Confirmed, on NTA Network news at 9pm,

Gombe State Deputy governor, Mr. David Miyims Albashi, yesterday died in a German hospital. He was aged 52. As a result of this, the state government has declared seven-days mourning. A statement from the state government, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Sule Bage, said Albashi died at Stadtisches Kliniku Karlsruhe Stuttgart Germany early yesterday.

The statement said that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has declared a seven-day mourning in the state with effect from yesterday. The statement said the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, observed during the mourning period should be low keyed. It added that the funeral arrangements for the late deputy governor would be announced shortly.

Some people who spoke to Saturday Sun in the state capital said, the former deputy governor would be remembered as a prominent politician and elder statesman. He was and has married with children.

The late David Albashi on August 28 sustained serious injuries in his head when his vehicle collided with another vehicle on Gombe-Yola road, on his way from his village, Cham. His orderly, Corporal Thomas Nifwa, died on the spot. The deputy governor was later flown to Germany for treatment on September 13, 2011, from National Hospital Abuja.
Albashi was born on January 15, 1959 in Tiksir, Kindiyo Cham, in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. He attended Zakawon Primary School, in Adamawa State, from 1970-1976 and proceeded to Famous Teachers College, Toro, Bauchi State, from 1977- 1981. He qualified as a teacher and taught in primary school between 1981 and 1987.

The late deputy governor also attended Kaduna Polytechnic, where he obtained NCE and HND in Business Management, in 2006. He also obtained a PGD from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Albashi was elected as the first deputy chairman of Balanga Local Government council in 1990 under NRC. He was one-time board member, Bauchi State Investment and Property Development Company from 1993-1997; member of Governing Council, Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State and commissioner for eight years in the ex-governor Danjuma Goje administration.

He was a philanthropist, whose generosity cut across all spheres of life, irrespective of religion, tribe or gender. Even as a devout Christian, he headed a committee on Building Mosques in Cham and when he became deputy governor in the state, he directed the building of a mosque at his office complex.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with Governor Dankwambo over the death of Albashi.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan described the death as “shocking,” adding: “I am deeply and personally touched by the sudden loss of this vibrant and young politician.”
The President asked Dankwambo to extend his sincere condolences to Albashi’s family, the government of Gombe State and the entire people of the state.
He prayed that God Almighty would grant eternal repose to the soul of the late deputy governor, and comfort his family.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/nov/05/newsbreak-05-11-2011-001.html

, catch me if you can, so say Baba Suwe to NDLEA,

ABOUT 2000 work ers of Anambra State origin whose employment was terminated by the Abia State Government penultimate Monday stormed the Government House, Awka pleading with Governor Peter Obi to absorb them into the state civil service.

Looking dejected as they marched to the House of Assembly and the Government House, the former Abia workers said they were no longer sure of how to take care of their families because their names had been removed from the Abia State Government pay roll.

One of them, Chief Dom Eze, who was a director in Abia State, said their ordeal began on August 25 this year when they received a circular informing them of their disengagement. He said they had come to their state of origin to know the response of their state government over the matter asking, “if we are rejected in another state, will our state reject us?”

In an emotion laden voice, another disengaged worker, Mrs. Monica Aniebonam, who hails from Awkuzu in Oyi Local Council, said her children were still young, adding that her family had lived in Abia for over 20 years. She thanked the State Government for the warm reception accorded the returnees and prayed God to touch the heart of the state governor to help them.

Mr. Titus Okafor, who was also a victim was particularly happy that Anambra State had started paying the minimum wage, adding that they were also impressed with the befitting secretariat the government constructed for workers in the state government and the government’s ensuring that retired civil servants receive their gratuities in less than two months of their retirement.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Paul Odenigbo, who addressed the sacked workers described the situation as sad. He said: “We are working hard to ensure the cohesion of Ndigbo and we are allowing the issue of minimum wage to divide us. It is so unfortunate.

I know that our Governor, Mr. Peter Obi had visited Abia State as a result of this matter, but that visit did not yield any result. The issue of minimum wage is a general problem. We in Anambra State are equally battling with it here but we are going to put everything in God’s hand.”

He commended the Anambra workers in Abia for comporting themselves in such an orderly manner, assuring that the State Government must look into it with a view to solving their problems.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/affected-anambra-indigenes-beg-obi-for-jobs/

Baba Suwe ‘ll Excrete Drugs – Ndlea

Apparently bowing to court order compelling it to present detained ace comedian, Mr. Babatunde Omidina, (Baba Suwe), before it,  the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,  said  yesterday that the suspect will be in court this morning.

The agency was, however,  confident that  the suspect would excrete whatever was lodged in his stomach before the expiration of the 15 days detention order granted by the court.

The narcotic agency said  it was obeying the court order to dispel rumours making the round that the detained comedian had died in its custody.

Meanwhile,  NDLEA said it may be forced to seek further detention order if Baba Suwe was unable to completely excrete the substance in his system, maintaining that it was convinced that what the suspect has in his stomach were hard drugs.

NDLEA’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said on phone, yesterday, that  the  detained comedian was in good health, adding however, that he was yet to excrete any drug.

He said: “We will bring him to court tomorrow (today) at least, to respect that court order.  But that is not to say that we will release him.  Some people have been calling to say that Baba Suwe is dead.

I laughed because the man is in good health.  The fact is that he has not excreted any drug yet, but we are still observing him. But, he will be in court as directed by court.  Note that, that does not mean that we will release him, no.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/baba-suwe-ll-excrete-drugs-ndlea/

Mr James Fromoyan, the Chairman of the Liberian Electoral Commission (NEC), on Sunday in Monrovia resigned his appointment, following an outcry over the integrity of the commission.

Fromoyan’s resignation is coming barely eight days to a run-off presidential election, slated for Nov. 8.

Liberian media reported that the commission’s chairman tendered his resignation letter on Sunday afternoon to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

According to the Catholic Veritas Radio monitored by the West Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, Fromoyan resigned his position after contradicting himself in a letter he sent to the leading opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The Catholic Veritas Radio said it was in possession of a copy of the resignation letter.

The commission had on Oct. 25 announced Johnson-Sirleaf’s Unity Party (UP) as having won the first round of the elections, but had at the same time sent a similar letter to CDC that it won in the first round.

It would be recalled that Fromoyan on Oct. 28 announced the suspension of the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Mr Bobby Livingstone, over the blunder, but this could not silence public outcry on the matter.

Meanwhile, Livingstone, who has denied knowledge of the letter, has threatened to take Fromoyan to court.

CDC presidential candidate Winston Tubman had last week called for a restructuring of the commission as a precondition for participating in the run-off elections.

