Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / NewStats: 3,148,336 members, 7,800,616 topics. Date: Wednesday, 17 April 2024 at 09:53 PM |
Nairaland Forum / Nanos's Profile / Nanos's Posts
Politics / Re: How Awolowo Lured Omoboriowo To Fight Ajasin – Mafo by nanos: 11:19pm On Apr 16, 2012 |
After dey go talk say na outsiders they lure them to kill one another. |
Politics / How Awolowo Lured Omoboriowo To Fight Ajasin – Mafo by nanos: 11:19pm On Apr 16, 2012 |
How Awolowo lured Omoboriowo to fight Ajasin – Mafo Politics Monday, April 16, 2012 By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor and Gbenga Oke …says Bola Ige successfully blackmailed Awolowo for 2nd term ticket PRINCE Olu Mafo is a chip of the old block. As Secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN Parliamentary PRINCE Olu Mafo advertisement Caucus in the old Ondo State of House of Assembly between 1979 and 1982, secretary of the State UPN Caucus and subsequently as State Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, he was privy to the intrigues that threw up the crisis that bestirred the State in 1983. A lawyer, Mafo was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 and following that, Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly. Presently a member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC projects, he in his words was one of the closest associates of the deceased erstwhile deputy governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo. Following Chief Omoboriowo’s death, Vanguard sought Mafo's opinion on the personae of the controversial deputy governor. Excerpts: AS a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly in 1983; can you recollect the events of June, July and August 1983? I was the parliamentary secretary of the House of Assembly, arranging all the affairs and proceedings of the House. You will recall that the same year, we were heading for the presidential election and Chief Awolowo wanted to be the flag-bearer of the UPN and to succeed, he must get the support of the governors, the LOOBO state governors as we called them. So, there was some horse trading. He promised Omoboriowo, he promised the deputy governor in Oyo State, Bola Ige, Ambrose Alli and Jakande. He promised them that all of them would return with him. What exactly did he promise the deputy governors? He promised them they will be returned as governors to replace the incumbent governors. He promised all the deputy governors and this was unknown to anybody until this issue came and I asked Omoboriowo, 'people are accusing you of being too over ambitious what is the background?' then he told me the story and I believed him. It was that promise that almost ruined UPN because Bola Ige told the old man, 'if you are not supporting us to come back as governors and you are supporting my deputy, I am not going to pay my own ten million naira' because that was the amount each governor was to pay to assist the presidential campaign. So, at a very late point, the old man for once somersaulted and he decided to allow the governors run for second term and that was the beginning of the UPN crises in Oyo, in Ondo and practically everywhere in the South-West. It seems as if only you and Omoboriowo were privy to it. How can we substantiate this? You know there is so much about Chief Awolowo that some of us know that the public may never know. The 1983 election for example, when he called some of us to Park Lane for a cocktail and there I told the old man that the 1983 election was over. Based on what? Based on what I knew from my friend, Uba Ahmed (General Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN). The point is that because of the crisis in the UPN, the governor was fighting us for removing the speaker in Ondo State and he enlisted the support of Chief Awolowo and of course Chief Awolowo called us to Ikenne and I told him 'baba I am sorry, the House will not accept the speaker back.' We did our homework, made our enquiries, investigated the man and found him liable of so many stupid offences which compromised the House. And that is a problem when you have a Speaker that is wining and dining with the Governor at your expense. We wanted ours to be a vibrant and focused assembly. If you look at the development which we achieved with our determination to put the commissioners on their toes and stop them from plundering resources of the state, it was still the best. Ajasin's government gave the best to Ondo State. From factories, to roads and water and whatever is existing today, Ajasin created it and we made it possible because we didn't allow the commissioners to steal. The four we discovered, we told him to remove them and they started begging. This was our internal UPN secret. Instead of allowing the begging to go through the system, they just announced their redeployment from their ministries; and of course, the House took him up and we just called him all manner of names. Professor Aluko was on our side because he (Aluko) investigated these commissioners and found that they had stolen money. So how can you redeploy them? That is what I told him. You have not removed them