AWOLOWO LETTER BEGGING FOR PARDON IN 1966 TO AGUIYI IRONSI HEAD OF STATE OF NIGERIA.

28th March, 1966.

The Supreme Commander and 
Head of the Federal Military 
Government, Lagos.

Thro: The Director of Prisons, 
Prisons Headquarters Office, 
Private Mail Bag 12522, 
Lagos.

Sir:

PREROGATIVE OF MERCY: SECTION 101 (1) (a) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERATION ACT 1963.

1. . I am writing this petition for FREE PARDON under Section 101 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Federation Act 1963, on behalf of myself and some of my colleagues whose names are set out in the Annexe hereto.

2. Before I go further, I would like to stress that the reasons which I advance in support of this petition, in my own behalf, basically hold good for my said colleagues. For they share the same political beliefs with me, and have intense and unquenchable loyalty for the ideals espoused by the Party which I have the honour to lead.

3. There are many grounds which could be submitted for your consideration in support of this petition. But I venture to think that SEVEN of them are enough and it is to these that I confine myself.

(1) In the course of my evidence during my trial, I stated that my Party favoured and was actively working for alliance with the N.C.N.C. as a means, among other things, of solving what I described as ‘the problem of Nigeria’, and strengthening the unity of the Federation. In October 1963 (that is about a month after my conviction and while my appeal to the Supreme Court was still pending), a Peace Committee headed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, made overtures to me through my friend Alhaji W. A. Elias to the effect that if I abandoned my intention to enter into alliance with the N.C.N.C. which, according to the Committee, was an Ibo Organisation, and agreed to dissolve the Action Group and, in co-operation with Chief Akintola (now deceased), form an all-embracing Yoruba political party which I would lead and which would go into alliance with the N.P.C., I would be released from prison before the end of that year. I turned down these terms because I was of the considered opinion that their acceptance would further widen and exacerbate inter-tribal differences, and gravely undermine the unity of the Federation.

TODAY, THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, OF WHICH YOU ARE THE HEAD, LEAVES NO ONE IN ANY DOUBT THAT IT STANDS FOR NIGERIAN UNITY. BUT IT MUST BE EMPHASISED, IN THIS CONNECTION, THAT IF I HAD PRIZED MY PERSONAL FREEDOM ABOVE THE UNITY OF NIGERIA, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SET FREE IN 1963. IN THAT EVENT, THIS PETITION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, AND THE WORK OF CONSOLIDATING THE UNITY OF THE COUNTRY TO WHICH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES NOW SET YOUR HANDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE EXTREMELY MORE INTRACTABLE AND IRKSOME.

As recently as 20th December, 1965, identical peace terms (the only variant being that the alliance with the N.C.N.C. which was now a reality should be broken) were made to me here, in Calabar Prison, by a delegation representing another Peace Committee headed by the self-same Chief Justice of the Federation and purporting to have the blessing of the Prime Minister, with the unequivocal promise that if I accepted the terms my release would follow almost immediately. I rejected the terms for the reasons which I have outlined above.

(2) One of the monsters which menaced the public life of this country up to 14th January, this year is OPPORTUNISM with its attendant evils of jobbery, venality, corruption, and unabashed self-interest. From all accounts, you are inflexibly resolved to destroy this monster. That was precisely what my colleagues and I had tried to do before we were rendered hors de combat since 29th May, 1962.

On two different occasions I was offered, first the post of Deputy Prime Minister (before May 1962), and second that of Deputy Governor-General (in August 1962), if I would agree to fold up the Opposition and join in a National Government. I declined the two offers because they were designed exclusively to gratify my self-interest, with no thought of fostering any political moral principle which could benefit the people of Nigeria. The learned Judge who presided over the Treasonable Felony Trial, commented unfavourably on my non-acceptance of one of these posts and held that my action lent weight to the case of the Prosecution against me. I must say, however, that in all conscience, I felt and still feel that a truly public-spirited person should accept public office not for what he can get for himself — such as the profit and glamour of office — but for the opportunity which it offers him of serving his people to the best of his ability, by promoting their welfare and happiness. To me, the two aforementioned posts were sinecures, and were intended to immobilise my talents and stultify the role of watch-dog which the people of Nigeria looked upon me to play on their behalf, at that juncture in our political evolution.

