But as Easter Sunday approaches, President Donald Trump has not attended a church service in the Capitol since the worship events during his inauguration weekend. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File/Associated Press)

WASHINGTON — Washington churches have long welcomed presidents to their pews. Bill Clinton frequented a Methodist church, Jimmy Carter taught Baptist Sunday school and Barack Obama visited an Episcopal church near the White House.

As Easter Sunday arrives, President Donald Trump has not attended a church service in the capital since the worship events of his inauguration weekend.

Trump is spending the holiday at his private Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, where he often weekends. The White House would not say if he’d go to Easter services, but last year he attended the nearby Episcopalian church where he and Melania Trump were married.

Where the president worships is always of interest in Washington. But compared to the buzz in 2009 over whether the Obamas would join a church, there has been less chatter this year. Some of the more liberal churches oppose Trump’s policies. Also, he’s out of town a lot of weekends. And he’s not seen as a committed churchgoer anyway.

To be sure, Obama attended church only occasionally.

Perhaps the churches are better off without the hubbub, said the Rev. Darrell Scott, a pastor from Cleveland who supported Trump’s candidacy and serves on a faith advisory board. Said Scott: “I believe one of the reasons he has not established a home church is it will become larger than life.”

Raised a Presbyterian, Trump has called himself a “religious person.” At a 2015 gathering hosted by Christian conservatives in Iowa, Trump said: “I’m Protestant, I’m Presbyterian, and I go to church, and I love God, and I love my church.” He has also spoken about attending Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan.

Some Washington churches might be an uncomfortable fit.

“Churches in D.C. tend, not all, but tend to be a little more liberal. It’s a hard sell,” said the Rev. Roger Gench, the senior pastor at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church near the White House. He said his church has not reached out to Trump, though all are welcome.

“The policies of Trump are counter to the views of most of the people in the church,” he said.

The thrice-married Trump once espoused more liberal positions but ran for president as a conservative. He did not immediately win over the Christian right in the Republican primaries, but solid support from evangelicals helped propel him to the White House. And so far, those supporters are looking at his words and deeds over his church attendance, said Bob Vander Plaats, president of the conservative Iowa group the Family Leader.

“When he announced our action as it relates to Syria and he also used the words, seeking God’s wisdom, that’s an encouragement to me,” said Vander Plaats. He added that conservative Christians are happy with policy moves like appointing Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and signing legislation that lets states deny federal family planning money to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

In general, Vander Plaats said, “I also think faith leaders and people of faith are not looking for him to be somebody he’s not.”

The White House started an office dealing with faith-based community efforts under George W. Bush, and it continued under Obama. So far Trump’s administration has not announced a new director, and the White House did not answer questions about when that position might be filled.

During his inauguration weekend, Trump attended a private service at St. John’s Church, near the White House, and the national prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. He has spoken about leaning on faith to serve in the Oval Office.

Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network this year, Trump said: “The office is so powerful that you need God even more because your decisions are no longer, gee, I’m going to build a building in New York or I’m going to do this. These are questions of massive life and death, even with regard to health care.”

Even if Trump doesn’t go each week, heading to church from time to time might be a good idea politically, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University.

“No president has ever done damage to his career by showing up to a church service on Sunday,” said Brinkley. “It shows people that perhaps God is on your side, that you understand the power of prayer.”

HERE’S WHERE UNITED AIRLINE GOT IT WRONG

Was United legally justified when it forcibly dragged a paying passenger off a plane in Chicago on April 9? The airline seems to think so, but it may come down to whether the company complied with government rules on what airlines must do when passengers are involuntarily bumped.

The Transportation Department says airlines must “give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn’t.” There’s no evidence United did that. In an internal email published by the Associated Press, United CEO Oscar Munoz said company employees “followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation).” But he didn’t say whether those employees followed government rules, including issuing the written statement and giving an explanation for why a given passenger was singled out for bumping.

United’s Rule 25

Rule 25 of United’s “contract of carriage”—which is basically the legal fine print governing passenger flights—contains detailed procedures for how to handle overbooked flights on which passengers need to be bumped, either voluntarily or involuntarily. But there’s no mention of a written statement or an explanation offered to passengers who are bumped against their will. So unless there are other United procedures that aren’t public, the carrier’s official policy seems to exclude what the government requires.

Passenger David Dao was dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight.

There’s another wrinkle. Rule 25 deals almost entirely with passengers denied boarding—in other words, people who never get on a plane. But in the Chicago incident, the passenger had already boarded when United employees told him he had to get off. Again, unless United has an unpublished policy dealing with this scenario, it’s not addressed in the contract of carriage. So even if United followed its own procedures, it would have violated government rules.

