Pablo Escobar, One Of The Richest And Most Dangerous Drug Lords Of All Time.

Although Pablo Escobar died 21 years ago, but his tumultuous story lives on. Born December 1, 1949 in Rionegro, Colombia. Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug Lord and drug trafficker. His cartel, at the height of his career, supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States, turning over US $21.9 billion a year in personal income. Often called "The King of Cocaine", he was the wealthiest criminal in history, with an estimated known net worth of US $30 billion by the early 1990s (equivalent to about $54 billion as of 2015), making him one of the richest men in the world at his prime. After briefly studying at Universidad Autónoma Latino americana of Medellín, he left without a degree and began to engage in criminal activity that involved selling contraband cigarettes, along with fake lottery tickets, and participated in motor vehicle theft. In the 1970s he began to work for various contraband smugglers, often kidnapping and holding people for ransom before beginning to distribute powder cocaine himself, as well as establishing the first smuggling routes into the United States, in 1975. His infiltration to the drug market of the U.S. expanded exponentially due to the rising demand for cocaine and, by the 1980s, it was estimated that over 70 to 80tons of cocaine were being shipped from Colombia to the U.S. on a monthly basis. His drug network was commonly known as the Medellín Cartel, which often competed with rival cartels domestically and abroad, resulting in high-rate massacres and the deaths of police officers, judges, locals and prominent politicians. At the height of his career the notorious Colombian drug lord supplied around 80% of all the cocaine smuggled into the States. His involvement in the drug trade brought him fame, power and riches with an estimated $30 billion fortune.

He started his criminal career early. When he was a teen he would roam the streets of Medellin, stealing cars, tombstones, sandblasting the names and selling them on to smugglers in Panama.

In 1975 he began cocaine trafficking. The government referred to his inescapable and effective policy in dealing with the law as “PlataO Plomo” (literally “Lilver or Lead” , which meant “Accept Money, or Face Bullets).

At the peak of the most notorious drug kingpin’s reign he was estimated to have been making near on $420 million a week.

In 1979 Escobar was ranked the seventh richest man in Forbes’ list of international billionaires. The top ten that year included Japan’s real estate baron, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, Fiat’s Giovanni Agnelli and the Benetton family.

He had so much cash that he spent $2,500 a month on rubber bands to hold the cash together.

Pablo Escobar lost 10% of his annual income to rats which would eat the stashed currency notes. Once Pablo Escobar entered the drug trade, cash began to flow in rapidly. He earned so much that he had to hide the piles of cash in Colombian farming fields, dilapidated warehouses and in the walls of the cartel members’ homes. Some of these cash piles would be eaten by rats or turn moldy due to water seepage resulting in a loss of 10% of his annual income (that would be 2.1 billion USD).

He smuggled cocaine into America using planes, stocking them in the plane's tyres. To handle the free-flowing wealth that came his way uninterrupted, Escobar bought a Learjet for the sole purpose of flying his money. Escobar’s personal Learjet could hold and transport $10 million worth of cash back from the U.S. to his home in Colombia. The pilots could earn up to $500,000 a day for their efforts.

In the 1980s everyone was dying for a line and demand for cocaine skyrocketed. During this time Escobar’s cartel were smuggling 15-tons of the stuff into the States, equal to the weight of two African elephants.

Although being a drug lord and leader of an infamous cartel isn’t the most revered profession, Escobar was celebrated by the Columbian people. Despite his horrific business dealings he was known to give money (which he had quite a lot of) to churches and hospitals. He built schools, hospitals, orphanages, parks and soccer stadiums and establish food programmes, which earned him the nickname ‘Robin Hood’. Pablo Escobar offered to pay off Colombia’s 20billion USD of foreign debt in order to avoid extradition to the US. When the Colombian government turned the heat on drug trade, Pablo Escobar approached the government with an unusual peace treaty. He offered to invest the cartel’s money into the national development programsand also pay off the foreign debt in return for not getting extradited to US. The Colombian government refused.

When the kingpin was forced to go on the run his daughter became sick with pneumonia. He burned $2 million of cash to keep her warm.

Escobar was responsible for the deaths of up to 4,000 people. Including members of the police force, court judges and journalists.

Pablo Escobar blew up an aircraft in an attempt to kill a Presidential candidate who supported his extradition. Pablo Escobar through his henchmen blew up the Avianca flight 203 on November 27th, 1989. The bombing of the plane was considered the deadliest single criminal attack in many decades of the Colombian violence. The bomb was planted intending to kill the then Presidential candidate, Cesar Gaviria Trujillo, a politician who supported Pablo Escobar’s extradition process between Colombia and the US. Gaviria, however, was not on the flight. Instead, all 107 people on board the aircraft were killed including 2 Americans.