Media reports from Liberia, posted on line, said Elizabeth Nelson, Fromoyan’s deputy, will take charge of the commission pending the appointment of a substantive head. (NAN)

Source - http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/liberia-electoral-commission-chairman-resigns/

solaugo:

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, wanted over alleged N52.9 billion fraud. EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, issued the information in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Goje is a senator representing Gombe Central and was a two-term governor. He had been given up till noon on Friday to surrender himself to the commission but had to be declared wanted when he did not show up, More details later.

Source - http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011100715331575

EFCC is joking, this amount can't be real,

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, wanted over alleged N52.9 billion fraud. EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, issued the information in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Goje is a senator representing Gombe Central and was a two-term governor. He had been given up till noon on Friday to surrender himself to the commission but had to be declared wanted when he did not show up, More details later.

Source - http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011100715331575

Governors of the 36 states of the federation,Thursday, at the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting, backed the recent move by President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the controversial subsidy on petroleum products.

Also yesterday, Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economic Management Team, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, prevailed on the governors to drop their earlier decision to scrap the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, as NEC opted for dialogue between the Federal and state governments.

Addressing State House correspondents after the NEC session which lasted for over six hours, and presided over by Vice- President Namadi Sambo, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Rivers State Governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, said the removal of the subsidy was long over- due, as the subsidy had only enriched very few Nigerians.

Gov. Amaechi was joined by governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Abdulaziz Yali (Zamfara) and the Minister of Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman.

Amaechi said: “One of the most important issues that we canvassed and decision reached at, was that governors supported the Federal Government’s move to remove subsidy because we believe it is for the interest of this country.

”We will save money for the development of the economy and at the end of the day, we will provide opportunity for the greater number of people.”

He said: “The other issues we discussed were those of education and agriculture and the need to develop agriculture at the state level and necessary support from the Federal Government, the issue of ETF and UBEC and how to get them to support education in the states.

“On SWF, the governors met yesterday and took a position. It is the Federal Government trying to convince the governors to abandon their positions. We are satisfied that it is a conversation we don’t want to escalate. Let’s look at all the issues and when all the issues are on the table and the governors are convinced, we will take a decision. But as of whether a decision has been reached, no decision has been made.”

He noted that “this policy, at the end of the day, i don’t think the governors or the FG can be insensitive to the people that have elected us and put us in office. Don’t forget that this is a civilian government, it is a democratic government that we seek for votes four years after. We must learn to take very difficult decisions”.

“That is what we were elected to do and that decision is to improve on the welfare of our people. So whichever discussion that will escalate the conversation, we are ready for discussion. We are open to discussions and we are open to the fact that there are social safety nets that the federal government is trying to put in place to cushion the effect”.

He explained that “but beyond the fact that the FG is putting up safety nets to cushion the effect, there is also the argument that only a few Nigerians are just gathering money and we are hearing of subsidy. For Christ’s sake, outside the few state capitals in Nigeria, which other place do you have this subsidy operating. I hear some states in the South East are selling fuel for as high as over N100 per litre”.

He argued that “fuel is being smuggled out of the country and the people of Nigeria are suffering and then some elites then pick up the conversation that we are insensitive to the people. Do you think that politicians who will go four years after with this new electoral process will become insensitive to Nigerians? The answer is absolute no. So we wait for the conversation and we will meet them at the point of the debate”.

Ameachi pointed out “the moment you liberalise or deregulate the oil industry, then you will provide opportunities for people to invest in refineries and create employment opportunities; but wondered why nobody has picked up that argument.

“That is why we are saying that all those who said they are opposition, either parties or individuals. The federal government and the governor’s forum are ready to engage them in that discussion any day and anywhere anybody comes up with that, because there are so many benefits that will accrue to the people. Nigerians are dying of hunger on the streets when we can liberalise or deregulate the oil industry and create more employment opportunities”.

He explained that “most people do not know that from crude oil, you can get a number other products that can emanate from there and that is part of other aspects of economic development and nobody has addressed that. When you talk about sensitivity, you must talk realise that this is informing our decision. Beyond the fact that a few of us elites are benefiting from this huge pull of fund that no one can account for. The aim is to create a conducive environment to explore the opportunity”

Engaging NLC

The Governor remarked that “there is the need to engage the labour unions and for the people to ask what the state and federal government want to do with the outcome of the removal of the subsidy. They should ask specifically what will be the benefits of the removal to improve on the lives of the people. If that is the essence of the dialogue, instead of allowing a few people to benefit from it”.

On UBEC, Ameachi said “I think we must comply with the law first and foremost and secondly is the fact that the committee said that there was need to set up processes that will assist the states access this fund on quarterly basis. By which time we would drawn up the plan for social development and then looking at the possibility of amending the law to allow us access the fund”.

SWF dialogue fruitful Okonjo-Iweala

Fielding questions from Journalists, Dr Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that while the Federal Government has began a fruitful dialogue at NEC, with state governments, President Jonathan has also engaged with governors, to ensure that the sovereign wealth fund, saying that through the dialogue, all gray areas will be smoothed.

“We are discussing and we are having a very fruitful dialogue with the governors on SWF. It is a very serious and important matter. So we need to keep discussing over a period of time so that details about how we do invest, in what would we invest, and how it will be managed will be made clear”, she said.

According to her, “all these are details that need to be made clear and sorted out. What will be the governors structure also need to be cleared. So we are talking about that. Each time, we make some progress in deepening the understanding”.

She said “we will continue to have the dialogue, we will continue to try and make them understand how this will work. Mr President is also dialoguing with the governors and we are working on that and I think we are making progress”.

Source - http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/govs-okay-removal-of-fuel-subsidy-2/

Why will GEJ continue to embarrassed millions of Nigerians, a national policy statement that has a direct influence on Nigerians will be released outside the shore of this country, why can't he reserve such statement till his arrival in Nigeria, GEJ is a bunch of disappointment, Hiss, I think Dr. Reuben Abati is tending to be the worst SA on media in the Presidency,

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said that Nigeria will not observed any Independence anniversary until 2014. He was addressing a press conference while on a working visit to Kigali, the capital city of Riwanda.

He said that this will enable Nigerians prepared for the centenary celebration of the amalgamation of the country,

Source - Reuters in Kigali,

THE Catholic community in Edo State was, Monday, thrown into confusion as Rev. Father Sylvester Chukwura, a priest at St Bernard’s Catholic Church, Eguaholo, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, was abducted by 10 gunmen.

According to two officials of the parish, Rev. Fr. Chukwura was abducted from his residence at the parish by the gunmen.

Vanguard learnt that the gunmen entered the Rev. Father’s house about 1am after they had broken the main gate.

The church officials said despite the Rev. Father’s shouts for help, no one came to his rescue.

It was gathered that following the news of the kidnap, Archbishop of Benin Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, was said to have called an emergency meeting of the Curia (Diocese kitchen cabinet).

When contacted, Vicar-General of Benin Diocese, Fr. Augustine Ehigie and the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Ejiroro Awara, confirmed the kidnap.