(3) This leads me to the third ground. From newspaper reports, it would appear that you and your colleagues — like all well-meaning Nigerians — are anxious that on the termination of the present military rule, Nigeria should become a flourishing democracy. Now, democracy is a political doctrine which is very intimately dear to my heart. It was to the end that it might be accepted as a way of life in all parts of the Federation that I campaigned most vigorously and relentlessly in the Northern Provinces of Nigeria, from 1957 to 1962, to the implacable annoyance of some of my political adversaries. It was to the end that this doctrine might survive the severe onslaught of opportunist and mercenary politics that I refused to succumb to the temptation of the National Government. Many views — some of them well-considered and respectable — have been expressed about the value or disvalue of opposition as a feature of public life in a newly emergent African State. Speaking for my party, I submit that the Opposition which I led did, to all intents and purposes, justify its existence and was acclaimed by the masses of our people as essential and indispensable to rapid- national growth. This was so, because it was unexceptionably constructive. The abrogation of the Anglo-Nigeria Defence Pact was one of the feathers in its cap. Some of the policies which the Government of the day later adopted — such as the creation of a Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the introduction of drastic measures to correct our balance of payments deficit — were among those persistently and constructively urged by the Opposition inside and outside Parliament.

The point I wish to emphasise here is that it was not out of spite or hatred for any one that I chose to remain in Opposition instead of joining the much-talked-of National Government. I did so in order to serve our people to the best of my ability in the position in which their votes had placed my Party, and to ensure that the young plant of democracy grows into a sturdy flourishing tree in Nigeria.

(4) Since the declaration of emergency in the Western Region on 29th May, 1962, political tension has existed in Western Nigeria. My conviction on 11th September, 1963, together with the surrounding bizarre circumstances, has led not only to the heightening of that tension in Western Nigeria but also to its profuse and irrepressible percolation to the other parts of the Federation. The result is that it can be said, without much fear of contradiction, that today the majority of our people are passionately concerned about and fervently solicitous for the release of myself and my colleagues.

The work of reconstruction on which you and your colleagues have embarked demands that all the citizens of Nigeria in their respective callings should give of their maximum best. A state of psychological tension, however much it may be brought under control or repressed, does not and cannot conduce to maximum efficiency. In spite of themselves, people labouring under emotions which this kind of tension automatically generates are bound to make avoidable mistakes which in their turn have adverse effects on national progress.

It is, therefore, in the national interest that this tension should be relaxed, if possible, without further delay.

(5) A petition of this kind is, by its very nature, bound to be replete with self-adulation. I hope and trust that, in the circumstances, this is excusable. It is in this hope and trust that I assert that my colleagues and I have the qualifications and capacity to render invaluable services to our people and fatherland. Every day that we spend in prison, therefore, must be regarded as TWENTY-FOUR UNFORGIVING HOURS OF TRULY VALUABLE SERVICES LOST TO OUR YOUNG COUNTRY. Even my most inveterate enemies have given the following testimony about me: ‘AWOLOWO HAS STILL A GREAT DEAL TO GIVE TO THIS COUNTRY.’

No country however advanced and civilised can afford to waste any of its talents, be they ever so small. Nigeria is too young to bury some of her talents as she was compelled to do under the old regime.

It is within your power to restore my colleagues and me to a position where our fatherland can again rejoice at the contributions which we are capable of making to its progress, welfare and happiness.

(6) Nigeria is now SIXTY-SIX MONTHS old as an independent State. The final phase in the struggle for Nigeria’s independence was initiated by my Party in the historic Self-Government motion moved by Chief Anthony Enahoro and supported by me on 31st March, 1953. IT SHOULD BE REGARDED AS MORE THAN IRONICAL, AND AS PALPABLY TRAGIC, THAT TWO OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THAT INDEPENDENCE AND, INDEED, THE PACE-SETTERS AND ACCELERATORS OF ITS FINAL PHASE SHOULD BE UNFREE IN A FREE NIGERIA.

In precise terms, I have spent FORTY-SIX out of the SIXTY-SIX MONTHS of independence in one form of confinement or another. I happened to know that the leaders of the old civilian regime, in spite of themselves, did not feel quite easy in their conscience about the plight into which they had manoeuvred me in the scheme of things; and I dare to express the hope and belief that you, personally view my present confinement with concern and disapproval.

(7) It is usual — almost invariably the case — on the accession of a revolutionary regime, for political prisoners and, indeed, other prisoners of some note, to be released as a mark of disapproval of some of the doings of the old regime, or in token of the new dawn of freedom which comes in the wake of the new regime.

It would be invidious to quote unspecific instances. But in the case of my colleagues and myself, by courageously and adamantly opposing the evils which your regime now denounces in the former civilian administration, I think we are perfectly justified if we expect you to regard us as being in tune with your yearnings and aspirations 
for Nigeria, and therefore entitled to our personal freedoms under your dispensation.