The whole incident seems to have arisen from an unusual situation unanticipated by the airline. United says the flight was already fully boarded when four crew members approached the gate, saying they needed to board the plane to get to Louisville, where the flight was headed, or else a subsequent United departure out of Louisville would have to be canceled. So United made the probably rational decision that it was cheaper to bump four passengers and pay them for their troubles, than to leave the crew members in Chicago and cancel a Louisville departure.

Where it went wrong

This is where the whole thing went wrong. Three passengers chosen by United—how, remains unclear—apparently accepted the airline’s offer and got off the plane. But the fourth passenger United selected didn’t agree to get off, which led to the forced ejection captured on video and now seen by hundreds of millions worldwide.

United says it offered “up to $1,000” to coax the four passengers off the plane peacefully. Obviously it didn’t offer enough. Fliers everywhere wonder why United didn’t just keep raising its offer until somebody raised their hand. United hasn’t said why, but it may have had something to do with the flight running late and crew members feeling rushed. Still, summoning security in a situation that could have been defused peacefully for a few extra bucks, will surely go down as one of the most obtuse corporate decisions in years.

Bad publicity following the incident has pushed the company’s stock price down a couple percentage points and shaved more than $500 million off the carrier’s market value. Lawsuits seem certain, as well. The whole thing might blow over, if Munoz, who initially called the bumped passenger “disruptive and belligerent,” can muster a heartfelt apology and do something to act like he cares about customers. The lesson for now, however, is don’t ever do something this stupid in your own business.

IS FIDELITY GONE? …LET US WALK FIDELITY BACK HOME!

One of my most satisfying past time is organizing motivational talks for young people in colleges. I love the refreshing perspectives that the Youth bring to issues – from sheer innocence to the lethargic. Sometimes discussions delve into frightening emotional depths that cast gloomy picture of their emotional lives from a futuristic perspective.

While the word ‘Fidelity’ has various connotations and operational definitions, I refer to the ‘ability to be faithful and committed – emotionally and sexually – to ONE person (your spouse or partner) throughout the period of your relationship.

Recently, I worked with a group of 80 final year students (21 – 26 years old) of a reputable tertiary institution on a special research project. Part of my objectives was to test their degree of fidelity or faithfulness and commitment to relationships. In turn, they were to test their parents/guardians (55 – 70 years old). My interest was to establish a behavioral cycle and determine if there is a correlation between the emotional patterns of the young people with that of their parents.

This piece is not about the research but some interesting variables arising therefrom. Fidelity or Faithfulness was not a strong feature in relationships x-rayed. Over 55% of the students believe “faithfulness” or “fidelity” is old fashioned and has zero effect on their current relationships. About 73% of parents/guardians had been ‘overtly unfaithful’; 9% had left their spouses for another ‘love’, while 14% had constantly been ‘mentally unfaithful’. Only 4% percent have been totally faithful to their spouses. Interestingly, the ‘faithful bunch’ were clergy and those ‘survived’ bitter divorces.

Five team members later met with me to share an emotional fear based on findings after group discussions. Their collective question is simple: Does that mean that Fidelity or Faithfulness should no longer be an expectation in modern day relationships?

Is virtue of faithfulness truly gone?

Of course, NO! Some people still believe that fidelity in relationships should be the woman’s call… Men expect women to be faithful because it is an obligation. Truth is faithfulness is an issue of integrity. It is a personal decision that individuals make in spite of wedding vows and verbal assurances. A man or woman DECIDES to be faithful regardless of his/her partner’s lifestyle. The decision to be committed to your spouse/partner is predominantly dependent and propelled by the behavior of the other party.

Last week, after deep meditation on the issue of faithfulness or fidelity going out of fashion, I held a soul-searching and dangerous discussion with the love of my life. Here’s a snap shot:

Me: Darling, can you be TRULY faithful?

Response: Yes

Me: Can a man be faithful to ONE WOMAN?

Response: Yes

Me: What keeps a man faithful to his wife for the rest of his life?

Response: The Woman

Me: How? Why?

Response: The woman holds the key to the longevity of any relationship. She is supposed to be the mother, the confident, the nurse and the nurturer of any relationship….

Me: (Cut in) That, is not fair!!! What role does the man now play? Are you blaming women for all acts of infidelity?

Response: No, my dear. A good woman pays attention. She knows when her son/daughter is straying or has emotional issues. It is the same in relationships. The woman has the GPS to keep the relationship on course.

Me: Have you been faithful to this relationship?