Police spokesman said the Police were investigating the incident and making effort to secure the release of Rev. Fr. Chukwura.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/catholic-priest-kidnapped-in-edo/

Shocker - Edo Assembly Probes Dismissal Of Indigenes From Abia Civil Service

EDO State House of Assembly, Tuesday, gave its Committee on Public Petition two weeks to investigate the alleged wrongful dismissal of some Edo indigenes from Abia State’s civil service.

The directive followed a petition to the state legislature by nine indigenes of the state who alleged that they were dismissed from Abia State’s public service without notice.

The petitioners, whose petition was read on the floor of the House, urged the Assembly to pass a resolution asking the Edo Government to re-absorb them into the state public service.

The petition reads: “We, the Edo State indigenes, including National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, merit award winners serving in Abia State, want to observe that you have great passion for the protection of the interest of all Edolites domiciled anywhere in the world and in this country irrespective of political or religious affiliations.

“We passionately appeal to the House to prevail on Governor Adams Oshiom-hole to direct the re-absorption of all Edo indigenes so affected by the non-indigenes discrimination policy of Abia State Government leading to our removal from the state civil service without notice.”

Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Uyigue Igbe, handed the petition to the Committee on Public Petition, directing it to make its report available to the state legislature within two weeks.

Source - http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/edo-assembly-probes-dismissal-of-indigenes-from-abia-civil-service/

solaugo:

My brother love knows no tribe as a matter of fact we met during youth service while serving in the camp choir of NCCF,

No my brother, hope no problem,

~Bluetooth:

Why can't you just marry from your tribe ?

My brother love knows no tribe as a matter of fact we met during youth service while serving in the camp choir of NCCF,

I am a resident of Umuahia, but from Ogun State. My wife is an indigene of Umuahia -Ibeku home town of T.A. Orji. She is affected all because she has change her name to my name, I met her during our youth service in the North, Now fellow Nigerians, are we saying inter-tribal marriage should be do away with? The unity of this country is under threat if this policy is not reverse, to the extent that you can send your daughters out of civil service because of marriage, if such daughter now becomes a minister or great personality tomorrow you will lay claim that she is from your land?, stupid people,

We have been alerted to a fraudulent email purporting to originate from UBA and notifying our customers that access to their UBA Online Account and ATM Cards has been temporarily limited due to several failed log-in attempts.
Our customers are then directed to login to the following website:
http://www.11gucci.com//extras/ubadirect.com.direct.html in order to authenticate their profile before their account is restored.

Please note: On no account should you visit any website in order to restore your account based on an email purporting to represent the Bank. Such an act would immediately compromise your identity and render your account vulnerable to fraudulent withdrawals.

The claim that access to your UBA Online Account and ATM Cards has been temporarily limited is totally untrue and is merely a way of luring you to divulge your ATM card details.

If you have already responded to such fraudulent email, immediately notify your relationship manager or call CIC on (01 – 2800822, 01-2644754- 59, 08035606000, & 08025606000) to disable your card to prevent fraudulent withdrawals on your accounts.

Forwarding this alert to friends and family members would also help inform them and combat this fraud.

Thank you.
UBA Customer Interaction Centre
……………… Africa ’s Global Bank

When one considers his age, he or she will expect that president/founder of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church, CGAC, Pa Samuel Akinbode Sadela should be growing weaker and weaker but the reverse is the case. At the age of 111, the world’s oldest preacher and longest serving pastor was on Saturday, August 27, 2011, full of hope and expectations after 79 years on the pulpit.

His dentition is complete, his memory is sharp and his sight has not grown deem but he wears a pair of glasses strictly based on medical recommendation. He resides in a storey building where he descends the stairs once daily to carry out daily routine. With a handshake and some words of pray-ers, he welcomed this reporter to his premises at Soluyi Area of Gbagada in Lagos where the 20 minutes interview was conducted.

Decked in a white attire, with a black cap and a pair of black sandals to match, his smile was articulate and co-ordinated. Papa’s primary concern is soul winning. He forbids the use of church fund to equip himself, as a result, all he owns were gifts from people who believe they have been blessed by his contributions to the vineyard of God. Pa Sadela uses his own funds to develop other men of God who have performed creditably well in their soul winning assignment. He builds homes and buys cars for them to encourage their ministerial assignment.

Papa who was born into a pagan family in 1900 to Princess Adetiye and her husband, Pa Sadela in Ifon, Ondo State, set-tled in Lagos some decades back. The young Sadela left his parents at the age of 14 in search of formal education which his parents could not give him. He confided in Vanguard that an Angel taught him the use of the Holy Bible before he struggled to major out his elementary education solely.



In a chat, Pa Sadela claimed that he started his career from The Apostolic Church, TAC, be-fore he later pitched tent with Christ Apostolic Church, CAC under the leadership of late Apostle Joseph Ayodele Baba-lola who he met in 1930.

Working career

Papa, the last child of a family of 12, was over pampered by his parents and that made him a rascal. He completed his standard education in 1925 and worked as a public servant; a tax collector for three days per week and a court clerk twice per week and was always with a team of Policemen.

His baptism

He got baptised in 1930 after his first encounter with Apostle Ayodele Babalola but his baptismal certificate was not ready until 1933. ”I also witnessed Apostle Babalola’s wedding in 1936 at Ilesa, Osun State,” Baba claimed.

His ministerial assignment

Papa started the Okitipupa branch of Christ Apostolic Church in 1935 and two years later, “we travelled to Lagos to meet Pastor Babatope Adegbo-yega, that was the year CAC left TAC. The TAC continued her convention but CAC could not, until year 1942 which took place at Efon-Alaye in 1943, Ile-Ife in 1944, Ibadan in 1945; Ijebu-Ode in 1946; Owo in 1947; Oyan in 1948. I was in Akure as a pastor, so I could not attend but in December 1954, I went back to Okitipupa as a general overseer.”

His childhood days

”I was born and brought up in Ifon. My experience as a child started from my home town in Imoru, Ondo State. My father was an idol worshiper while my mother was a princess of Ifon, both in Ifon. History has it that I was born in the month of August 1900, at a period when the first General Overseer of our church resumed in my town. In those days, the fourth Ajike called Olowo of Owo was the chief interpreter in my church in Ifon.

“He was my uncle who nick-named me ‘Aboyinbode’ meaning a child born at a time when the whiteman visited our town. There were few roads in those days and I left home in 1914 for the fact that my parents refused to send me to school. I was a rascal and my mother gave birth to 12 of us. Being the last born of the family, my parents never consented to the idea of sending me to school and I felt the best way to achieve this was to run away from home,” he claimed.

