CNN International interview with Nigeria's President Obasanjo and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu on Democracy and Security Issues

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On the Prof. Chinua Achebe project, log on to www.Achebebooks.com •• CLASS magazine 'the Ebony magazine for Africans in north America'

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USAfricaonline.com, first African-owned U.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the internet, is listed among the world's hot sites by the international newspaper, USAToday. USAfrica has been cited by the New York Times as America's largest African-owned multimedia company. 8303 SW Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77074. Phone: 713-270-5500. Cell direct: 832-45-CHIDO (24436)

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Nollywood superstar Zack Orji wins the 'USAfrica International Actor of the Year 2006'

Special to USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston, CLASS magazine, USAfricaonline.com and The Black Business Journal

ZACK ORJI, one of Africa's most versatile actors, has been honored at USAfrica 14th anniversary BEST OF AFRICA banquet with USAfrica's first International Actor of the Year 2006 honors in Houston Houston, Texas, USA.

The prestigious award was presented to Zack on behalf of USAfrica by veteran civil rights advocate and U.S Congressman Al Green on Friday May 5, 2006, at the Hilton Towers at Westchase, Houston. USAfrica was assessed recently by the flagship of American journalism, The New York Times, as the largest and most influential U.S-based African-owned multimedia networks,

In the prefacing the presentation of the award citation, Chido Nwangwu (Founder & Publisher of USAfrica, USAfricaonline.com, The Black Business Journal, CLASS magazine and AchebeBooks.com) told the dignitaries that "I strongly recommended Zack for this special award of being the first USAfrica International Actor of the Year because it reflects Zack's profound artistic and dramatic versatility, Zack's boundless commitment to professionalism, and for being, in every sense, our true ambassador of excellence. He's our own Eddie Murphy and Will Smith, and more. Zack is bilingual in French and English. He is internationalist in outlook. Zack, we're all very proud of you, and we'll push your creative work across the entire networks of USAfrica and other platforms here in the U.S, and beyond."

Immediately, a standing ovation was given Zack by the professionals, creme d'le creme of the African, African-Americans and other Americans at the annual banquet from different sections of the U.S., Nigeria and parts of Africa.

In accepting the international honor, Zack said "I'm humbled by this major recognition. I'm very appreciative of being honored by USAfrica and all of you here in Houston. I thank you for this special recognition, for your support and your kind gestures."

Shortly after the other honorees were given their awards, the superstar attraction of Zack was in full, dramatic flow, as many wanted a picture with him.

Zack was born in Gabon and partly raised in Cameroon. He has been in many Nigerian-Ghanaian co-productions, including his directorial debut, The Web, made with the collaboration of Ghanaians, South Africans, a Sierra Leonean, and an Australian.

The first movie and breakthrough role was in "The Unforgivable Sin" which caused Zack to be nominated for 'Best Actor' award during the 1995 AMEN awards. Since then he has featured in about 158 different films, playing mainly lead roles.

Zack is the President of the Actors' Guild of Nigeria-Nollywood, a guild established in 16 states of the federation of Nigeria. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) Estate Management degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, graduating in 1984.

A family man and loving father and husband, he has been married for 16 years to his wife Ngozi Orji; they have three children, a son and two daughters.

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USAfrica http://www.USAfricaonline.com

USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA 2006 HONOREES & AWARDS:

Segun Olaleye -- Creative Stylist of the Year

Mrs. Ada Okoro -- Teacher of the Year

Dr. Carole Jordan-Harris Heritage Builder of the Year

Mr. Emmanuel Irono -- USAfrica Businessman of The Year

Chief Mrs. Temitope Ajayi -- Mother of the Year

Mrs. Victoria Nwabeke -- Healthcare Businesswoman of the Year

Mrs. Josephine Chidi -- Leadership Excellence

Prof. Chukwugozie Maduka -- USAfrica Intellectual Excellence

Dr. Ignatius Bassey -- Faith Builder of the year

Mrs. Judith Momoh -- USAfrica AIDS Health Educator

Zack Orji -- USAfrica International Actor of the Year

In comparison, while Liberia's Madam President Sirleaf represents the manifestation of the triumph of popular constitutional methods and emerging institutional democratic values in Africa, retired General Obasanjo's imperious, know-it-all, emerging project for a sit-tight  presidency in Nigeria remind us all of the 1970s old Africa where constitution-tweaking soldiers (his colleagues) and power drunks  funnily believed their country's sun rose and shone at their hideous and idiosyncratic say-so. We won't go back there; no; not now that we  have the great Nelson Mandela as our icon, historical benchmark and reference point. Obasanjo makes it difficult for Obasanjo to be a statesman; no doubt, he's a regional leader.