He revealed that his greatest fear was jail. He was once quoted saying, “I’d rather be in a grave in Columbia than a cell in the United States.”

Pablo Escobar designed and built his own prison complete with waterbeds, entertainment systems and was protected by guards he personally chose. In 1991, Pablo Escobar agreed to surrender to the Colombian authorities but on his terms. The Colombian government accepted the terms and thus La catedral came into existence. La Catedral was a five-star prison designed and built by Pablo Escobar for his confinement. The luxury prison had waterbeds, entertainment systems and an unbroken view of Medellin mountains. From this prison, he conducted his business, ordered the deaths of his detractors, hosted booze and drug filled parties, enjoyed his barbecue and football. He selected his own bodyguards and no Colombian authorities were allowed within three-mile radius of this luxurious prison.

One of Pablo Escobar’s most efficient cocaine labs was a village on wheels. Cocaine labs employing hundreds of people were built deep inside a forest. These labs became small cities with schools, canteens and medical centers. One of the efficient labs was a huge farm on the borders of Venezuela. This lab was a village on wheels. When a flight was due to pick up or drop off a consignment, the houses in this village would be wheeled back, exposing the landing strip and wheeled forward again when the plane took off.

December 3, 1993, Escobar was shot dead by a special police force after being on the run for 7 months. His run-ins with the law came to an end in 1993 when he was gunned down at his aunt’s house. Escobar tried to escape police capture by fleeing to the rooftop with his bodyguard. Neither of them made it.

AFRISONS

How Buhari saved Nigeria from N200bn fraud

The Presidency has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari saved Nigeria of a whooping N13billion monthly fraud in 2016.

Buhari saved Nigeria from N200bn fraud

According to senior special assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance created by the present administration was able to uncover the 50,000 ghost workers and saved the nation of N13bn monthly during the year.

He said 11 persons believed to be members of a syndicate responsible for the presence of 50,000 ghost workers on the Federal Government’s payroll had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution.

“The flagship programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course.

“Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.

“When the committee was constituted in February 2016, the Federal Government’s monthly salary bill was N151bn excluding pensions.

“Now, the monthly salary warrant is N138bn, excluding pensions, which means that the government is making a monthly saving of about N13bn. That is from February 2016 to date.”

Shehu added that the pension bill which was N15.5bn monthly as of February had been reduced to N14.4bn.

He said the government was making an average monthly saving of about N1.1bn on the pension bill.

Shehu also allayed the fears of many members of the ruling All Progressives Congress concerning board appointments.

“You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector to sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the New Year. The President has given directions on what to do.”

On the agricultural programmes of the administration, Shehu said the President’s persistent call for a return to farming was yielding good results.

“The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output.

“What has encouraged the farmers the more is the increasing availability of extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better.”

AFRISONS

See The World Most Beutiful Woman

Nina Dobrev

She is said to be the most beautiful lady in the world. She is a Bulgarian Canadian model and actress. She was born in Bulgaria but raised in Canada. Nina Dobrev has showed and appeared in many feature films, including Runaway Pieces, Never Cry Werewolf, Away From Her and participated in a series of the drama. It is known that Acting is her passion, and she likes to travel which is her hobby. She started acting at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The movie by which she is known to all is Perks of being a Wallflower.

Image Credit: vanityfair.it

AFRISONS

Despite recession, Buhari to buy N400m cars for Obasanjo, Jonathan, IBB others

The President Muhammadu Buhari led APC federal government will waste over spend N400m on the purchase of vehicles for the nation’s former heads of government and their deputies in 2017

- The office of the SGF will also buy N32m vehicles for offices and units in the office

- FG has equally marked N170m for the celebration of the nation’s Independence Day and Democracy Day celebrations which holds October 1 and May 28 respectively

Buhari to buy N400m cars for Obasanjo, Jonathan, IBB others

Despite the current economic recession, the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC federal government will waste over spend N400m on the purchase of vehicles for the nation’s former heads of government and their deputies in 2017.

According to the details of the 2017 Appropriation Bill seen by PUNCH newspaper, N280.099m was budgeted for the purchase of vehicles for seven former Presidents and Heads of State.

The seven living former heads of government are Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.); Chief Ernest Shonekan; Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.); and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The four living former Vice-Presidents and ex-Chiefs of General Staff are former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.); Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

However, the brands and number of the vehicles that would be bought for each of the former leaders were not indicated.

The office of the SGF will also buy N32m vehicles for offices and units in the office.

FG has equally marked N170m for the celebration of the nation’s Independence Day and Democracy Day celebrations which holds October 1 and May 28 respectively.

Again, office of the SGF will spend N1.322bn on the procurement and installation of security system across selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The office will also spend N104.586m on what it called support and maintenance of e-council document management; it will spend N290m on electronic document and content management system and another N45m on electronic document management and archival system in the OSGF.