Papa’s view on Nigeria

”I have said it for the past 10 years that things will never go well in this country until we return to true federalism. I have travelled to some parts of the world and many of these countries operate true federalism which makes them successful. Nigerians have practiced parliamentarianism, president-ialism and a host of others which never worked for good but true federalism will work if we can operate that,” he recommended. He further advocated for state ownership of refineries and power supply, adding that such will bring healthy competition among the federating units and reduce corruption in the country; “if not, the rate of unemployment will be astronomical and our youths will continue to suffer.”

Message for President Goodluck Jonathan

If President Goodluck Jonath-an is here right now, this is what I will tell him; that true federalism will be the best government for Nigeria, else he will continue to labour in vain. That was what I advised late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon before their government was toppled. So also, late Chief Obafemi Awolo-wo and Gen. Olusegun Obasa-njo who agreed and said it can only be achieved through thorough planning. Obasanjo is my son, I told him he would beco-me a president and will run for two terms; but I have not set my eyes on him since he left office. I sent him a note recently which he acknowledged.

Message to Nigerian governors

All the governors are trying but ‘apa aimudele ologbo, ko je ki a mope oun se ode’ (their efforts will not be noticeable until the nation returns to true federalism). Gov. Ibikunle Amosun is hardworking but Mr. Baba-tunde Fashola is the best governor so far. He accomplished what the military government could not achieve, especially at Mushin. He could have gone far if his efforts could be complemented by true federalism. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also tried his best. He wanted to install electricity but the Federal Government did not give him the encouragement. We cannot remain in darkness and expect productivity, Nigeria is in gross darkness.

On how true federalism could be achieved, Papa said any government can do this if they are interested but the problem is who will set the pace?

Papa’s expectation for Nigeria

I am always bitter that things are not working in this country, but we can retrace our steps. We cannot sit in a place and expect manna from heaven. Electricity can bring a lot of good things into the country. I spend a lot on diesel to get things done. Each state should have a refinery, if this is not done by year 2015, Nigeria will likely split. Our youths are endowed but lack of electricity is a hindrance. Nigeria is a very rich country. I wish Nigerian leaders can hearken to the voice of elders so that the whole world will know that the nation is richly blessed. My expectation is that Nigeria will be transformed.



Source - http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/independence-shockerworld-oldest-preacher-says-nigeria-may-split-by-2015-except/

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, 83-year-old chieftain of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, is not in high spirits talking about Nigeria at 51.

The legal luminary and an unrepentant Awoist said his disappointment was informed by the fact that the system, applied in running the affairs of the country, has been absolutely destructured from the structure, on which the founding fathers got Nigeria’s independence from colonialists over five decades ago.

He told the Vanguard at his Lekki home, Lagos, on Wednesday that there would be no alternative way of solving Nigeria’s complex security, economic and political problems than to convene Sovereign National Conference.  Excerpts:

HOW do you feel with Nigeria at 51?

I’m certainly not happy with the state of the nation, Nigeria, at 51; considering our hopes and aspirations at the time of independence, particularly those of us who agitated for independence before 1960. We thought then that we could do much better than the colonial masters and we had hopes. More so the performance of the Action Group to which I belonged in the 50s. What we were able to do within those seven years of Awolowo’s administration, if the country had been able to carry on from there, we won’t be where we are today. Now, we are far, far behind.

With very, very little resources, Awolowo was able to introduce free primary education, free medical health. He was able to modernize agriculture and he was able to democratize Local Government Administrations. A lot of things he did are still enduring till today. And I look back to see and ask this question: after that, what have we achieved? It’s a pity.

By the time our forefathers got independence, they got it on a straight federal constitution to the extent that each region had its own constitution written separately to allow every ethnic nationality to develop at its own pace. Up till the time we became a republic, we were really being ruled under a federal constitution, which allowed for a lot of competitions. By the time Awolowo was building the first stadium, the Liberty Stadium, at Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello in the Northern Region was competing with him to do that in his own place. Awolowo started the free education and Azikiwe was doing the same thing in the Eastern Region.

Resource control

So there were healthy rivalries and what they are now clamoring for as resource control today, Chief Awolowo had been fighting for it and he achieved it in 1954 under what was called Revenue Allocation on the basis of Derivations. So each region knew where it was and you could see what Awolowo performed. You could see what the region achieved at that time.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, 83-year-old chieftain of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, is not in high spirits talking about Nigeria at 51.

The legal luminary and an unrepentant Awoist said his disappointment was informed by the fact that the system, applied in running the affairs of the country, has been absolutely destructured from the structure, on which the founding fathers got Nigeria’s independence from colonialists over five decades ago.

He told the Vanguard at his Lekki home, Lagos, on Wednesday that there would be no alternative way of solving Nigeria’s complex security, economic and political problems than to convene Sovereign National Conference.  Excerpts:

HOW do you feel with Nigeria at 51?

I’m certainly not happy with the state of the nation, Nigeria, at 51; considering our hopes and aspirations at the time of independence, particularly those of us who agitated for independence before 1960. We thought then that we could do much better than the colonial masters and we had hopes. More so the performance of the Action Group to which I belonged in the 50s. What we were able to do within those seven years of Awolowo’s administration, if the country had been able to carry on from there, we won’t be where we are today. Now, we are far, far behind.

With very, very little resources, Awolowo was able to introduce free primary education, free medical health. He was able to modernize agriculture and he was able to democratize Local Government Administrations. A lot of things he did are still enduring till today. And I look back to see and ask this question: after that, what have we achieved? It’s a pity.

By the time our forefathers got independence, they got it on a straight federal constitution to the extent that each region had its own constitution written separately to allow every ethnic nationality to develop at its own pace. Up till the time we became a republic, we were really being ruled under a federal constitution, which allowed for a lot of competitions. By the time Awolowo was building the first stadium, the Liberty Stadium, at Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello in the Northern Region was competing with him to do that in his own place. Awolowo started the free education and Azikiwe was doing the same thing in the Eastern Region.

Resource control

So there were healthy rivalries and what they are now clamouring for as resource control today, Chief Awolowo had been fighting for it and he achieved it in 1954 under what was called Revenue Allocation on the basis of Derivations. So each region knew where it was and you could see what Awolowo performed. You could see what the region achieved at that time.
Thereafter, the military came and they destructured Nigeria in 1966 after the first military coup. I use the word ‘destructure’ because when you see some of us of the old school of thought particularly under Afenifere and NADECO clamouring for restructuring, that’s what we mean. We want to go back to base. This country must be restructured

For us to know where we are coming from and where we intend to go from here, can it really be pin-pointed that the destructuring, like you said, of the country by the first military government formed the basis of our national woes?

When the military came in 1966 and started with unitary system, then the struggle started. Many other things that I have always referred to as being responsible for our backwardness arose from this destructuring. That’s why I said we must restructure the country. The various nationalities in this country must sit together, agree to live together and agree on how we are going to live together.

You see, the question of telling us that the unity of this country is not negotiable boils out of nonsense! There is nothing more negotiable than the unity of this country and anybody who is in doubt of that, recent events have come to confirm that.