As a specialist on US. and Africa public policy and cultural issues, here are things I'll suggest President Bush tell President Obasanjo, in a short, sweet but realistic summary: Full commentary here

DIPLOMACY Walter Carrington: African-American diplomat who put principles above self for Nigeria (USAfrica's founder Chido Nwangwu with Ambassador Carrington at the U.S. embassy, Nigeria)   Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and Africa's stability. By Chido Nwangwu How Obasanjo's self-succession charade at his Ota Farm has turned Nigeria to an 'Animal Farm.' By USAfricaonline.com contributor Prof. Mobolaji Aluko LITERATURE: Why CHINUA ACHEBE, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa's writer of the century. DEMOCRACY'S WARRIOR Out of Africa. …The cock that crows in the morning belongs to one household but his voice is the property of the neighborhood. -- Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah. An editor carries on his crusade against public corruption and press censorship in his native Nigeria and other African countries. By John Suval. POLITICS and POLICY African Union: Old wine in new skin? Why Nigeria and Africa's leaders are leading us to nowhere. By Professor Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, contributing editor of USAfricaonline.com, author of the highly-acclaimed African Literature in Defence of History: An Essay on Chinua Achebe and a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics. NEWS INVESTIGATION: The Marc Rich Oil Deals in Nigeria OIL in NIGERIA: Liquid Gold or Petro-Dollars Curse? Obasanjo's Biafra and anti-Igbo battles running past 33 years. By Professor Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, USAfricaonline.com contributing editor of USAfricaonline.com, author of the highly-acclaimed African Literature in Defence of History: An Essay on Chinua Achebe Obasanjo's obsession with Biafra versus facts of history. By Prof. Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Lindhs' Mandela comparison is foolish and scandalous.                         Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slipperyslide. Obasanjo's late wake to the Sharia crises, Court's decision and Nigeria's democracy. By Ken Okorie Obasanjo's own challenge is to imbibe "democratic spirit and practice," By Prof. Ibiyinka Solarin Is Obasanjo really up to Nigeria's challenge and crises? By USAfrica The Newspaper editorial board member, attorney Ken Okorie. This commentary appears courtesy of our related web site, NigeriaCentral.com Obasanjo's late wake to the Sharia crises, Court's decision and Nigeria's democracy. By Ken Okorie Sharia-related killings and carnage in Kaduna reenact deadly prologue to Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967. By Chido Nwangwu. Jonas Savimbi, UNITA are "terrorists" in Africans' eyes despite Washington's "freedom fighter" toga for him. By SHANA WILLS Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa   Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's burden mounts with murder charges, trials ARINZE: Will he be the FIRST BLACK AFRICAN POPE? By Chido Nwangwu HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY How far, how deep will Nigeria's human rights commission go? Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu

APPRECIATION A young father writes his One year old son: "If only my heart had a voice...." TRIBUTE A KING FOR ALL TIMES: Why Martin Luther King's legacy and vision are relevant into 21st century. Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa's writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu Since 1958, Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" set a standard of artistic excellence, and more. By Douglas Killam DEMOCRACY DEBATE CNN International debate on Nigeria's democracy livecast on CNN. It involved Nigeria's Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, Prof. Salih Booker and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. Transcripts are available on the CNN International site. USAfrica The Newspaper voted the "Best Community Newspaper" in the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is in the Best of Houston 2001 special as chosen by the editors and readers of the Houston Press, reflecting their poll and annual rankings. Tragedy of Ige's murder is its déjà vu for the Yoruba southwest and rest of Nigeria. By Ken Okorie What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? By Chido Nwangwu Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No NEWS INSIGHT CNN, Obasanjo and Nigeria's struggles with democracy. Why Obasanjo's government should respect CNN and Freedom of the press in Nigeria. Jonas Savimbi, UNITA are "terrorists" in Africans' eyes despite Washington's "freedom fighter" toga for him. By SHANA WILLS Lifestyle Sex, Women and (Hu)Woman Rights. By Chika Unigwe Africa suffers the scourge of the virus. This life and pain of Kgomotso Mahlangu, a five-month-old AIDS patient (above) in a hospital in the Kalafong township near Pretoria, South Africa, on October 26, 1999, brings a certain, frightening reality to the sweeping and devastating destruction of human beings who form the core of any definition of a country's future, its national security, actual and potential economic development and internal markets. 22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? By Chido Nwangwu Africans reported dead in terrorist attack at WTC September 11 terror and the ghost of things to come.... Will religious conflicts be the time-bomb for Nigeria's latest transition to civilian rule? Bola Ige's murder another danger signal for Nigeria's nascent democracy. In a special report a few hours after the history-making nomination, USAfricaonline.com Founder and Publisher Chido Nwangwu places Powell within the trajectory of history and into his unfolding clout and relevance in an essay titled 'Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency.' AFRICA AND THE U.S. ELECTIONS Beyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics. CONTINENTAL AGENDA Bush's position on Africa is "ill-advised." The position stated by Republican presidential aspirant and Governor of Texas, George Bush where he said that "Africa will not be an area of priority" in his presidency has been questioned by USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. He added that Bush's "pre-election position was neither validated by the economic exchanges nor geo-strategic interests of our two continents." These views were stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of 'Inside Politics 2000.' Nwangwu, adviser to the Mayor of Houston (the 4th largest city in the U.S., and immigrant home to thousands of Africans) argued further that "the issues of the heritage interests of 35 million African-Americans in Africa, the volume and value of oil business between between the U.S and Nigeria and the horrendous AIDS crisis in Africa do not lend any basis for Governor Bush's ill-advised position which removes Africa from fair consideration" were he to be elected president. By Al Johnson Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria's Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? 110 minutes with Hakeem Olajuwon Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. Cheryl Mills' first class defense of Clinton and her detractors' game  It's wrong to stereotype Nigerians as Drug Dealers Private initiative, free market forces, and more democratization are Keys to prosperity in Africa Apple announces Titanium, "killer apps" and other ground-breaking products for 2001. iTunes makes a record 500,000 downloads. Steve Jobs extends digital magic USAfrica The Newspaper voted the "Best Community Newspaper" in the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is in the Best of Houston 2001 special as chosen by the editors and readers of the Houston Press, reflecting their poll and annual rankings.