4. In view of the foregoing reasons which clearly demonstrate

(i) that I have always and, under trying circumstances, steadfastly and unyieldingly

(a) stood for the UNITY OF NIGERIA, 
(b) been opposed to POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM with its attendant evils,
© fostered the growth of DEMOCRACY in Nigeria;

(ii) that my incarceration

(a) has led to the heightening of political tension among Nigerians, which tension can only be relaxed by my release, 
(b) has deprived our fatherland of invaluable services such as we have rendered before, and can still render now and in future, in greater measure; and

(iii) that the evils which my colleagues and I condemned and valiantly refused to compromise with in the old civilian government are what you now quite rightly denounce, and are taking active steps to remove in order to pave the way for national and beneficial reconstruction,

I most sincerely appeal to you to be good enough to exercise, in favour of myself and my colleagues, the prerogative of mercy vested in you by Section 10 (I) (i) (a) of the Constitution of the Federation Act 1963, by granting me as well as each of my colleagues A FREE PARDON. If you do, your action will be most warmly, heartily, and popularly applauded at home and abroad, and you will go down to history as soldier, statesmen, and humanitarian.

Yours truly,

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO.
______

ANNEXE:

A. THOSE CONVICTED FOR TREASONABLE FELONY.

1. THOSE STILL SERVING THEIR TERMS.

1. Chief Obafemi Awolowo. 
2. Chief Anthony Enahoro. 
3. Mr. Lateef K. Jakande. 
4. Mr. Dapo Omisade. 
5. Mr. S.A. Onitiri. 
6. Mr. Gabby Sasore. 
7. Mr. Sunday Ebietoma. 
8. Mr. U.I. Nwaobiala.

2. THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SERVED THEIR TERMS.

1. Mr. S.A. Otubanjo. 
2. Mr. S.J. Umoren. 
3. Mr. S. Oyesile.

B. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN TRIED.

1. Mr. S.G. Ikoku. 
2. Mr. Ayo Adebanjo. 
3. Mr. James Aluko.

6 Benefits to Wearing Your Hair Natural Instead of Relaxed

Styling Natural Hair is More Economical
It’s no secret that many Black women spend much of their hard-earned money on maintaining their relaxed hair. Monthly or even biweekly trips to the salon can be very expensive, and relaxed hair must be maintained to minimize damage. After a woman decides to go natural, she will no longer need to visit a stylist as often as she did with relaxed hair, because it will be much easier to care for her own hair.
You will hear some women say they would rather relax their hair because it is easier to maintain, but there are plenty of natural sisters with easy, wash-and-wear styles. Although there may be a learning curve for maintaining and styling natural hair, there are plenty of tutorials available. Before you know it, you will be rocking your natural hair with the best of them.

Natural Hair Can Help Black People Regain Control of The Black Hair Care Industry
Black hair care is a $9 billion industry while 30 percent to 34 percent of all hair products in the United States are purchased by Black women. Weaves, worn by women of all ethnicities but especially by Black women, account for 65 percent of hair-care revenue. The hair comes from a variety of sources: India, Asia, Russia, Brazil, Mongolia and Malaysia, and helps to build wealth for entrepreneurs from those countries.
The number of Black women who said they don’t use products to chemically relax or straighten their hair jumped to 36 percent in 2011, up from 26 percent in 2010, according to a report by Mintel, a consumer spending and market research firm. At the same time, sales of relaxer kits dropped 17 percent between 2006 and 2011, according to Mintel.
With the natural hair movement growing, budding Black entrepreneurs can seize the opportunity to corner the natural hair care segment of themarket, while older, established companies run by other ethnicities play catch-up.


Natural Hair Can Be Cared For Without Dangerous Chemicals
Perms and relaxers contain similar ingredients to those found in Liquid Drano. The chemicals are bases, like Liquid Drano, and they dissolve the protein bonds that make Black hair curly –  literally burning the scalp.  It’s not hard to imagine how unhealthy these chemicals are for women – as the toxins used to remove tough clogs from drainpipes are similar to those  seeping into the pores of their scalps.
Respiratory problems have also been associated with the use of perms and relaxers. Potassium hydroxide, also called potassium lye, is a very strong chemical and inhaling it can cause coughing, sneezing, and breathing problems. If exposed to for long periods, it is strong enough to cause lung damage.
Ingesting potassium hydroxide can be equally damaging, resulting in burns to the mouth or throat, vomiting, severe stomach pain, diarrhea and even death.
Women with natural hair bypass these dangerous and harsh chemicals and tend to care for their hair with products that contain more natural ingredients.

Natural Hair is Healthier
It has been proven that non-relaxed hair is stronger, extra durable, more nutrient-rich, sheds less and grows faster and with greater ease compared to relaxed hair. Relaxers eventually fry the hair and damage the roots, which can cause alopecia (baldness),  hair breakage, scalp irritation, stunted hair growth, and even permanent hair loss.
Research conducted in February 1994 by the Food and Drug Administration and the American Cancer Society found that Black women who had not used permanent hair relaxers showed decreased risk of all fatal cancers combined and urinary system cancers.
Led by Lauren Wise of Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center,  researchers found that the two- to three-times higher rate of fibroids among Black women may be linked to chemical exposure through scalp lesions and burns resulting from relaxers.
In addition, women who got their first menstrual period before the age of 10 were also more likely to have uterine fibroids, and early menstruation may result from hair products Black girls are using, according to a separate 2011 study published in the Annals of Epidemiology.