We are not yet a nation. In three years time we shall be celebrating the centenary of the amalgamation of Nigeria but what have we achieved? Zero! Zero! And what many people don’t appreciate is that the colonialists didn’t colonize us under one country. My father for instance was not a Nigerian because he was born before 1914, which was 1895. Chief Awolowo was not a Nigerian; he was born in 1909 before the amalgamation. But in 1914 we were forced to live together.

You had always looked forward to a time in this country when somebody from the tiniest minority group would emerge as President of Nigeria. With Dr. Jonathan at the helms of affairs, is your yearning now met?

What we are having now, I will tell you and the other people will tell you, is out of sufferance. Goodluck Jonathan was not given the presidency because it was seen as his rights. If you remember the circumstances under which he came into office, where there was a lot of arguments regarding zoning and all that, you would understand me more.

I want a system whereby Jonathan would have been there as of rights. If he leaves that place without ensuring that the Constitution of the country is reviewed in a way that will establish how we will be living together, he will divide Nigeria. But as long as you continue to look forward to other section of the country for favour at any election to allow one section to come and rule…. That is not the basis of the country. What I’m agitating under an agreed Constitution is that the various stakeholders in the country will know when it is their turn to head the country as of rights, not as of favour.

The President is working on a Bill for six-year single term and others. Isn’t that in tandem with what you are clamouring for?

Single term does not affect the system. I’m very sorry for Jonathan. I believe in single term but the way he has introduced it is not under a conducive atmosphere and that’s why there is a lot of these acrimonies about it. If we are to agree on that at all, we will agree at that conference because the national conference is all encompassing. This question of constitution amendment in piece meal won’t work.

Why hasn’t the calls for Sovereign National Conference been heeded?

When we talk of Sovereign National Conference, people are scared. Forget ‘sovereign’ and let us have a conference that will establish true federalism. Because the word ‘sovereign’ there, like I have said before, does not take the present sovereignty of Jonathan from him until his term is up in 2015. When we talk of Sovereign National Conference, what we are saying is, whatever decision that conference makes, no government will set up a committee to extract or to add to what we agree upon.

The decision of that conference will be final. That’s what we are saying. So if the word ‘sovereign’ is the cause of your fear, forget it. Let us go and sit on the round table. I have heard people quoting Jonathan as saying, “How do we constitute that conference and who are the people going to be there?” The recognizable ethnic nationalities that you have now, put them there first and let us be jaw-jawing as our failure to jaw-jaw is dangerous. So, don’t be scared. People you recognize in the major ethnic nationalities, call them to go to the conference and at the end of the day, whatever they arrive at, people will know that it is their decision.

There is an Afenifere Renewal Group…,

(cuts in) They are rebels. Quote me well. I say the Afenifere Renewal Group is group of rebels. I don’t regard them as a separate group. They are the people who want to supplant the leadership of Afenifere. They say they are renewal group and I often ask the question, what are they renewing? What is a quake in the policy of Afenifere that they want to renew? Is it the free education, free medical services?

It is the leadership they want to supplant and because they can’t do it conveniently within the group, they go out and say they are Afenifere Renewal Group. Ask them why did they leave the main body of the Afenifere? What is the single thing that the main body had done that is unlike Afenifere and what is the thing that we refused to do that is Afenifere? What have they been seeing since they formed their so called group that is different from what they stand for? So they are all rebels and I call them rebels!

I heard the new Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun has recognized them by playing host to them recently during a courtesy visit. But who is Amosun? He is a stranger and he is not recognized there. Now the people just believe that those leaders in Afenifere are too tough for them to deal with. There are so many things they are doing that we don’t agree with, because they are only playing lip-service to progressiveness. I feel insulted when I hear that Amosun has recognized Afenifere Renewal Group. Who is Amosun in Afenifere?

Amosun is an opportunist switching from one place to the other. He was in PDP, from PDP to ANPP and from ANPP to ACN. What does he stand for politically? He stands for anybody who can make him to become governor. There is no political philosophy behind his principle. He is a nice man. I like him but when it comes to political issues, I disagree.

Fellow Nigerians my heart bleeds for my beloved country Nigeria.Unemployment is almost 80% , NECO/WAEC results in the past 2years is the worst in the history of the nation, all our federal and state roads have collapsed, rape of our girls(u, niversity students & youth coppers) is the latest fade, armed robbery is a daily affair, kidnapping is the booming industry, bombing of public places is now a new culture!!
Then this Oyibo comes to lecture us about us? It is unthinkable that a Nigerian will be a guest speaker in Bukingham palace, White House etc. The British can not proffer solution to the problems they created. Mr. President is the first Nigerian President with a BSC, MSC, P HD and should shed these vestiges of timidity that has plaqued our past leaders which we had attributed to ignorance based on inadequate education. In case we have forgotten, Nigeria is still a sovereign nation. Let us have adequate electricity, invest in our human resources and education, curb corruption,then watch the nation leap frog into the 21st century. This inferiority complex before oyibos should STOP TODAY. After all the recent street riots in UK showed the world the under belly of Britain, crass poverty! The difference is that their institutions and infrastructures works. That is all Mr President need to do here. - uche uraih