instead you decided to redeploy them to other ministries where they will perfect their stealing and you will never discover it. The picture you are painting about Chief Omoboriowo is different because a lot of people saw him as over ambitious and a bad person. How do you react to that? No! I would say I was the first among equals in the history of those four years in Ondo State. I know a lot that the governor did not know, I know a lot that Omoboriowo did not know. The secret of the state were with me and the speaker, Richard Jelowo. What I am trying to say is that, Omoboriowo and his Oyo State counterpart, Chief Afolabi were assured that they would be governors in their respective states by Chief Awolowo. If you say it now, Babatope (Chief Ebenezer Babatope, then National Organising Secretary of UPN) will say Mafo has come again, he has invented something. God is my witness that is the truth. Was it all the deputy governors that were promised? Yes, it was all the deputy governors. Including Akorere in Bendel State? Yes! What was the basis of that assurance by Chief Awolowo? Generally, you know Chief Awolowo, he was not satisfied with the performance of the incumbent governors then and he believed the deputy governors would do better. At what point did he give them that assurance? He made the promise to them (deputy governors) before he announced to them (governors) his intention to contest the presidency and of course solicited their support, I mean the governors now. Soliciting support The second leg was that before then, he did not know that the deputy governors will openly show their interest to his embarrassment, but they did. When a meeting was called on the funding of his presidential election, it was Bola Ige who spoke on behalf of the governors. Bola Ige said 'no, we are not paying, you want the deputy governors, let them assist you,' he was very blunt. I think the only man who did not toe the line, I think was Ambrose Alli and my governor, Chief Ajasin and of course, you can expect Jakande to be loyal at any time, he didn't say anything. But Bola Ige claimed he was speaking for all the governors and they all nodded according to Omoboriowo. Was Omoboriowo at that meeting? Yes, he was present at the meeting. Were all the deputy governors at that meeting? Remember, they were talking about how the states will use their offices to fund the presidential campaign and all the deputy governors were there. So that was the only issue they discussed. Now, when they (governors) realized that their deputies were showing interest in their position, they called another meeting and asked 'baba (Chief Awolowo) what is this, they (deputy governors) said that you are the one encouraging them to come out'. He first of all blasted them and accused them of not performing and that UPN would lose most of the states if they were not careful. The governors said 'ok no problem, if that is the way you see it, we will try on our own to come back and we are not going to support your presidential ambition.' Bola Ige said that to him. Ambition of their deputies You know it is like the do or die situation of today that a governor cannot have a second term. It was at that meeting that the governors got to know about the ambition of their deputies. Of course the deputy governors went back to him (Awololwo) either collectively or somehow, and he told them 'I am sorry, my hands are tied, they (governors) are blackmailing me that they will not support me financially and what do I do.' So, he told them 'you are still younger men, let this one pass, let’s work together.' But most of them (deputy governors) had gone a long way preparing to be governors of their states, particularly Omoboriowo. But as Omoboriowo was Ajasin's deputy could he not also be blamed for the alleged failure of Ajasin's government? No. By then, Ekiti State was still part of Ondo State and three quarters of the permanent secretaries were from Ekiti. Then there was a gang up by the non Ekiti as we called ourselves. There was a gang up by the civil servants using the politicians to say how can we have a governor and the Ekitis are still more than us in serious positions. It was that other factor that led to Omoboriowo being called home by the Ekitis who told him that they were supporting him, that 'whatever Awolowo says, we are supporting you.' Could it not be said that Omoboriowo's defection from the UPN to the NPN was an act of desperation? No. He wanted to contest and he believed that the old man let them down and that he had gone too far and believing that under any platform that he could win. I am aware that Chief Awolowo tried so hard to persuade him because he loved that man (Omoboriowo) too much and I will say even more than Jakande. So dear, so close to him. Omoboriowo was led to believe that he will be governor but when the crises came frontally, I led the house to pass a resolution on the floor that we were all moving out to NPN and we did. Why? It was because of the crises. They were fighting us for not returning the speaker and Omoboriowo was very sympathetic to us and they were now fighting the man they believed would be governor in the next