Response: Yes. I am TOTALLY emotionally wrapped, why should I stray? Most importantly, I cannot hurt someone I love so deeply…

Above reflection is interesting and an innocent perspective on the issue. It may not be agreeable by modern women in relationships, as the quest for ‘EQUALITY’ has driven GOD-GIVEN roles of women to the background. However, it is noteworthy that there are elements of truth in the responses to the questions, thus, providing a unique element on the subject of fidelity in relationships.

I have no plan to open a discourse on whether a woman has more critical roles to play in navigating her spouse towards faithfulness. A peep into Men’sHealth Magazine provides helpful insight to a man’s tendency to ‘stray’. A 2008 Gallup Poll indicated 54 percent of Americans know someone who has an unfaithful spouse. Also, the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey “consistently finds that 20 percent of men cheat in their lifetimes, compared with 12 percent of women…” Today, the statistics are much more depressing.

If women can play a significant role in ensuring faithfulness of their spouses/partners, do they really understand WHY MEN CHEAT? Is it all about sex? No! According to Gary Neuman book, “The Truth about Cheating” out of 100 cheating men interviewed, only eight percent cited sex as the major reason for infidelity. Interestingly, 48 percent of them admitted that emotional issues led them to cheat. Thus, it can be safely established that it is not “just sex”.

To Men: Beware of these signs

I am positive that before you entered into your current relations, love was at the foundation that grew the bonding into a pledge of loyalty and promise to stay faithful. However, temptations abound out there. Scott M. Bea, PsyD, a clinical psychologist provided the helpful professional perspectives below:

Beware When:

You are increasingly interested in flirting with someone new in order to gauge the possibility of establishing a more intimate relationship.
You have persistent sexual and romantic fantasies about a particular ‘potential partner’.
You find yourself inviting or agreeing to meet or dine alone with a person with whom you feel a sexual or romantic attraction.
You are beginning to confide in an individual with whom you feel sexual or romantic attraction.
You have a history of infidelity coupled with a new opportunity to cheat.

To Women: Help Our Men

Of a truth, I am yet to meet a man who sets out to be unfaithful in a loving relationship. Temptations, emotional stressors and other inexplicable circumstances drive them to seek ‘solace’ in the wrong barn. These ‘temporary solutions’ eventually end badly due to faulty foundations.

As earlier established, women are naturally gifted with emotional intelligence and always have a ‘feeling’ that something is wrong in a relationship. Women have God-given instincts for sensing when their men are in trouble. Women who truly love their spouses ALWAYS KNOW when their men begin to drift and can propel them lovingly back to the right track – without angst or vituperation. Please…

Discuss With Him. We have established that it is NOT all about SEX. Communication is the livewire of any true relationship. Effective Communication is the outcome of a deep friendship between the two people. Humour him and do not exasperate him with jealous remarks. Establish that you both have a problem and work it via a heart to heart talk. So, talk without being opinionated.

Ensure Intimacy. Intimacy is the result of a strong bond between people who truly love each other. Intimacy does not denote sexual contact. Physical contact between lovers is more than sex. Relationship experts say: “Intimate touch – from stroking hair to massaging to simply holding each other, is key to keeping those bonds strong. “Kiss, massage, and keep those loving hands on each other: This works on basic biological levels to keep people literally connected and respond to one another, to anticipate each other’s needs, to look to each other rather than new, unknown partners.”

Do you feel emotionally connected when you touch your partner?

Help Him Avoid potential cheating traps. Dr. Scott Bea established that most men know when they are faced with potential traps. Sometimes, steering clear of these situations may be difficult, especially when emotionally stressed. Do you encourage him to discuss personal challenges – or does he have someone else he is comfortable discussing with? Being open, and, understanding the frailties of your spouse/partner will help him avoid emotional booby traps that could lead to unfaithfulness.

You must understand the need to intimately discuss the dangers of meeting alone with anyone that he might feel attracted to sexually or romantically. Confiding personal details to anyone that he might feel attracted to sexually or romantically is a dangerous signal. “It’s also a good idea to avoid or eliminate ‘friendly’ hugs and kisses.” The same goes for new avenues of cheating, such as online chat rooms and other forms of social media communication.

Note: Avoid making him feel cornered. Approach discussions of potential infidelity tactfully with clear display of love and concern. He must understand that both of you have an invaluable emotional investment, and, your desire/commitment to make it work.

Fidelity in spousal and romantic relationships establishes the basis of emotional stability and general wellness. It assures peace of mind and confidence in children. While it has been noted that both men and women have individual roles to play, the woman continues to hold the key and emotional GPS in keeping the man on course.