MR. Richard Dowden, Director of African Society, London, yesterday, identified endemic corruption, bad politics, failed economic policies, over-dependence on oil, favoritism for appointments and the country’s bad reputation for the continued slow pace of development.
Dowden, who was guest speaker at Independent Annivesary Lecture in Abuja, told a gathering of top government functionaries, inc, luding members of Federal Executive Council, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, Speaker of House of Representatives, governors and others, that the discovery of oil was a curse to Nigeria, as it had led to widespread corruption and looting of resources by corrupt government officials.
The lecturer, who noted that major players in the private sector also contributed to the country’s poor economic indices, with the frequent use of under-hand tactics such as tax evasion, adding that Nigeria’s economic woes began with the advent of oil which, according him, led to a lack of initiative by successive governments.
Dowden, who delivered the lecture, entitled, “Nigeria in Transformation” at Tafawa Balewa House headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that for Nigeria to return to the post- independence era in which it recorded trade surplus, investments must be made with a view to exporting cash crops.
Singling out members of the National Assembly, who he criticised for earning the highest pay in the world as congressmen, Dowden warned that the country could not continue with the socio-economic disparity between the rich and poor.
He said: “I believe oil is a curse, it is like ”King Midas.” When King Midas was king, he wanted everything he touched to turn to gold. Everything he touched turned to gold but he starved to death. When he touched food and drinks, it turned to gold. Did oil make this country rich? No, to the contrary.”
Former BBC correspondent Michaela Wrong and a renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun, discussants at the lecture, called on government to end lopsided distribution of wealth and diminishing amount of opportunities for Nigerians in the lower rung of society.
President Jonathan, in his remarks which followed the comments from guests, reiterated his administration’s commitment to transform the country.
He sought a better presentation of Nigeria by the media and elite, who he blamed for brainwashing the public into a state of despair.
The President, while pledging improved power supply, insisted that he could instigate change by building institutions and convincing the best brains in Diaspora to return home to contribute to national development.
He declared that on completion of his reform agenda, Nigeria will end its run with budget deficits and return to a path of stability, completely changing its oil dependent status.
Jonathan said: “When I see people in my office, I always say that only a few people needed to see me if the system is working. Ministers don’t need to see me if the system works.
”Ministers have a budget approved by the National Assembly to run their ministries, their recurrent and their capital project. If they are competent, they can run the ministry in a way that Nigerians will know that they are working,” he added.
“A lot of things have not been done properly, we have a lot of negative issues, because of this probably because a lot of things need the intervention of the president, you probably want to alter something that is not good enough. Now we are in the process of carrying out such corrections, once we are through which such restructuring, Nigeria, will get to where we are going. I have no fears about that.
“The problem of oil which Dowden raised is true. Any country that is blessed with minerals tends to breed corruption. The extractive industry tends to breed corruption. I made the statement somewhere before, that in ten years or thereabout, we should be able to run our government without oil. And we can do it.
“If you look at the size of Nigeria, all the general imports that come into Africa, 20 percent of it come to this country. If we have well managed ports alone, the income we will make as a government will be enough.
“Because there are lot of linkages, things are not done well, goods have to be cleared from other countries and transfers to Nigeria. And if we fix a number of the things we must fix, people may complain that its politics, but we must do these things, we have no choice. By the time all these institutions are fixed in ten years we will run government without oil.
“For us as a people, we must look at others to learn from where they did well and forget where they didn’t do well. He wrote in his book and he made the statement here that everybody thought that the country is going to collapse, that Nigeria is going to be a failed state. But Nigeria is moving.
“He said it that we have very good people, some in the academics, he asked that why is it that we cannot fixe our own country and that is the kernel. We have fantastic people all over the world, for us to have 25 thousand doctors working in America, the questions is how can we use these talents and brains we have to move this country forward?
“I promise Nigerians that surely, we will move this country forward. We will employ all we have and build strong institutions to move this country forward.”

THE Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East Zone, which was set up following the bomb attacks by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, yesterday submitted its final report, asking President Goodluck Jonathan to consider the grant of amnesty to members of the sect wishing to surrender their arms to the Federal government.

The committee submitted its report on a day the security agencies commenced manhunt for suspected Boko Haram members who may have sneaked into Abuja to carry out suicide bomb attack on a national asset to dent the nation’s 51st Independence anniversary celebrations.

The Federal Government panel headed by Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, recommended that “the Federal Government should fundamentally, consider the option of dialogue and negotiation which should be contingent upon the renunciation of all forms of violence and surrender of arms to be followed by rehabilitation”.

The committee also told Vice President Namadi Sambo, who received the final report on behalf of President Jonathan that the Jaamatus Ahlus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram, has nominated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III or his representative; the Emir of Bauchi and Sheik Abubakar Gero Argungu, as its representatives in any federal government team that will negotiate with its members.

Source - http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/boko-haram-fg-panel-calls-for-amnesty/

htajz:

To authenticate this, I have written to my brother Governors of the South-East, explaining this situation, and urging them to accept the returnees.



good to know its his fellow south easterners that were displaced from abia civil service

All non-indigens irrespective of states were to be dismissed from the civil service

MY GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE!

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

I am very delighted today, to take this opportunity to address you on this 20th birthday anniversary of the creation of our State of Abia. This occasion is not only to celebrate with you, but for us to review our lives and our achievements in Abia State, and to move forward to revive and cherish the patriotism of the Abia people which in the past years was our strong plank of support.



Abia State, which is now twenty years of age, was one of the additional nine States created on the 27th day of August, 1991, under the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

The creation of our State was made possible through the committed agitation and resources of many of our eminent sons and daughters, who hoped to create a unique State with exemplary enduring values of the Igbo man. I salute all these founding fathers, many of whom are still alive, for their exemplary patriotism.

Truly, Abia State came into existence with high hopes, reflecting on the past glories of our people, especially our major contributions in the development and sustenance of the major infrastructures that distinguished Imo State, and from where Abia State was carved out.



Abia State was a creation of a Military fiat, and the State was administered under many Military Governors, who did not share the patriotism of the founding fathers. The advent of elected civilian Governors in the State, that followed, sometimes, combine to show that Abia State in the past 20 years has not always reflected the great hopes and aspirations of the founding fathers.

The early patriotism of our people, has not been advanced large enough to distinguish Abia State in line with the great deeds of some of our past trail-blazing heroes, like Dr Micheal Okpara and General Aguiyi Ironsi, and especially, the harnessing of the indomitable can-do spirit of Aba, Enyimba City and in many Abians.



I will be the first to admit that Abia State, at 20 years of creation, need to have done more than where we are now, especially in the creation of decent urban cities, durable infrastructures, and creation of employment for our people. The reasons for these, is that some of our past leaders failed to look beyond the needs of the moment.

They refused to have the sense of justice, failed to listen to their conscience, and failed to galvanize the mutual purpose and can-do spirits of Abians, in creating a new era in the history of our people. Our State therefore remained an ad-hoc State, sacrificed on the altar of personal aggrandizement and family dynasty, but without the necessary foundation to propel a collective development.

This is why our new Government of Abia State, is now committed to being the new instrument of restoration of our people and our economies. We will take Abia State to its true age of 20 and beyond.



We will lay the enduring foundation to take Abia State to a sustainable economic and social level, which has been missing in the past. But, re-building wasted opportunities, take efforts and sacrifice, and Abians should be reminded of these.

If we are going to make any advantage of this day as we remember and review our 20th birthday as a State, I will use this occasion to appeal to the present, as well as to the past. I wish to arouse our collective conscience, as well as the known pride of our people.

We should remember that the future of Abia and whatever our State becomes, lies not only with our leaders, but with all of us, our young people and our entrepreneurs. Whether, or not we will go on to finish the building of Abia State of our dreams, and that of our founding fathers, will depend on us.

Sometimes, when I look at the many perspectives of our State, I see some great menace, that call for restoration, patriotism, fairness and patience from our people. The inordinate desire and impatience of some of our people, in the drive for instant wealth, have created conditions that are despoiling our cities and other human settlements through indiscriminate constructions and infrastructures that bloc drainages and mess up the city plans.

Such disregard for rules and orders in our cities, certainly run counter to our Government’s resolve to building a solid foundation for the development of our State, and for the greater benefit of all Abians.

To secure the economic future and environments of Abia State, our Government recently sought to relocate many markets in our cities, especially, in Aba, and also remove many illegal structures that bloc drainages and constitute environmental hazard, a situation that has brought chaos and near lawlessness to that city.