election. So we said let us get out of this party and to give Chief Awolowo and Chief Ajasin a real knock. We decided by a resolution on the floor which I moved. So did you really carry out the threat? Yes we did and I can tell you that for more than six months, (name withheld) who was in the NPN was paying our salary and allowances. Do you believe Omoboriowo won that election? No. It was rigged. Did you support him in rigging the election? No, I did not. But you were already in NPN then? Yes. I was, very close to him. So how did the NPN rig the election? Well, like any rigging system, they used the people, process and documents. You manipulate the documents; you get an election of your choice especially when you have the federal might behind you. After his death Omoboriowo is being hailed as a good man. But do you think that the crises and the death were worth it? No, the killing was not our making. The killing was organized by the UPN, they believed that if they killed as many of us as possible, that we would pull back but that hardened the resolve of members of the House of Assembly. It was so dangerous and for example I became the secretary of the NPN in the state and when I worked in my office, I had some police about four or five of them walking around me in my office, and we never knew where I would sleep because between 7 and 9 in the night, I could head for Ijero to sleep with Omoboriowo or straight to Benin where Ogbemudia would facilitate my sleeping and then get back to Ondo State. It was very dangerous and the people that started the killing came from Ijebu Ode. Fantastic assistance Chief Onabanjo organized that and he brought them with their ammunition and everything with government vehicle to Ondo State. What they did not know was that we were also monitoring them. They did not know our own position. They just believed that they would move in and kill all of us and that was their mistake. Adewusi (Inspector General of Police) was also there for us and he gave us fantastic assistance. After that election and the crisis, Chief Omoboriowo it seemed had a fundamental change in his disposition to life. Some say he became a Christian. What happened to him? Omoboriowo had always been a good Christian but I believe that after the election and the court cases which he lost, I was in the House of Representatives; he came to me and told me he felt bad about politics generally and the deception in the leadership of political parties. Did he name Awolowo? Well, he had his doubt about Awolowo's sincerity when he called the deputy governors and urged them to prepare to take over. I said, what do you want to do now? He replied and said "I am a born again now and I want to spend the rest of my life asking for forgiveness and getting closer to my creator God” and that was what he did through-out. So, how will you describe Chief Omoboriowo? The picture of Omoboriowo as a power drunk young man, as a man who wanted to unseat his boss is not true. There were two factors. The promise to them by the leader of the party and the Ekiti factor. The Ekitis were feeling that the non Ekitis were getting at them and in fact, that was what propelled the creation of Ekiti State. All their leaders were behind Omoboriowo. I mean every Ekiti man, every Ekiti leader of standing...So, it was not just his making, he didn't wake up and say 'I want to be governor.' I know as a fact Omoboriowo is dead now and most of the people who are privy to this thing are dead. Babatope who was the organizing secretary cannot speak on the issues I am talking about now because he was not privy.. He would have heard about it (though) but he and Jakande are the two living fanatical supporters of Chief Awolowo alive today. Jakande was not (actually) a fanatical person, he was humble, sincere, loyal person but people like Babatope, oh no! Everything that Baba did must be right. Do you believe so? As parliamentary secretary in the House and of the UPN, I was supposed to be attending all the meetings at Ikenne and wherever they were holding it, but I attended only once. The setting of the meeting and the way the thing was being conducted was so undemocratic and I told one of my friends that I will not come here again. Are you saying that Awolowo was undemocratic? No. Chief Awolowo was democratic but the trouble is this and that is the bane of our political system. If Chief Awolowo had sponsored a goat, he would have been elected on his reputation and performance as premier of Western Region. They just believe papa, papa, but nobody...I will give you an instance, we had a meeting at Festac gallery when all of us were elected in 1979. We talked about our salary and allowances, then Chief Awolowo said he was hearing voices, that we were giving to ourselves too big salaries and wages and he preached at that meeting that 'if you people don't do what I am going to tell you now and that I have the consent and the backing of the governors, I will urge the crowd who come to the Assembly to stone you people and drive all of you out.' We didn't say anything but when it got to the point of reacting myself, another friend who is late now, Omodunbi, Colonel