Natural Hair is More Versatile
Unfortunately, some people mistakenly believe that natural hair has only a limited number of styling options; nothing could be further from the truth. There’s no need for a natural woman to feel like she has to be trapped wearing one style. The great thing is, as natural Black hair grows, there are different style choices with each inch gained.
While a small Afro may be one of few choices of half-inch-long hair, by the time it reaches 3 inches or more, style choices increase, including twists and coils.
When a woman has natural hair, there is no need to chemically alter it to wear any hairstyle. She can wear braids, rock an Afro, straighten it or keep it kinky – the sky is the limit.


Combats Society’s Negative Stigma of Natural Black Hair
“Natural hair has been a movement for several years. What we’re seeing now is a confirmation that this is a lifestyle that is very important to a lot of women,” says Cyntelia Abrams, marketing coordinator for Design Essentials, an Atlanta-based hair-care company that commissioned a 2010 study on the popularity of natural hair.
Some see it as more than a movement, rather an awakening or an acceptance of the natural beauty of Black women and a rejection of the European concepts of what has been regarded as “beauty” for far too long.

9ice's Ex-Wife, Toni Payne Finally Addresses Cheating Rumours; Says She Never Cheated On Him.

Singer 9ice and publicist Toni Payne got married on July 17th 2008, and crashed by January 2010, due to several reports that she was caught cheating on the singer. Four years after their separation Toni has finally come out to address the rumours via her blog. Read below.

To those who still believe I cheated on my ex. I am sorry to disappoint you, I never cheated on my ex hubby. Its not who I am, it will never be who I am. Tell yourself 1 million times, Toni Payne cheated, it will never make it true. Nobody caught me in any lie, or in any bad situation, nobody slept with anyone he was close to. Yall need to put a full stop to that bullshit. Its old!. Sometimes, men want their freedom, and the fact is you cant force them to stay. Same goes for women. Everyone wont have a perfect relationship, not everyone will stay married forever, we can only aspire to. Even those that have been married 10 years and are busy judging others, do you know your tomorrow? naaaa you sure don’t so curb it abeg. We can only pray, work, and hope for a good union.

Anyways To address this my ex said this or that issue. Let me just say He has NEVER for once opened his mouth to accuse me of cheating. He has NEVER for once opened his mouth to accuse me of sleeping with anyone he knows. If awon alaiye baje wanna use our situation then to sell their crap, how is that my fault? The same media controlling the remote to say I think cheating is ok, are the same who controlled the remote back then to say his song was about me. Nobody ever called him to verify or ask before publishing. Ill admit that we both did not handle the situation well back then, It was the first time we would experience such. The tension was plenty and emotions were everywhere. We should have sorted it privately. which we did try to do but one rubbish headline and emotions go buckwild again. I don’t wanna sounding like I am defending him, cos he is responsible for himself, but in all fairness to him, and because I have a conscience that serves me well, not for once did he tweet, fb, email, interview anything of the sort. Our issues had absolutely nothing to do with what the media were speculating. People took a song he did and turned it upside down. My crew MIXED AND MASTERED the song. If it was about me, why would I allow him release it. God gave all of us sense naa.. Some just chose not to use theirs and chose to believe anything they read even when the facts are there to sort through.

The only thing I have blamed him for, was not coming out on time to refute the claims and allowing it to escalate to that level, he has since apologized SEVERALLY, we have discussed it privately as we should have from the jump. I have accepted and moved on. I have also apologized for losing my cool on twitter, he has since accepted and moved on. Really, what more is there. I am not sure what people want from me. Should I hate him forever? Should I tie him to a post and flog him mercilessly? Should I be a wicked person and deprive him of his son? If I remain bitter and upset, please what value will it add to my life? Wo, my life is much more simpler than all this. Those who know me well, know this. Those that dont understand me are the ones who will be forever outside looking in, speculating crap. I am truly tired of this topic but since it seems to keep popping up, i felt it is best to finally address it properly. If anyone decides to hang on to the lie after this, that is their own cup of tea. I have a talk show to record, poetry to write and a child to raise. I don talk my own. FIN!.

Wounded Syrians pour into Turkey after bombing

Wounded Syrians streamed across the Turkish border seeking first aid Wednesday after a car bombing in a border town that's become a battleground in the fight between Syrian rebel factions.

The blast in the Syrian town of Jarablus shook windows about a kilometer away in the Turkish village of Karkamis, said Selami Yilmaz, a Karkamis resident.

"We don't even have enough ambulances to keep up with how many wounded are coming across," Yilmaz told CNN. He said he has lent his car to authorities to help get the wounded to hospitals.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the car bomb exploded near a cultural center controlled by fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. That al Qaeda-linked force has taken control of much of northern Syria amid that country's bloody civil war. The Syrian Observatory said heavy clashes were still going on in Jarablus.

