#BBB NEWS| To Everything, Its Place By Wole Soyinka

The issue, I understand, is the flaunting of religious markers in public educational institutions. Let me begin by confessing that I envy the French to whom those choices have only been recently thrust to the fore – they have always been with us in Nigeria. I also envy those to whom the issues are straightforward, and permit of dogmatic positions.

In normal circumstances, perhaps I would agree that it should be a non-issue. It is tempting to simplify the debate by evoking the nature of club membership - a public school has certain rules, and if you wish to be a member, or make use of its facilities, then you must conform to those rules or seek alternatives elsewhere.

However, the world we inhabit has changed vastly and dramatically over the past few decades, and club rules – like race or sex differentiated membership rules - are no longer sacrosanct. In addition, the genie is out of the bottle and the beasts of intolerance, suspicion and polarization stalk the streets. Dialogue is mostly relegated to the status of a poor relation of terror and intimidation, barely tolerated, often mocked. Conscious of the fact that the present dialogue is being conducted within such an atmosphere, it may be helpful if I began with a reference to my personal response when a directly contrary policy was announced in my own country, Nigeria,  and not just recently. It happened about twenty years ago, long before the introduction of the Sharia – the Islamic law – in a number of states within the country.

#BBB NEWS| President Buhari Appoints Ibrahim Kpotum Idris As Nigeria's Inspector General Of Police [PHOTOS]

President Muhammadu Buhari will announce a former Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris as the new acting Inspector General of Police. Mr. Idris is an Assistant Inspector General of Police who once led the Kano state police command.

Idris will replace Solomon Arase, who retires from the police force. The President met with the new IGP for a presidential briefing. See photos below;

#BBB NEWS| EFCC Traces N4.7b Arms Cash To Fayose, Obanikoro

 Detectives have traced about N4.745billion of the diverted $2. 1billion arms cash to a former Minister of State (Defence),  Musiliu Obanikoro and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The cash was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under ex-NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) prior to the conduct of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, according to an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation.

Others linked with the sharing of the slush funds include Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey); Mrs. Helen Olayemi Fayose; Obanikoro’s sons — Gbolahan and Babajide —  Ikenna Ezekwe; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited(a company allegedly  run by the Obanikoros); Spotless Hotel, owned by Fayose and De Privateer Limited, which is owned by  Agbele.

About 30 bureaux de change changed N759, 384, 300 (out of the N4.745billion) into dollars.

#BBB NEWS| The Weapon Of Mass Obstruction By Wole Soyinka

It is time to call a spade a spade or, in this instance, name the Nigerian media camera a weapon of mass obstruction. What used to be mere occasional infraction, soon corrected, is fast becoming a Bill of Rights – for a minuscule sector of the professional community. We are galloping towards an order of social fascism of which - it must also be stressed - that same society is the prime facilitator of its doom.

There are times when tolerance becomes acceptance, then tacit and even overt encouragement. Otherwise, why does it take so long to make the media photographer understand that he or she has no fundamental viewing right that overrides those of the lowest member of any gathering, anywhere and under any circumstance. Let us not beat around the bush – mobsters have taken over community, armed with nothing more lethal than the camera and a monstrous will to capture and monopolize space that belongs to the totality.

The media camera has become a pest, an aggressive voyeur. Its wielders imagine that they own the world and its contents, that they have a divinely endowed right over the rights of all others, be they paying audience, invited guests, families, participating others, and indeed – most insolent of all – even the event initiators and rightful proprietors.

#BBB NEWS| Proposed Pension, Immunity For Saraki, Dogara Provocative – Falana, SERAP

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola, and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, have condemned the proposed life pension and immunity for National Assembly leaders.

While SERAP and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders described the proposed life pension and immunity for Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as self-serving and despicable, Falana called it “insensitive, irrational and immoral.”

Akintola said the call for such incentives for the National Assembly leaders was unreasonable.

Falana and Akintola called on Nigerians to rise against the proposal.

The immunity and life pension for the presiding officers were proposed by some senators at a retreat on constitution review organised by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos on Saturday.

#BBB NEWS| WATCH: John Legend Joins Mariah Carey Onstage For Memorable Appearance [PHOTOS/VIDEOS]

Las Vegas, Nev., was the place to be on Saturday night (June 18), when Mariah Carey’s widely-successful tour pulled into the city of sin.

To a sold out arena, the “Butterfly” singer performed her classic hits, but when it came time to sing her past single, “Touch My Body,” MC had a special guest join her onstage for a tease-worthy gesture.

One of Carey’s dancers ushered famed R&B singer John Legend onto the stage where a bed and blindfolds awaited the “All Of Me” artist.

To the tune of “Touch My Body,” Carey’s pink feather caressed the Grammy Award-winning musician.

See photos and watch clips below;