Ariyo and Bode Olowoporoku, as Awolowo was talking, for the first time in his life we were heckling the man, we were shouting no, no, no, no and the man looked to Ambrose Alli on the left and Jakande on the right and he said, 'what is happening, Aluko what am I hearing? I am in the wrong place, I am in the wrong party with the wrong people!' It was unbelievable that people can heckle him while talking, that people can shout, no we will not agree, we will do what we want to do! Jakande said baba, let's adjourn this meeting, so the meeting was adjourned and overnight they tried to talk to us and we came back and maintained our stand that a House of Assembly under the constitution then must fix salary for public officers and we will not take dictations from anybody. So, I didn't like the way they were doing things personally and that is why I kept away from their meetings. http://odili.net/news/source/2012/apr/16/340.html |
Crime / Re: Son Kidnaps Father Over 10M Cheque In Osun by nanos: 11:11pm On Apr 16, 2012 |
boneruns: ". . . . . . . people no dey carry last" At all, at all. These guys are first all the way in evil deeds. Oma seo!! |
Politics / Developing Countries, Not Ngozi, Lost Out. Nigeria's loss is Igbo gain. by nanos: 10:49pm On Apr 16, 2012 |
1. Developing countries, not Ngozi lost out. American has once again shown that we (Nigeria/Africa), China and Brazil among others, are still neophytes that should know their place in the global scheme of things. These countries should go and form their own world bank that they will control, like the USA does WB and Europe does IMF. 2. Ndigbo gained too because if Ngozi had won, the Republicans and Americans alike would have been given the last excuse to throw Obama out for lost/wounded national ego. They, somehow, will be justified as it will be the first time that the USA - biggest donor to the WB - would have not been the president of the Bank. If Ngozi had won, it will go down in record that an Igbo woman cost Obama- the first and likely only black man that would rule the USA- his job. Then Igbos in the USA would be endangered species from the American left wing. Based on obvious reasons, personally, I'd rather Obama is reelected than Ngozi clinching the world bank position. In future, Ngozi will definitely get a better position, likely the UN Sec Gen. So she has a second chance. Obama has no second chance after this. |
Politics / Re: Despite Its Relatively Small Land Mass, Imo Is #3 State In Cassava Production by nanos: 7:18pm On Apr 15, 2012 |
manchy7531: this goes to show that when the time come the igbos will feed themselves with or without the rest of nigeriaThis is true and same for other zones. Any group can help themselves. |
Politics / Re: Nigeria Tested By Rapid Rise In Population - NYT by nanos: 7:16pm On Apr 15, 2012 |
Re: Nigeria Tested By Rapid Rise In Population - NYT by Gaggi: 6 hours & 7 minutes The muslims in the North and their muslim brothers in Yorubaland are the ones balloning the population. |
Politics / Re: Nigeria Tested By Rapid Rise In Population - NYT by nanos: 6:09pm On Apr 15, 2012 |
Nigerian is not evenly congested. Only Lagos and a few other cities are. One solution will be to spread development around the different regions so that people will stop milling toward the already over-bloated city of Lagos. That way every state/city will be similarly or near-similarly populated PhysicsQED is right that the writer is looking at the land issue from an American eye The writer also failed to inform us that small NY is over-congested whereas Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and the rocky states towards Canada are hardly occupied. And yes, if the country is divided, we can now know who has been brazenly bloating up the population. These Muslims who give birth to 100 children should ask themselves why Saudi Arabia and other Islamic states of the middle East are not overpopulated. Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia are about the only Muslim states with high population and guess what, they are not Arabic (implication: they are becoming more Islamic than the inventors of that religion). |
Politics / Re: Osun - We’ll Not Allow Government To Challenge Our Faith –christian Leaders by nanos: 5:40am On Apr 15, 2012 |
Aigbofa: Sunnewsonline. Okay this is from Tribune, the Yoruba mouthpiece. Useless people, now they have religious crises at hand http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/news/6995-religious-extremism-pdp-christian-leaders-warn-aregbesola-i-have-told-presidency-of-plans-to-implicate-me-aregbesola |
Politics / Re: Guinness Begins Operation In Aba, Launches Dubic Beer by nanos: 4:48am On Apr 15, 2012 |
BlackPikiN: Omo na for east all this factories just dey. e be like every body dey shayo like tomorrow no dey. Save for Golden Guinea, the main offices are in Lagos though. But Onitsha has been singing the song of Sab Miller Breweries for some time now. I hope they get on stream soon. |
Politics / Guinness Begins Operation In Aba, Launches Dubic Beer by nanos: 8:05pm On Apr 14, 2012 |