ISIS, which has also taken control of parts of western Iraq, has attempted to impose strict Islamic law in towns where it holds sway. Rebel troops who had been battling forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an effort to push back the Islamists two weeks ago, but that offensive appears to have faltered after hundreds of deaths on both sides, observers report.

Yilmaz said the Free Syrian Army, the leading Western-backed rebel force, has been losing ground in Jarablus. Dozens of its fighters have fled amid intense fighting, while wounded FSA troops have been pouring across the border into Turkey for treatment.

Palestinian refugees starving to death in Syrian camp

Human rights groups reported 183 deaths across Syria on Tuesday alone, all but 40 of them combatants on one side or the other. Heavy fighting between ISIS and rebel factions was under way around Aleppo, Syria's largest city, as well as the ISIS-held city of Raqqa and the border town of Saraqeb, where a Belgian man who had become the regional ISIS "emir" was among the dead, the Syrian Observatory reported.

The group also said ISIS executed two civilians from a Kurdish village last week after they left their homes to buy bread in a nearby city. Their bodies were found with their hands tied behind their backs "and marks from torture evident on their bodies," the London-based organization reported.

CNN cannot independently verify daily death tolls, but the United Nations has said more than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria since the revolt against al-Assad began in 2011.

U.S. announces $380 million in humanitarian assistance for Syria

Jose Mourinho, Quietly Making Chelsea the Premier League's Dominant Force Again

Getty

Love him or hate him—and I'm in the love him camp—Jose Mourinho has changed. He's a more humble manager the second time around at Chelsea. You'll see him chatting to other coaches, and he's avoiding picking the fights he used to.

It's almost as if he's not that sure of himself. The Special One is having to prove his credentials all over again, but this time things are not all on his terms. Roman Abramovich gave him carte blanche in his first spell at Stamford Bridge; the Chelsea owner has his requirements now.
Mourinho has quietly adapted to the task. He's gone back to what makes him comfortable—focusing on defensive strength and attacking on the counter, and with great success too. When you look at the team he's putting out, Chelsea have the best back five in the Premier League.
They have the most consistent goalkeeper in Petr Cech, whose exceptional work this season had almost gone unnoticed before he eclipsed Peter Bonetti's club record with his 209th clean sheet against Hull, as per the Express.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

John Terry remains England's best central defender, by some distance. It will be Roy Hodgson's loss that Terry won't be at the World Cup this summer. Terry also manages to get the best out of Gary Cahill, who is not the same player without his veteran partner alongside him.
Credit must go to Arsenal's excellent central pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, but I would put Terry and Cahill above them. Arsenal remain vulnerable occasionally, as they proved in their 6-3 defeat to Manchester City, while I can't see Chelsea succumbing to a similar defensive collapse. 
Chelsea's fullbacks, Branislav Ivanovic and Ashley Cole, complete their impressive back five. People who are writing Cole off are preposterous. He's still one of the best left-backs in the world, though Aleksander Kolarov at Manchester City is providing strong competition for the title of best in the Premier League.
It's a strong defence, more often than not, that wins you a title. Perhaps Mourinho needed to convince himself, and Abramovich for that matter, that to win trophies he needed to get things sorted at the back first. He's not just laid a foundation for a challenge this season; he's laid one for the next two or three seasons.

Warren Little/Getty Images

Long-term, Chelsea are the Premier League team I would fear most. What Manchester City are doing is incredible, and both Arsenal and Liverpool have made fine progress, but Mourinho's Chelsea are looking like a genuine force again. He has them playing to his tried and tested formula, and it's working.

Who will win the Premier League title?

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Mourinho is now unbeaten in 70 Premier League home games as Chelsea manager. What's even more remarkable, is the fact his team are better equipped to win away from home than they are at Stamford Bridge.
Ultimately I think he wants to play 4-3-3, and signing Nemanja Matic will allow him to do that. Matic will give him flexibility in terms of formation and better, smarter protection in front of back four. His intelligence in possession will spark Chelsea's fluidity going forward as well, especially in transition. I can also see Mourinho opt for a false nine with Eden Hazard, Oscar and even Juan Mata in that role, as he did with Andre Schurrle in the second half against Aston Villa, earlier in the season.
The next three weeks are obviously huge. Chelsea play both Manchester clubs, starting with United on Sunday, and it's hard to see them losing both games and winning the title. It's often not how many games you lose, but when you lose them.
Mourinho's influence will be to the fore. We talk about the way he shields his players from the glare, but in putting himself out there to the media he's also laying down the gauntlet to his squad. He's showing them how to lead. Sir Alex Ferguson did it and Antonio Conte does it. All the great managers do.
At the start of the season I picked City to win the title, with Chelsea second. Mourinho's team might be under-the-radar a little, but I can see them proving me wrong.
Mourinho has been going about his business more quietly than usual, but he's building a Chelsea team that will be soon be the loudest in the land again.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison; Wife Sandi Gets 12

Jesse Jackson Jr. has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for misusing nearly $750,000 in campaign funds.
His wife, Sandi Jackson, has received a 12 months sentence.
The Jacksons reportedly spent campaign money on entertainment and pop culture memorabilia, luxury items, and other frivolous expenses.