The budget details further revealed that the OSGF will spend N55m on upgrading and maintenance of Council Chambers Conference System; N35m will be spent on one Xerox D125 photocopy machine; N20.8m on purchase of 52 laptop computers; N54.35m for the purchase of equipment for the production of staff identity cards and installation of file tracking system; and N5m for the OSGF website.

 

Buhari to appoint board members into agencies

President Muhammadu Buhari is to complete all outstanding appointments into federal government boards of agencies by January 2017, Shehu Garba, a presidential spokesperson has said.

Buhari's spokesperson says his boss will make new appointments in January

Garba reportedly said this in a statement admitting that the delay in appointing the board members had been an issue of interest to members of Buhari’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Trust recalls that an official of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) had made the same promise on December 28, 2015.

He said the process will be fully back on track at the beginning of the New Year.

“You know that the reconstitution began methodically from sector by sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the New Year. The president has given directions on what to do,” he said.

Garba also said the president’s call for Nigerians to focus on farming was yielding results.

He said: “The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output.

“What has encouraged farmers the more is the increasing availability of extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better.

“The readiness of off takers to buy the produce is also a major boost.

“When you put all these together with the systematic move to curb importation as a boost to local production through the restriction of the available foreign exchange to critically important sectors of the economy, you have favourable environment for the diversification of the economy.

“As we speak, several of the country’s major manufacturing industries are actively backward-integrating- Nestle, Unilever, the breweries are looking at what we have as local materials, changing their formulations to maintain production levels and keep their shares of the market.

“Manufacturers, who are hooked on import of raw materials, are advised to re-strategise and take full advantage of local raw materials. The future belongs to those who employ the use of local raw materials.”

 

Buhari loves women, this is what he has planned for them next year

- President Buhari has finalized plans to establish more women in 2017

- Buhari has said that N10billion will be made available for agriculture

- The president says the money is to be made available to support women farmers

The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has said he will launch a N10 billion agriculture environmental impact fund to support women farmers to increase access to food production.

Buhari loves women, this is what he has planned for them next year

According to the president, the fund is to cover women, whose farmlands were affected by environment degradation and terrorism.

A statement made on Sunday, December 18, in Abuja by Dean, Agric Faculty, University of Abuja Prof. A.A. Adeniyi said the event by the Women Association for National Agriculture Environment Impact Fund (WAEIF), would focus on food increase to reduce impact of recession.

He explained that pollution of the environment led to importation of genetics modified organism food, which often caused cancer.

“The WAEIF launch of N10 billion agriculture environmental impact fund will serve as alternative funding option for women who could not have access to land, collateral for bank loan, especially women from Northeast that have been displaced due to terrorism and cultural factors,” he added.

Nigeria and the rest of Africa must brace up to meet the challenges of food shortage which comes to the continent soon if nothing is done fast.

President Muhammudu Buhari said this while urging African countries to focus more on agriculture to avert the looming food shortage.

Daily Trust reports that while speaking on Monday, December 12 at the annual Meeting of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA) of the Sahel &West African Club Week, holding in Abuja, Buhari said: “Your excellencies, the threat of food crisis in our sub-region is real.

"Accordingly, we must recognise the urgent need to develop mechanisms to curtail the impact of food crises on our people.

"We are currently facing some shortages on staple food because of our inability to modernized agriculture over the years.”

Biafra: Christianity led Biafrans to slavery - Nnamdi Kanu’s supporters (Photo)

On Tuesday, December 13, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja approved an application made by the Nigerian government to protect witnesses in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu the leader of the Indigenous People of Bifara (IPOB).

Nnamdi Kanu is agitating for the freedom of Biafra

The judge over the case Binta Nyako in her ruling said the witnesses will protected behind a screen that would be provided by the court.

At the ruling, many supporters of the IPOB leader were seen – some protesting, others grumbling at the judge’s ruling.

However, some other group of supporters – over 10 of them - were seen around the court premises in an unusual dressing.

These supporters dressed in Jewish robes and led by a man who simply identified himself as ‘Nwa Chineke’ meaning son of God in Igbo, a tribe in Nigeria said, they were Jews from the South-East region of Nigeria.

However, denouncing Christianity, the popular religion practised in the region, Nwa Chineke said: “This is the dressing of my forefathers before they fell into apostasy; we are not Christians, we are Yahudis.”

“It is Christianity that led us into this slavery till today, we are messianic Nahodim, go to the 613 laws of Moshe, that is tutora, that is our tradition; check all of them one after the other,” Nwa Chineke said.

“Christianity came and told us that we are no longer under the law, and for that reason, we inherited and incurred the curse of Yahweh Elohim in Dueteromony 28,” he said.

“And we have gone back to that, this is the regalia I am putting on, I am an Israelite by birth, from the tribe of Gaad...