Guinness begins operation in Aba, launches Dubic beer Business Friday, April 13, 2012 By Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Guinness Nigeria Plc, has resumed full operation in Aba, Abia state with the launch of its latest product, Dubic Lager beer. advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the launch of Dubic Lager beer at the Government House, Umuahia, before moving to Aba, the chairman of the company, Mr. Babatunde Savage explained that Abia State was chosen for the launch because Dubic beer began from there before Guinness bought over the company. According to him, the people of Aba and the state in general were in love with the beer hence the decision to bring back to them in a better quality. Savage said that Guinness decided to kit Enyimba because it is synonymous with Aba just like Dubic beer which he said has come back better to give the Aba people more satisfaction. He said that the beer has been a household name in the state and expressed the hope that the people will patronize and enjoy more of it. He said that Enyimba has been doing well in continental outings and saying that Guinness was proud to be associated with the club. "Dubic Lager beer is a product produced with raw materials from this land. It is a Nigerian beer brewed to international standard. The package is unique. The liquid is great, it is a good product. Dubic beer has come back to stay", Savage noted. "Dubic Extra Lager is a brand that connects with the heritage of our numerous consumers. We found this legacy of heritage in Enyimba Football Club. Enyimba was the first and still remains the only Nigerian football club that has won the CAF champions league twice", Mr. Sola Oke, Head of innovation said. Also, the company has promised to provide employment opportunities to the host community including construction of roads and provision of pipe borne water. In his speech, Governor Theodore Orji who was represented by secretary to the government, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa commended Guinness for returning back to Abia and for launching Dubic lager beer. The governor assured the company that Abia was very secured and conducive for doing business and urged Guinness to spread the news to the world. Orji promised that his government would assist the company in any way to ensure that they enjoy doing business in the state and thanked them for the decision to sponsor Enyimba. |
Politics / Police Arrest Serial Rapist In Ekiti by nanos: 7:59pm On Apr 14, 2012 |
http://odili.net/news/source/2012/apr/13/820.html Police arrest serial rapist in Ekiti by Femi Makinde The men of the Ekiti State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old Tope Jinadu, who is said to be a serial rapist and a robber. advertisement Advertisement This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh. According to the statement, Jinadu has been terrorising Ado-Ekiti and its environs for sometime. The police said the suspect was connected with some robberies and raping of some ladies. The suspect, who is a native of Ado -Ekiti was arrested at his hideout on April 1, 2012, by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad during a raid at Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti. The PPRO said the suspect had been declared wanted before he was eventually arrested. Some of the recovered items from Jinadu, according to the police include, 17 Blackberry phones, eight HP laptops, nine DVD players, three gold necklaces and an undisclosed amount of money. Jimoh said other members of Jinadu's gang who were at large had been declared wanted. He said they would be caught and charge them to court when investigation was concluded. |
Politics / 2 Igbos, 1 Yoruba, 2 Southern Minorities, 0 Northerners Dazzle The World In USA by nanos: 1:54am On Apr 13, 2012 |
Nigerian students dazzle the world in USA Education Thursday, April 12, 2012 By Idorenyin Inyang For five secondary school students from schools in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, it was an unforgettable experience to behold the hallowed precincts of the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, USA, where they joined 3,000 other students from 23 countries for a week-long conference in March, 2012. Africa was represented by two countries, namely: Nigeria and The Gambia. advertisement Advertisement Every year, for the past 38 years, the UN hosts the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) conference which brings together international students from all corners of the globe to deliberate on today's burning issues. Essentially, the sessions are simulations of a real United Nations. The forum offers invaluable insights into the full range of UN activities and responsibilities. The conference takes a problem-solving approach where the students are truly placed in the shoes of diplomats - a uniquely powerful way to educate young people about global issues. The young delegates, in seeking solutions to these problems learn to break away from narrow self-interests and develop true international co-operation. The research and preparation required, the adoption of views and attitudes other than their own, the involvement and interaction with so many other young