Jackson, the son of the civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, has requested to serve his time at a federal prison near Washington, D.C. His wife, Sandra, was also sentenced Wednesday to one year in prison. She has pleaded guilty to a related charge of filing false tax returns.
Jackson made an emotional plea to the judge Wednesday, wiping his eyes and blowing his nose as he asked the judge for some leniency. He apologized to his constituents and his family.
“If probation is not available to her, give me her time,” Jackson said, referring to his wife. He said he needed to be “as far away from everybody for a while that I could be.”

Ranking the Top 5 NBA Players at Every Position: Melo Moves Up at Small Forward

The best of the best at each position aren't free from the NBA's unfortunate rash of injuries.
Just look at how many prominent players from each of the five spots in the lineup have fallen victim:

• Point guard: Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Eric Bledsoe
• Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant, Tyreke Evans
• Small forward: Shawn Marion, Danilo Gallinari, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• Power forward: Ryan Anderson
• Center: Marc Gasol (though he recently returned), Nikola Vucevic

Ouch. Literally.
The ranks are thin, especially at point guard, but plenty of standouts still deserve some serious recognition for their on-court contributions. It's worth noting, though, that these are reactive rankings in which recent performance matters a lot.
Chris Paul is still the best point guard in basketball, but that doesn't matter here. He hasn't played recently, which means he hasn't contributed anything to the Los Angeles Clippers' efforts. Therefore, he isn't able to keep up with the guys who are playing well right now.
Just keep that in mind as we run through the countdowns and see how everyone has shifted since the last edition. Due to injuries and recent performances, we have no fewer than a handful of players making the jump from unranked to a featured spot.

Why the black man will never tell you he wants commitment

The long-held belief that black women are starved creatures who continue to be overlooked when it comes to love is sickening. It doesn’t matter if they are successful or average, pretty or standard, the idea that women are just sitting around waiting to be selected by a man who has his pick of the litter is the universal presentation that we see when it comes to African American relationships. In just about all aspects of life this philosophy is present. Like the time that ABC Nightline featured a report on why so many successful black women were single. Or the many movies that reinforce the notion that black women are either desperate for a relationship and are the last choice for a life long partner.
The long anticipated information that just needed a bit of confirmation from a scientific source is finally here. According to a recent report released by NPR, The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and Harvard University, when it comes to dating, black men are looking for long-term, committed relationships more than black women. Researchers theorize that financial concerns may be responsible for this trend. A  “Colorlines” article cites that:
 ”black women are more concerned with the financial stability of their partners than Latinas or white women. And since black women are outpacing black men on a host of metrics that might determine their financial prospects — black women are more likely to attend and graduate college and receive advanced degrees…they may be less likely to see much financial upside in pairing up compared to black men.”
For years I have been arguing with some of my closest male friends about dating in the black community. As a black woman, I’d passionately argue with them about the real reasons why these stereotypes remained prevalent, and most importantly how damaging they are to future relationships between African American men and women. But there was one thing missing from my argument. Scientific proof as my friends, and possibly the rest of the world have a need for everything (regardless of how much it makes sense), to be backed by research from white coats. Now I can finally go in in hopes of them opening their minds to my perspective on the subject.
Black women who are successful have certain traits and characteristics. They are strong, won’t settle for anything and know that the key to getting what you want in life is not in having expectations, but by having standards. The problem is that WE are the only ones that know it. Why? Because most of the population continues to perpetuate the stereotype that black women are waiting around for a man to “choose” them.
The report revealed the opposite of what most of the population believed. That black women are desirable, long-life partners for black men. Beyond that, black men want to be in committed relationships with black women MORE than they do. Black women are the ones who are hesitant, NOT black men. What seems to be happening here is that black men and black women have not only sought validation and comfort from entities outside of one another, but have put their trust into these outside forms as well. Some black men feel validated when they mess around with many women. Having children with multiple women solidifies the “manhood” of some black men, and establishes them as an “alpha” male. Black women no longer have trust in the black man as an economic contributor, loving husband or responsible father therefore closing herself off to those who do and do not meet her expectations. It’s not JUST because your man is a ho that there are more black single mothers than married ones. It isn’t JUST because that woman is a gold digger that she won’t date or build a future with you.
If you listen to the way African American men and women talk about each other, you would think that they were sworn enemies. “N-words ain’t s***.” “Trust no hoes.” How can we even begin to establish loving unions with these types of opinions about each other? The root of the problem is not economic fears, cheating, etc. These are merely symptoms of the true root distrust which ultimately leads to lack of communication and division among both parties. Actions don’t mirror actual feelings and words that could put an end to the demise of loving relationships are never spoken. Essentially, the black man and the black woman have been pitted against each other.
No one is the enemy when it comes to black men and women in the context of relationships. There’s just a lot of hurt people in the world and we all know that hurt people hurt people. I challenge you to relate to and communicate with each other openly and honestly about your feelings and desires. Stop viewing everyone as the enemy just because you’ve come across a few that are no good. Then maybe, just maybe, we won’t need researchers to tell us what we already know about ourselves.