See photo below:

One of Nnamdi Kanu's Jewish supporters

“And we also have other tribes... the people they call Ijaws are the ‘Ephrayim’, from the descendants of Ephraim," he said.

Meanwhile, the IPOB leader has vehemently rejected the ruling by the Federal High Court.

Kanu said he cannot be subjected to a secret trial especially when all allegations against him were made before the public.

Children donate give presents to soldiers fighting Boko Haram (Photos)

- Pupils of Children International School, Lekki in Lagos state have shown they have a heart of gold

- The kids donated sanitary kits worth about N2.5 million to soldiers fighting Boko Haram

- They raised the money from their lunch money

Pupils of Children International School, Lekki in Lagos state donated sanitary kits worth about N2.5 million to soldiers fighting Boko Haram by forfeiting their lunch money.

Kids donate sanitary kits to soldiers fighting Boko Haram

The contribution was coordinated by a Lagos based non-governmental organisation known as Volt Club, which conveyed the items to Maiduguri on behalf of the pupils.

Volt Club’s Head of Assessment, Bhila Khipani, said the donations were made by the pupils, following the club’s advocacy campaign calling young Nigerians to show supports for troops in the battle field.

His words: “Volt Club is a voluntary organisation within Lagos with interest in charity, especially on issues concerning children and their educational needs.

Sanitary kits handed over to Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram

“This is just a token of appreciation from school children all the way from Lekki Phase 1 Lagos. It is a kind gesture coming from school children in times of celebrations like this.

But the key message in this gesture is in urging all Nigerians to take this torch onward and do something to make a soldier smile.

Children express their gratitude to soldiers by donating sanitary kits

It may not be in this form; other Nigerians can do even more. Let everyone go out and think of what they can do to make a soldier happy by telling them they are all appreciated for the sacrifices they are making for the country.”

Receiving the gift items on behalf of the soldiers Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu, the acting general officer commanding 7 division of the Nigeria army, described the kids gesture as his most emotional moment as an officer.

A group photograph with presents after the ceremony

His words: “On behalf of soldiers of the 7 Division Nigeria army, I want to thank you for this show of solidarity, brotherhood and camaraderie for our soldiers out there fighting Boko Haram.

We have fought Boko Haram from the land areas and territories they had hitherto command as their caliphate.

What a touching and patriotic act

This is a very emotional moment for all of us that have been fighting Boko Haram and of course the most emotional moment of my stay as a GOC.

Children of ages 3, 4 and 5 years being able to remember that there are soldiers and commanding officers in the north-east fighting Boko Haram and laying down their lives, is quite commendable.”

Items presented to the troops includes 1000 sachet packs containing a unit of tissue paper, tooth paste, hand towel, shaving sticks, toothbrush, bars of soap, sanitary pads, chewing gum and recharge cards ranging from N1000, N500 and N200.

Similarly, Germany is set to provide Nigeria with three million Euros (N329 million) for the procurement of surveillance equipment, mobile medical care unit and other support services for the troops fighting Boko Haram.

Muslim woman donates rice, others to Christian widows at Christmas

A rare show of love at Christmas has happened in Kaduna state as a female Muslim donated bags of rice to her Christian neighbours at a time many think of a low-key celebration.

Daily Trust reports that Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani donated the bags of rice and other food stuff to over 50 Christian widows and their families to celebrate the forthcoming Christmas.

The Muslim woman donated rice and other materials to the Christian widows

She made the donation to the widows at the Christ Evangelical Church Ministry in the Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.

According to Tijani, this gesture was her own way to strengthen peaceful co-existence among different faith-based organisations in the country and reduce the hardship faced by most widows.

She said loved assisting widows and advised others with the mind to give to always assist the less privileged.

Tijani, a peace ambassador, noted that Christmas provides an opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate to their Christian neighbours that Islam is a religion of peace and love.

While commending Pastor Yohanna Buru, the general overseer of Christ Evangelical Church Ministry, for always rendering assistance to internally displaced persons, the destitute and prison inmates during Islamic celebrations.

He was always serving cooked foods and drinks to widows and orphans during sallah celebration also, Tijjani said.

She said that Buru’s attitude was what impressed her to start rendering assistance to Christian widows as the Yuletide approaches.

The report said Tijjani advised the federal government to create institutes of comparative studies to help proffer solutions to ethno-religious crises and unite the country.

In his response, Pastor Yohanna Buru thanked her for the donation and prayed that God should reward her.

Governor Ben Ayade Dances In An Open-Top Ranger Rover To Celebrate His Court Victory (Photos)

Thousands of Cross River youths and students gathered in their numbers to welcome governor Ben Ayade at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar... It will be recalled that this is the first instance the governor will be returning to Cross River after the 9th December judgement at the Supreme Court of Nigeria that went to his favour.