This situation has also encouraged the constant flooding of Aba and the destruction of existing and rehabilitated infrastructures, especially roads. A permanent solution has to be found for this menace, by taking concrete action, without looking at faces, as it is not targeted at anybody.



While these actions affect some people’s livelihood, the general good is at stake, and must be respected, while the State seeks for amelioration of the effect on those affected. But, I expect our people to show better understanding of these restorations, and patiently support our well-conceived efforts. Other States have done same, and some are still doing it where many Abians live and do business, yet heavens have not fallen, because it is for the greater good of all.



My Good People of Abia State, also as we soberly, reflect on our State’s 20th birthday, let us not forget that it was the patriotism of our private and public spirited men and women that brought the State to creation in the first place. With a new and thoroughly aroused conscience and renewed commitments, we can all contribute further to building the Abia of our dream, which is beyond Individual, Party and Ideological differences.

We should avoid the obsessive cronyism and injustice in the sharing of State resources that only looks inside and not beyond our personal gains.

That is why this Government has implemented a policy that will spread out all government appointments through all nooks and crannies of the State. Also, our highest office of Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Government, which was hither-to, was not well spread out, will now be



made to serve for 4 years and a maximum of another 4 years on satisfactory performance, making it only 8 years for any officer at those ranks.

The reason,is for these juicy posts, to rotate to other areas in due course, and to encourage the growth of younger officers, and employment of more new entrants.



This Government will not allow anything to be a clog in our wheels, as we surge forward to the highest ideal in creating the new face of Abia. That is why we have also consulted and decided to transfer to their various State Services, the many indigenes of other States, who were absorbed in the Civil Service Sector of Abia State, at creation.



The compelling reasons for our action are as follows:

1. There are many Abians displaced from the Northern part of the country, as a result of the activities of Boko- Haram, who are anxiously waiting on Government for re-absorption and rehabilitation. This we cannot do, with our present bloated workforce.

2. The pupil-teacher ratio in our public schools is not encouraging, indicating that we have excess teachers, who are virtually redundant. And the echelon of this profession is predominantly, dominated by non-indigenes, to the major disadvantage of the indigenes, who themselves need to be encouraged by promotion, so that new people will be recruited to reduce unemployment.

3. Sometimes in the past, Abians working in other neighboring States were disengaged and forced to return to their States for re-absorption. They were accordingly, absorbed, and non indigenes from those States in Abia, have since been retained and peacefully accommodated.

4. Now that Abia State is committed to the payment of N18,000= minimum wage, the State cannot pay this if we silently continue to bear the burden of accommodating displaced Abians from other States, non indigenes in our workforce, and the existing work- force.

This policy, nevertheless, does not affect the indigenes of other States working in our tertiary institutions.

5. To authenticate this, I have written to my brother Governors of the South-East, explaining this situation, and urging them to accept the returnees.



For me, I continue to see great things for the future of Abia State in the next four years of our Administration in office. We will continue to do everything possible to repair past damages, strengthen old structures, reach out to build new bridges of friendship, and sparing no efforts in laying the solid foundations for the effective take-off of the New Face of Abia Socio-Economic Development.

Throughout the length and breadth of Abia State, there is a yearning for the peaceful and conscientious miracle of a sustainable development, delivered with honesty and integrity of purpose, even if there are limitations. I assure you that this Government will be the vehicle to deliver on these yearnings of Abians.



In all our efforts, we will be fair, and guided by a keen sense of justice, patriotism, and genuine love for our citizens’ welfare. All I ask of you, is your patience, support and understanding,

MAY GOD BLESS THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE.



THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

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Final Words Before His Death: Babakura Alhaji Fugu Speaks To Sahara Reporters About Meeting Obasanjo

Today SaharaReporters was able to capture some last words from Babakura Alhaji Fugu, the son of late Alhaji Baba Fuggu, the father-in-law to Mohammed Yussuf, the slain Boko Haram leader.

While Fugu was being pre-interviewed before appearing on our weekly online TV show, SaharaTV, he mentioned that “the history of Boko Haram in Nigeria began during the “movement for Shari’ah law across the country”.

On Thursday September 15th, Fugu met with former Nigerian President Oluṣẹgun Obasanjo to discuss the controversial death of Mohammed Yusuf, the late leader of Boko Haram.

Fugu informed SaharaReporters that he “had never met Obasanjo before then. He came with his own cameramen and I didn’t get any pictures,” said Fugu when asked if he were able to provide Sahara Reporters with any video or photos of the meeting with Obasanjo.
According to Fugu, Obasanjo was linked to Fugu family through Shehu Sanni, a human rights activist based in Kaduna.

Asked if he had any previous relationship with the former president, he said, “The Obasanjo regime and Boko Haram is a long story”…

Fugu wouldn’t realize that these words would be amongst his final words spoken. He was shot by an unknown gunmen before making a scheduled appearance on SaharaTV, where he planned to reveal details of his meeting with president Obasanjo

President Barack Obama on Thursday bestowed the highest U.S. military honor on Dakota Meyer, a young and humble Marine who defied orders and barreled straight into a ferocious "killing zone" in Afghanistan to save 36 lives at extraordinary risk to himself.

"You did your duty, above and beyond," Obama told Meyer after reciting his dramatic story. Though the corporal and a fellow Marine were going against orders — commanders considered their effort too dangerous — they were doing what they thought was right, Obama said.

The president placed the Medal of Honor ribbon around Meyer's neck, patted his back and shook his hand as the audience in the White House East Room applauded.

At age 21, Meyer charged through heavy insurgent gunfire on five death-defying trips in an armored Humvee to save 13 Marines and Army soldiers and an additional 23 Afghan troops pinned down by withering enemy fire.

Meyer killed at least eight insurgents despite suffering a shrapnel wound in his arm as he manned the gun turret of the Humvee and provided covering fire for the soldiers, according to the military.

He had been supporting a patrol on Sept. 8, 2009, into a village in the Ganjgal Valley on the day of the ambush.

Meyer and the other Americans had gone to the area to train Afghan military members when, suddenly, the village lights went out and gunfire erupted. About 50 Taliban insurgents on mountainsides and in the village ambushed the patrol.

As the forward team called for air support that wasn't coming, Meyer, a corporal at the time, begged his command to let him head into the incoming fire to help.

Four times he was denied his request before Meyer and another Marine, Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, jumped into the Humvee and headed into the fray. For his valor, Rodriguez-Chavez, a 34-year-old who hailed originally from Acuna, Mexico, would be awarded the Navy Cross.

"They told him he couldn't go in," said Dwight Meyer, Dakota Meyer's 81-year-old grandfather, a former Marine who served in the 1950s. "He told them, 'The hell I'm not,' and he went in. It's a one-in-a-million thing" that he survived.