Women, let us get off from heights that hurt relationships. Let us invest emotionally in our relationships. Let us forgive mistakes and lovingly navigate our spouses and partners to the path of fidelity, loyalty and integrity. Stop impugning the reputation of the man before the children. “…And the two shall be one…” means that when you repudiate your spouse before the children, you inadvertently drag yourself into the mud too.

So, Let us WALK Fidelity back into our relationships…

I remain…

Emotionally Yours,

Nellie Onwuchekwa

Note: Any emotional issues or thoughts? Please share with me. Click to email me >>

Ugandan Professor Charged for “Insulting” the President on Facebook

A Ugandan academic has been charged with “cyber harassment” and “offensive communication” for allegedly insulting the country’s President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, Janet Museveni, on Facebook.

Stella Nyanzi, research fellow at the Uganda’s Makerere University, was arrested on April 7 after a series of posts on the social network criticizing Museveni and the first lady, who is also the minister of education, for backtracking on a promise made during the electoral campaign in 2016 to supply free sanitary pads to schoolgirls.

The project was seen as a way to incentivize the education of girls, as studies have documented numerous cases of girls in Uganda who drop out of school due to shame if they cannot afford sanitary pads during their menstruation cycle.

University lecturer and activist Doctor Stella Nyanzi — University lecturer and activist Dr Stella Nyanzi (left) attends court to face charges of cyber-harassment and offensive communication, in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, on April 10. GAEL GRILHOT /Getty Images

However, Janet Museveni said in February the government did not have “the funding for this in our budget yet.”

The decision to scrap the project angered Nyanzi, a staunch critic of the Ugandan government and President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.

Nyanzi launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy sanitary pads for schoolgirls. She then wrote several Facebook posts about the Ugandan leader and the first lady, calling the president a “pair of buttocks” and the first lady “foolish.”

Upon her arrest, an unnamed police official told Africa News website: “Dr Stella knew that she has been investigated by CID (Criminal Investigation Division) headquarters. She kept posting issues, fighting battles on social media which we think has not served our interest or her interest.”

Nyanzi’s arrest has been slammed as a crackdown on freedom of speech, with social media users calling for her release under the hashtag #FreeDrStellaNyanzi.

Amnesty International called the case a “politically-motivated prosecution” and urged the government to release Nyanzi unconditionally.

Nyanzi appeared in court on Monday. The prosecution on Monday claimed she “was insane” and should be “placed under treatment” under the country’s Mental Treatment Act. Nyanzi was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing, AFP reported.

Phil Clark, Reader in Comparative and International Politics with reference to Africa at SOAS University in London, believes Nyanzi’s case highlights growing tensions between the government and civil society in Uganda, particularly on issues concerning women’s rights and homosexuality, which is illegal in the country .

“Uganda allows much greater freedom of expression than most of its neighbors but the government is particularly thin-skinned on sexuality issues,” he told Newsweek.

“Over the last two years, local NGOs working on these issues have been shut down and had their funding blocked. Academics and journalists who have criticized the government for its policies on LGBT and women’s rights have been harassed or arrested,” Clark added.

Uganda has been condemned for its record on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The country ranked 102 out of 180 in the 2016 Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters without Borders. The organization said “acts of intimidation and violence against journalists are an almost daily occurrence in Uganda.”

Expressing similar fears, Angela Quintal, ‎Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, told Newsweek that “there have been several cases in Uganda that have raised concerns about the deteriorating climate for media freedom.”

The latest example of harassment against a member of the the press was the abduction of Gertrude Tumusiime Uwitware on April 8, a journalist for Uganda’s NTV station, who was allegedly kidnapped and interrogated after defending Nyanzi in a Facebook post.

“She [Uwitware] was eventually released and opened a case with local police. She too was threatened over her Facebook posts,” Quintal says. However, she adds, there have been at least three cases of conviction involving people “who have attacked journalists.”

The High Commission of Uganda in London has not replied to a request for a comment on the claims and Nyanzi’s case.

In an interview with a local TV station earlier in April, Janet Museveni said she had forgiven Nyanzi’s criticism.

“I still don’t know what kind of wrong I committed to deserve that kind of language and the names she chose to call me, and all that. I just wanted to tell people that I honestly forgave that lady,” the first lady was quoted as saying. “Because I don’t understand how an educationist can use that language to say anything about anybody.”

God’s own country is plunged into a filthy sea of inexplicable leadership challenge and policy-making ambiguity

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United’s Rule 25

Where it went wrong

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