Cops beat deaf man for 7 minutes because he didn’t respond to them

An Oklahoma man was beat for seven minutes by police because he did not respond to their yelling. 64-year-old Pearl Pearson, a deaf diabetic driver who lives in Oklahoma City was hospitalized as a result of the Jan. 3rd incident. 
From The Free Thought Project:

The following is the story according to Pearl Pearson and family of what happened that night: At this time, only limited details can be provided since this case is under investigation.

1. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled Pearl over late in the evening on January 3, 2014. Pearl pulled over as he should.
2. Pearl’s driver’s license indicates he is Deaf. He also has a placard in his driver’s door that says, “Driver is deaf”.
3. Pearl pulled over and rolled down his window, expecting an officer to ask for this identification. An officer struck him in the face before Pearl had the chance to do anything.  As you can see, he was struck multiple times.
4. An interpreter was never provided while Pearl was under the care of law enforcement.  Not during the booking, hospital, or time at the jail  was an interpreter provided, even through Pearl requested one.
5. Pearl was left wondering “why” the the entire time.  He has no clue why  he was beat. Pearl and his family are still not sure, but are ready for some answers.
6. Pearl’s own son is a police officer, as was his son-in-law, who is now a deputy sheriff.  He respects law enforcement and knows how to respond when pulled over.  There is no reason for someone like Pearl to be hurt like this by those who are meant to protect and serve.

The two officers involved in the seven minute altercation were identified as Eric Foster and Kelton Hayes. Both officers have been suspended with pay while the investigation into the incident continues.
No words for actions like these.

Secrets to Arsenal's Success on the Road This Season

Arsenal are the road warriors of the English Premier League. The table-toppers have claimed 25 of their 47 points this season away from home.

The recent 2-1 win over Aston Villa was Arsenal's eighth road victory of the campaign. Their success away from the confines of the Emirates Stadium is built on a few key factors.
The first is a solid base at the back. In Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, the Gunners boast the best centre-back partnership in the EPL and possibly all of European football right now.
Neither one is the catalyst for the other's success, although Mertesacker can lay claim to being the most dominant central defender in the EPL.
The real secret to the success of the Mertesacker-Koscielny partnership is the comfort level between the two. When one steps out, the other drops in to cover. They consistently act as a unit.
Winning away from home demands defensive solidity and Mertesacker and Koscielny have become a guarantee of that.

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Per Mertesacker gives Arsenal the solid base to help them win anywhere.

With things taken care of at the back, the next secret to Arsenal's road form allows the Gunners to seize control. It comes from the naturally fearless philosophy of manager Arsene Wenger.
As Sky Sports' commentators noted during Monday night's win over Villa, Wenger doesn't believe being away from home should make any difference in how his side controls the ball.
Where most managers may adopt a cautious approach to away fixtures, particularly during the early stages, Wenger has always insisted his team plays its usual, possession-hogging game.
Over the years that insistence may have gotten the Frenchman and his team in some trouble. But it is also a point of pride that Arsenal will go to any stadium and begin owning the ball.
In road games, that seizes the initiative and applies further pressure to the home team. The hosts are expected by their own fans to take the game to any visitor.
That expectation serves as a massive boost to a team like Arsenal. Wenger is used to seeing opponents come to the Emirates Stadium with a stifling mentality.
Visitors to the red half of North London will routinely pack the midfield and crowd numbers behind the ball. Their first thought is always to destroy, rather than create.
Wenger must have lost count of how many teams embodying negativity have stolen points from Arsenal's home. But he can take comfort knowing that away from that home, Arsenal will be afforded more space.
This is something he pointed out to Arsenal.com toward the end of last season:

We have been strong away from home and we had a good stability.
How do you explain that? I believe that at home at the beginning of the season, we played with some fear.
Away from home we played with more freedom and expressed more our game and maybe as well because the home teams attack more against us than they do at the Emirates. Away from home we have had a good season.

