Nigeria Hand(s)over To ‘CHANGE’

As we await what will arguably go down as a significant reference point in the history of Nigeria come 29^th May 2015, it is noteworthy to point out one word that stood out all through the turbulent,borderline violent and some might say hate campaigns that were the order of the day for the better part of one year leading to the not too recently concluded elections conducted in Nigeria that will see power change hands from the 16 year rule of the ruling PDP party to the opposition APC. And that word is ‘SACROSANCT’!!! An adjective (especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with

Yep! Sacrosanct according to Google trends was the most searched word in Nigeria in January 2015. Apparently a lot of Nigerians went in search of the meaning of the word on Google inspired by President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech where he emphasized in very clear terms I might add his administration’s commitment to democracy and his willingness to handover should he lose the elections. He reiterated that May 29 handover date is sacrosanct. To quote President Jonathan;

“I emphasized to Secretary Kerry that I am deeply committed to ensuring that our forthcoming election is free, fair and credible.

It is especially critical that all political parties abide by the Abuja Accord, which commits each to non-violence before, during and after the election.

I made it absolutely clear that the May 29^th handover date is SACROSANCT”.

Come May 29^th  may this commitment will be followed through and  be remembered by history in its full weight.

No Chill in China for anyone revealing more than 2 centimetres of CLEAVAGE

No Illegal flashing in China ohhh!.

Organizers of Asia's largest digital entertainment expo -- where scantily clad models usually dress up as characters from comic books, movies and video games -- say they will levy a fine of $800 on women who reveal "more than two centimetres of cleavage."

Men are not exempt from the crackdown on exposed flesh.

They will face the same penalty if they wear low-hanging pants or expose their underwear. If models are caught dancing in cages or around a pole they will be fined a whopping $1,600, as will anyone caught striking vulgar poses.

It's the latest example of what appears to be a government campaign for stricter morality in China.

This year's Shanghai Auto Show banned "car babes" -- scantily clad models who in previous years had posed provocatively on car hoods to draw crowds.

And in December, government censors pulled a historical TV show off air for the ample cleavage it featured.

"The Empress of China" depicted the life of the only woman to rule China. Her reign was during the seventh century Tang dynasty -- when an ample female bosom was the prevailing aesthetic.

When the series returned to air, the cleavage was gone. Instead, viewers saw crudely edited scenes where women were only shown in close-up to avoid revealing their chests.

'We can't use vulgarity'

New Silk Road, one of China's biggest model agencies that said it provided showgirls to ChinaJoy and vetted other model agencies used by the show, confirmed the new regulations to CNN.

Yang Ou, a spokesperson for New Silk Road, said it set the rules.

"It's a formal exhibition. We can't use vulgarity to attract attention," he said. "We ought to offer 'positive energy' to the public."

It's wasn't clear who would be tasked with measuring the cleavage on display but Yang said more details would soon be released in an official notice.

While primarily a trade show, ChinaJoy is also known for its annual cosplay competition -- participants, either solo or in teams, emulate their favorite characters and are judged on their costumes, routine and the response they received from the audience.

Last year's event attracted a quarter of a million people over three days.

Tightening grip

Guo Weiqing, a professor of political science and public policy at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou told CNN that the crackdown on scantily clad models and actresses was linked to President Xi Jinping's tightening grip on the media, Internet and ideological issues.

Guo said that China didn't have the same set of unwritten conventions on what's acceptable in public that many Western countries have.

"There has never been a public discussion," he said. "As time passes, it all falls under the government policy, which is decided by the current leader's ideology."

In October last year, Xi addressed an delegation of actors, dancers and writers, making it clear that he believed "moral values" were more important than commercial success.

"Popularity should not necessitate vulgarity," Xi told them. "Pure sensual entertainment does not equate spiritual elation."

The ChinaJoy expo opens in Shanghai on July 30. It's not clear whether the skimpily dressed models the show is renowned for will cover up or simply disappear.

They may want to join the car babes, who protested their ban from the Shanghai Auto Show in April by pretending to be beggars in ripped clothing.

Their placards read: "We want to survive." Another lamented that all their efforts to lose weight were for nothing.

Wonder wetin them wan tell them Cossy and co for naija... your thoughts?

Credit CNN Breaking News.