people from around the world, all combine to give the young people a deep insight into the worlds' problems, to make them aware of the causes of conflict between nations and to lead them to a better understanding of the interests and motivations of others. The Nigerian delegation to the 2012 NHSMUN qualified to participate after an excruciating selection process organised by a Port Harcourt- based NGO, FutureTrust Initiative for Capacity Building (FTI) in select secondary schools. Dr. Maureen Egbuche, Country Director of FTI has been involved in the selection, coaching and ultimately the participation of Nigerian secondary school delegates to the conference since 2002. The five student ambassadors (three parent-sponsored and two FTI-sponsored) emerged in the persons of Chukwuebuka Araka, Tolulope Olukanmi, Rahmat Udousoro, Olisaemeka Okolo and Prince Alugbara from Bloombreed International School, Graceland Secondary School and Oginigba Community Comprehensive Secondary School in Port Harcourt and Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State. These students flew the Nigerian flag. http://odili.net/news/source/2012/apr/12/310.html |
Politics / Re: ACN, Not APGA Is The Party To Beat In Anambra – Ojukwu by nanos: 5:58am On Apr 09, 2012 |
ekt_bear: lmao Ngige and Tinubu may be in the same party but they are miles apart in williness. Ngige is just using ACN to ride to his destination. When he gets there he will drop them like hot potato. Did he not tell us recently that he is first an Igbo man before an ACN member? |
Politics / Re: 456 Nigerians May Remain In Brazilian Jail — Dabiri-erewa by nanos: 8:58pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
A preponderance of those are from the SW. Of the Nigerian ethnicities, SW Nigerian people are abundant in Brazil due to certain historical affinity that lure them there. A SW person I know was deported recently after serving time for drug in Brazil, and he confirmed the highlighted to me. |
Politics / 456 Nigerians May Remain In Brazilian Jail — Dabiri-erewa by nanos: 8:56pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
456 Nigerians may remain in Brazilian jail — Dabiri-Erewa April 8, 2012 by Leke Baiyewu 38 Comments Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa displaying a picture of some Nigerians in Brazilian prisons, during a press briefing in Abuja. Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa displaying a picture of some Nigerians in Brazilian prisons, during a press briefing in Abuja. | credits: NAN The Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said 456 Nigerians may continue to languish in Brazilian jails, if the government does not have a bilateral agreement with the country. In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, Dabiri-Erewa said about 100 Nigerians were also in detention in Ukraine for various allegations, adding that the country had called on Nigeria for their repatriation but this has not taken place. The ex-broadcaster added that Brazil had invited Nigeria to sign a repatriation treaty with it since 2009 but that Nigeria was yet to respond due to its lackadaisical attitude towards protecting the rights of its citizens. Dabiri-Erewa, who was in Brazil recently on a fact-finding mission, stated that a 72-year-old grandmother, Fausat Aosede, 13 women and 443 other Nigerians languished in Brazilian jail for drug-related offences. “The Nigerians may stay longer in jail because Nigeria does not have a repatriation agreement with Brazil. The country sent a document to facilitate the agreement in 2009 but it is still awaiting a response from Nigeria. Should Nigeria have an agreement with Brazil, their release will be sped up.” The lawmaker however said Aosede, who was in Brazil for medical treatment and was later held for drug trafficking, would be repatriated as the Brazilian law disallowed detention of persons over 70. On the fate of others, Dabiri-Erewa said, “We need to have a roundtable discussion with Brazil and sign an agreement before we can repatriate our people who are either serving jail terms in detention or on trial for various offences. It all depends on how seriously Nigeria takes the issue. |
Politics / Re: 'Ijaw Won’t Take Insult From ACN' — Konbowei Benson Friday, Bayelsa Speaker by nanos: 5:51pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
shymmex: Ijaws are noise makers. Yorubas are foolish people 1 Like |
Politics / 'Ijaw Won’t Take Insult From ACN' — Konbowei Benson Friday, Bayelsa Speaker by nanos: 5:37pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