When teams respond to the rallying cry of their home fans and pour forward, they play right into what Arsenal do best. They become vulnerable to the kind of quick-counter, combination play that defines Wenger's brand of attacking football.
Fulham were the first to feel the wrath of Arsenal's counter attacking prowess this season. The Gunners scored twice on the break to seal a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage in late-August 2013.
Swansea City were also humbled by a pair intricately plotted counter moves that helped Arsenal leave the Liberty Stadium 2-1 winners at the end of September.

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Manager Arsene Wenger knows the likes of Mesut Ozil will have more room to play away from home.

Improved play on the break has been one of the defining features of Arsenal's away success. Proficiency on the counter usually demands pace, which is one of the reasons injured speedster Theo Walcott will be missed.
But in truth, there is variety to the way Arsenal break. Bullish centre-forward Olivier Giroud's ability to hold up the ball provides a natural outlet any time Arsenal steal possession in their own half.
Giroud's talent for linking well with others, always one of the best features of his game, at the tip of triangles has created a plethora of goals for these Gunners.
When Arsenal counter it is not necessarily the speed of their runners that exposes teams, but the pace of their ideas and passing. Villa found that out to their cost on Monday night.
Less than a minute after Arsenal had opened the scoring, Villains midfield man Fabian Delph was robbed by Jack Wilshere. The young England international wasted no time lofting a chipped pass to Giroud, who had made a smart run, peeling off to the left corner of the box.
Giroud's first touch was excellent, and compensated for some clumsy subsequent contact with the ball, before he smashed a thumping shot across goal and into the bottom right corner.

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Arsenal are ruthlessly efficient on the counter this season.

The whole action was as swift as it was emphatic. Wilshere won possession, passed to Giroud, who controlled the ball and fired it into the net.
The goal was the very best of Arsenal this season. There was tenacity out of possession to go and hunt the ball back. That was followed by a quick decision and quality execution to match the idea.
Those efforts were rewarded by a confident finish. That is Arsenal in a nutshell this season.
Speaking of that confident finish, it revealed another secret to why Arsenal are such a tough nut to crack on the road. This is a much more ruthless group of players when chances come their way.
Take the first goal against Villa as a prime example. Mesut Ozil played a brilliant through pass, his only meaningful contribution of the night, to release left-back Nacho Monreal.
The Spaniard played the ball across the box to Wilshere, who took a touch and nudged the ball into the corner of the net.
That was it. Three decisive touches, two smart passes and a classy finish produced a goal. That is just how Wenger's best teams have always done it.
Opponents now cede possession to Arsenal at their peril. By contrast, the Gunners are now more willing to surrender the ball once they have a lead.
While Arsenal shouldn't make a habit of the downright sluggish fare they produced in the second half at Villa Park, they are certainly more adept at holding a lead and seeing out a win.
Part of that stems from a willingness to drop numbers behind the ball, rather than over-committing for more goals. It is a balancing act and it can be dangerous, as it very nearly was against Villa.

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Arsenal pack numbers behind the ball to protect a lead, rather than chasing extra goals.

But the difference is that two seasons ago Arsenal would have lost their lead. They would have drawn or even been beaten by Villa. This team doesn't loosen a grip on three points so easily.
They didn't at St. James's Park, when they beat Newcastle United 1-0 on December 29th. The trick was repeated against Villa.
It is a trend most vividly portrayed in Wenger's substitutions, which are blatantly defensive whenever Arsenal hold even a slight advantage.
Arsenal, long the staunch proponents of football's beautiful side, now have a knack for winning ugly.
Finally, one secret to Arsenal's away day glories that often goes unnoticed is the lift provided by playing away from the Emirates.
I have sat many times in that stadium and experienced the sometimes toxic backlash of home fans toward a club that has gone so long without a trophy.
It often feels like there is an expectation of failure from sections of the stands. It is perhaps an understandable feeling after nearly a decade of near-misses, late-game collapses and failures on the big stage.
But it is also easy to believe how the simmering wrath from the stands transmits to the players. Particularly in big games, Arsenal can be ultra-cagey at home.

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The Emirates Stadium crowd has not been slow or shy about venting frustration.

They often play a restricted game, where the fear of making a mistake and raising the ire of the terraces is tangible. When on the road, the Gunners are noticeably more bold. It makes a huge difference.
Wenger noted this trend in an interview with Arsenal.com from October 2012, when he noted: “Maybe [we’ve] played with less freedom at home - with a bit more pressure."
Arsenal are the visiting team nobody wants to welcome because they have the defensive base that can help them survive anywhere. They are also now more willing to go pragmatic and value negation over creation.
But that doesn't mean Wenger's men won't still dominate possession on opposition turf. When they have the ball they will play freely and use it with a ruthless efficiency lacking in previous years.
When they don't have possession, home teams are only one mistake away from being undone by a lightning-fast counter.
While Manchester City and Chelsea appear more dominant, Arsenal's ability to plunder the most spoils on the road could be the decisive factor in this title race.