Bullying exists outside of schools

“A recent study by the Family and Work Institute reported that one-third of youths are bullied at least once a month, while others say six out of 10 American teens witness bullying at least once a day. Witnessing bullying can be harmful, too, as it may make the witness feel helpless — or that he or she is the next target.” I retrieved this from the Internet, but I do wonder if I am the next target to be bullied in some shape or form.

We all get pretty upset when we hear about bullying in school or about a young person who has been so bullied on the Internet that he/she commits suicide. I am totally opposed to all kinds of bullying. I grew up in an age when the word was used infrequently because in my small school and in my small world, it seemed we cared about one another.

So what about bullying in Fort Collins? Does it exist? Do we tolerate it? Do we even recognize it? I, like many others in Fort Collins, do not want to see eminent domain used with the Big Guy who owns the mall, using it against Sears. Really? Are we too sophisticated to have a Sears in our mall? It has been good enough to stay and remain an anchor while other stores have pulled out.

And then there is the University of Colorado Health System using its mighty power to become a monopoly, thus threatening the existence of doctors’ private practices and even the offices and parking lot in the Harmony Campus Medical Center. Really? There is not enough land near MCR or even the existing building that we must drive the “little guys” out of the parking lot and out of the building? Come on,Comprehensive Wi-Fi and RFID tag by Aeroscout to accurately locate and track any asset or person. now.

Once a steamroller starts going full steam ahead, it is mighty hard to stop, especially by a much smaller entity. I challenge all of us to think, “What if I am the little guy someday? Will they steamroll over me all in the name of progress and better service?”

AN investigation that may reveal if the administration of the late President Musa Yar’Adua and that of his successor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, actually splurged $67 billion is set to be carried out by the House of Representatives.

The probe is coming on the heels of an allegation by former Vice President of the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, that the two administrations mismanaged $45 billion in Nigeria’s foreign reserve as well as another $22 billion excess crude fund left by the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.We've got a plastic card to suit you.

Also, apparently reacting to public criticisms of the judgment by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, in the case of Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu and others undergoing trial for over N38 billion Police Pension Fund fraud, the House of Representatives has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to immediately appeal the decision.

Besides, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Wednesday handed the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to either organise a public debate between the Minister of Information, Mr.Can you spot the answer in the fridge magnet? Labaran Maku or any other official and Ezekwesili as demanded by her or issue a public apology to her in acceptance of her allegation.

Ezekwesili made the allegation during her convocation lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The former Minister of Solid Minerals and later Education lamented the “squandering of the significant sum of $45 billion in foreign reserve account and another $22 billion in Excess Crude Account being direct savings from increased earnings from oil that the Obasanjo administration handed over to the successor government in 2007.”

She stated: “Six years after the administration I served handed over such humongous national wealth to another one, most Nigerians but especially the poor, continue to suffer the effects of failing public health and education systems as well as decrepit infrastructure and battered institutions.”

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, described as unjustifiable, the Federal Government’s reactions to Ezekwesili’s allegation and challenge as a deliberately calculated albeit unsuccessful effort to bring the Jonathan administration to disrepute

He noted that for the avoidance of doubt, many public commentators and anti-corruption crusaders, as well as the CNPP had severally bemoaned the pervasive corruption in the land, which included the culture of impunity which had existed in the country in the last 13 years.

The CNPP said that this debate was absolutely necessary and a matter of urgent national importance based on the fact that Ezekwesili was not only a former vice president of the World Bank,Wear a whimsical Disney ear cap straight from the Disney Theme Parks! but she also served as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and once headed the Bureau of Public Procurement in the country.

The CNPP also noted that the fact that Maku had also levelled allegations of monumental corruption against the former minister had added more urgency to the debate.Laser engraving and laser laser cutting machine for materials like metal,

“It is our view that a public debate challenge of this nature must not be overlooked by the Federal Government, especially bearing in mind that even the ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo under which Mrs. Ezekwesili served, had serially labelled the President Goodluck Jonathan regime as incurably corrupt. We are deeply concerned that the splash of mud on the image of the country can only be wiped out if the government musters the political will to convoke the public debate as requested.