Ijaw won’t take insult from ACN — Bayelsa speaker | Print | E-mail Written by Oluwole Ige, Yenagoa Sunday, 08 April 2012 Share Bayelsa State speaker, Honourable Konbowei Benson Friday, has talked tough on the call for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), saying the call was an insult to the Ijaw nation. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, the speaker, who said the people of Bayelsa State had been following the controversy ignited by the ACN with interest, noted that Ijaw people deserved to benefit from the corporate social responsibility of companies benefitting from their locality. He said it was an insult for the ACN to say President Jonathan should be impeached because a company rehabilitated a church in his village. “ACN members who are Ijaws should take time to educate their national leaders on this issue. ACN leaders should not mix politics with religion. It will create a very bad impression about their party around here, especially given the fact that the national leaders of that party and four of its five governors are Muslims. The members should also tell their leaders that Ijaw value their spirituality and also would not take insults from outsiders who like to make value judgements about others. "We know that corporate businesses, including banks, rehabilitate roads in Lagos as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Will it be fair to call for the impeachment of the governor of that state simply because his government does business with the banks? We know companies in the South-West are more alive to their responsibilities because of the active media there. Whatever is souce for the Lagos goose should be souce for the Bayelsa gander. “ACN, with its roots in the South-West should reflect on the importance the Yorubas attach to their cultural and religious development. For anyone to say Otueke people do not deserve anything from a company that has benefitted from the locality which is Bayelsa State is rather unfortunate. For the ACN to say we do not deserve this church is for it to say we should be spiritually baren. It means those saying this do not think well of us. “Here in the Niger Delta, our grouse is that companies don't show enough concerns to their host communities by way of CSR. These companies don't give back to the communities from where they get jobs by way of projects. “So, when we see a company like Gitto seeing to the spiritual development of Otueke people by renovating their church, we are happy with that company. This gesture, to the Ijaw nation, will outlive the company and present generation of Ijaw people who President Jonathan represents today. In a related developmenty, a member of Otuoke community, Reverend Israel Ege, condemned the opposition for accusing President Jonathan of receiving a bribe by allowing the Gitto Construction Company to renovate St. Stephen Anglican Church in his hometown. Speaking during a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune on Friday, he stated that; “iIt is demonic on the part of the opposition to make mountain out of a molehill over the matter. “President Jonathan did not ask the company to renovate the church. Rather, the community requested the assistance of the firm. “The church was in a mess and this prompted the company to intervene by rehabilitating it. It is imperative for the opposition to desist from politicising issues that have to do with the church. We should strive to promote peace and stability of our nation by engaging in constructive criticisms that could engender the development of Nigeria.” When Sunday Tribune visited Otuoke on Thursday, some of the residents near the church also decried the controversy trailing the renovation of the church. A resident, identified as Ebi Dorgu, remarked thus: “I see no reason the rehabilitation works carried out by Gitto Construction Company should be elaborated by the so-called opposition. “When this church was in a dilapidated condition, nobody raised highbrow. People of this community, most especially worshippers in St. Stephen Anglican Church, implored the company some years back to assist in rebuilding it and now that it has been done, what is warranting series of complaints over the matter?” Another resident, Mrs. Stella Otazi, who also attend the church told Sunday Tribune that; “it has always been the practice among some people to raise alarm over issues that have to do with Jonathan. This is attributable to the fact that he is from Otuoke. I do not believe that he had used his position to compel the construction firm to renovate the church you are referring to. The company, out of sympathy and consideration, decided to rebuild the church to assist our community.” http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/news/6944-ijaw-wont-take-insult-from-acn--bayelsa-speaker |
Politics / Re: Nigerian Woman Kills Own Mother by nanos: 5:32pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
Something dey happen for SW of Nigeria |
Politics / Nigerian Woman Kills Own Mother by nanos: 5:31pm On Apr 08, 2012 |
Woman, 38, slaughters mother in Ogun By Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta Sunday, April 08, 2012 More Stories on This Section A 38-year-old woman has allegedly slaughtered her mother for being responsible over her inability to find a husband. Bolanle Abiola, an Ogun State indigene, who had been arrested by the police for the dastardly act, was said to have killed her 70-year-old mother in Pedepo area of Imeko, headquarters of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State last Wednesday. The suspect, who was arrested with an unidentified male accomplice, was said to have accused her late mother of being behind her inability to find a husband. Bolanle, who trades in ready-made clothing, and resides in Abeokuta, the state capital, had often clashed with her septuagenarian mother over this allegation in the past, threatening to deal with her. On the fateful day, Bolanle, accompanied by the unidentified male friend, arrived her mother’s residence in Imeko, a border town, in the evening. The mother was said to have welcomed her daughter and the unknown man into her house, thinking he was the latter’s fiancé. Bolanle and her accomplice were said to have carried out the heinous crime about 9 p.m. during a heavy downpour without anyone’s knowledge. Both Bolanle and her “boy friend” were said to have left the house after committing the crime and stayed in an hotel until the following day when they attempted to return to Abeokuta. Bolanle and her unidentified accomplice were arrested separately the following day while she was attempting to board a commercial vehicle out of the town. Sunday Sun learnt that the suspected accomplice was arrested by local vigilance group in the town, who later handed him over to the police at Imeko. First son of the late septuagenarian, Mr. Abudu Abiola, confirmed what he described as the cruel murder of his mother by one of her children whom he described as the third born of her late mother’s six children, adding that she had since been buried according to Islamic rites the following day. Although, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for comments, a source at the homicide section of the command confirmed arrest of the two suspects. The source added that Bolanle had confessed to the crime, saying she personally slaughtered her mother, while the male accomplice assisted her. The police source said: “The man said he came from Itoko area in Abeokuta, where he was contracted for the assassination. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2012/apr/08/national-08-04-2012-005.html |
Politics / Re: Despite Its Relatively Small Land Mass, Imo Is #3 State In Cassava Production by nanos: 4:03am On Apr 07, 2012 |
This one puts Enugu 3rd and Imo 4th Benue and Kogi lead the pack (page 29, Chapter 2) http://eucord.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/cassava_master_plan.pdf |
Politics / Re: Despite Its Relatively Small Land Mass, Imo Is #3 State In Cassava Production by nanos: 3:55am On Apr 07, 2012 |
No doubt, intensive, rather than extensive, agriculture determines who gets fed. |
Politics / Despite Its Relatively Small Land Mass, Imo Is #3 State In Cassava Production by nanos: 3:54am On Apr 07, 2012 |
Okorocha seeks partnership on cassava production By Our Reporter 06/04/2012 00:00:00 Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged the Federal Government to partner with the state in cassava production. The governor stated this when the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina paid him a courtesy visit in the Government House, Owerri. Okorocha explained that with its third position in cassava production in the country, Imo has the potential to produce enough cassava flour for local consumption and even export under the federal government’s agricultural revolution scheme. He said: "Imo is an agrarian state with vast agricultural potentials. We presently occupy third position in cassava production which means that our state has the potential of producing enough cassava flour for local consumption and large commercial quantity for export if federal government partners with us. Apart from creating massive job opportunities, the programme also has the capacity to diversify our economy which presently depends on crude oil." Okorocha disclosed that the state government has taken proactive steps in the agricultural sector which led to the concessioning of Imo Palm Plantation formerly known as Adapalm to Roche Group through which about N3.5 billion was generated. He added that efforts are being intensified to ensure that the moribund Avutu Poultry is revived to function to its optimal capacity while arrangements have been made to plant an improved variety of palm seedlings in each of the 27 local government areas. Okorocha further stated that the government has engaged the services of some agricultural experts under the Rural Agricultural Programme (RAP) for massive food production. He disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Republic of Kosovo has been signed on the exportation of agricultural produce from the state. Earlier, the Minister, Dr. Adesina said that the Federal Government has concluded plans to build an industrial cassava plant in Imo State to harness its potentials in the production of the crop. He disclosed that under the ongoing agricultural revolution in the country, the Federal Government would assist Imo State to actualise its plan to revive the Avutu poultry. He applauded the giant strides the Okorocha administration has made on the infrastructural development of the state as well as the policies and programmes introduced to ensure food security in the state. http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/newsextra/42132-okorocha-seeks-partnership-on-cassava-production.html |
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 119 |