Meyer and Rodriguez-Chavez began evacuating wounded Marines and American and Afghan soldiers to a safe point. Meyer made five trips into the kill zone, each time searching for the forward patrol with his Marine friends — including 1st Lt. Michael Johnson — whom Meyer had heard yelling on the radio for air support.

With Meyer and Rodriguez-Chavez ready to test fate a fifth time, a UH-60 helicopter arrived at last to provide overhead support. Troops aboard the chopper told Meyer they had spotted what appeared to be four bodies. Meyer knew those were his friends and he had to bring them out.

"Dakota, I know you've grappled with the grief of that day, that you said your efforts were somehow a failure because your teammates didn't come home," the president said. "But as your commander in chief and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it's quite the opposite."

Meyer and Obama chatted informally Wednesday evening, on a patio outside the Oval Office, over a beer.

In the ceremony, Obama praised Meyer's humility and work ethic, noting that he would not even take a call from the president during his shift at a construction job because he was working. He is now out of the Marines. So they two arranged to talk over his lunch hour. Obama jokingly kidded him with thanks for taking the call.

Source - The Nation Newspaper - http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/19685-wikileaks-report-we-didn-t-need-al-qaeda-to-confront-obasanjo-says-atiku.html

solaugo:

A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Thursday said himself and ex-Governor Bola Tinubu did not need al-Qaeda to confront ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He also denied they have links with the foremost terror network.

Atiku made the clarifications in a statement released by his media office in Abuja.
The statement said: “The former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has described as absolute rubbish and utter falsehood the insinuations by Wikileaks that he and the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had links with the al-Qaeda terror network as part of their political strategy to allegedly make Nigeria ungovernable for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“The former Vice-President said that he didn’t need al-Qaeda to defend himself against Obasanjo’s evil machinations to bring him down.
“Atiku is a law-abiding citizen who would rather seek legal avenues to protect his rights than criminal conspiracy to achieve his ambition. Having gone to court fourteen times and won against former President Obasanjo in all cases, Atiku noted that it was ridiculous to imagine that he would resort to terrorism to achieve his ambition.
“The former Vice-President noted that he would have ignored the preposterous allegation by Professor Damachi, but chose to issue a rebuttal so that falsehood would not be mistaken for a credible story.
“He said the Wikileaks revelation was founded on idle stories by sources that lack credibility and integrity.
“Atiku wondered which responsible and sensible politician would harm his supporters by engaging in criminality to fight a private political war with his boss.
The statement quoted Atiku as saying: “I am adequately equipped to defend my political rights; I don’t need al-Qaeda connection to resist the oppression of Obasanjo. Rather than use al-Qaeda, the constitution and the laws of the land were my weapons against the tyranny of an intolerant dictator.
“We fought Obasanjo’s life presidency ambition using the parliament and the court of laws and the nation won the battle. We did not have any need for al-Qaeda.”
The statement added: “The former Vice-President said the fact that he and former Lagos State Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, were accused of al-Qaeda connection had exposed the political motive of the allegation.
“Professor Damachi, who was quoted by Wikileaks, admitted that he heard the allegations from Obasanjo’s loyalists in the Peoples Democratic Party at a time Atiku and Tinubu were in the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2007.
“Former Vice-President Atiku said the allegation of terrorism against him couldn’t survive in the crucible of basic credibility test because the quoted sources were unreliable vested political interests, who served as Obasanjo’s chorus boys when he turned Nigeria into one-man dictatorship.
“The United States Embassy itself, in an accompanying comment to the revelations by Professor Damachi, discredited its own source by admitting that at the time he gave his accounts, he was working for Atiku’s political rivals vying for the nation’s highest political office.
“It therefore, noted that the professor would naturally believe any damaging lies told against another politician contending for power with his boss, “ the statement added.

A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Thursday said himself and ex-Governor Bola Tinubu did not need al-Qaeda to confront ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He also denied they have links with the foremost terror network.

Atiku made the clarifications in a statement released by his media office in Abuja.
The statement said: “The former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has described as absolute rubbish and utter falsehood the insinuations by Wikileaks that he and the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had links with the al-Qaeda terror network as part of their political strategy to allegedly make Nigeria ungovernable for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“The former Vice-President said that he didn’t need al-Qaeda to defend himself against Obasanjo’s evil machinations to bring him down.
“Atiku is a law-abiding citizen who would rather seek legal avenues to protect his rights than criminal conspiracy to achieve his ambition. Having gone to court fourteen times and won against former President Obasanjo in all cases, Atiku noted that it was ridiculous to imagine that he would resort to terrorism to achieve his ambition.
“The former Vice-President noted that he would have ignored the preposterous allegation by Professor Damachi, but chose to issue a rebuttal so that falsehood would not be mistaken for a credible story.
“He said the Wikileaks revelation was founded on idle stories by sources that lack credibility and integrity.
“Atiku wondered which responsible and sensible politician would harm his supporters by engaging in criminality to fight a private political war with his boss.
The statement quoted Atiku as saying: “I am adequately equipped to defend my political rights; I don’t need al-Qaeda connection to resist the oppression of Obasanjo. Rather than use al-Qaeda, the constitution and the laws of the land were my weapons against the tyranny of an intolerant dictator.
“We fought Obasanjo’s life presidency ambition using the parliament and the court of laws and the nation won the battle. We did not have any need for al-Qaeda.”
The statement added: “The former Vice-President said the fact that he and former Lagos State Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, were accused of al-Qaeda connection had exposed the political motive of the allegation.
“Professor Damachi, who was quoted by Wikileaks, admitted that he heard the allegations from Obasanjo’s loyalists in the Peoples Democratic Party at a time Atiku and Tinubu were in the Action Congress of Nigeria in 2007.
“Former Vice-President Atiku said the allegation of terrorism against him couldn’t survive in the crucible of basic credibility test because the quoted sources were unreliable vested political interests, who served as Obasanjo’s chorus boys when he turned Nigeria into one-man dictatorship.
“The United States Embassy itself, in an accompanying comment to the revelations by Professor Damachi, discredited its own source by admitting that at the time he gave his accounts, he was working for Atiku’s political rivals vying for the nation’s highest political office.
“It therefore, noted that the professor would naturally believe any damaging lies told against another politician contending for power with his boss, “ the statement added.

A sophisticated new camera system can detect lies just by watching our faces as we talk, experts say.

The computerised system uses a simple video camera, a high-resolution thermal imaging sensor and a suite of algorithms.

Researchers say the system could be a powerful aid to security services.

It successfully discriminates between truth and lies in about two-thirds of cases, said lead researcher Professor Hassan Ugail from Bradford University.

The system, developed by a team from the universities of Bradford and Aberystwyth in conjunction with the UK Border Agency, was unveiled today at the British Science Festival in Bradford.

This new approach builds on years of research into how we all unconsciously, involuntarily reveal our emotions in subtle changes of expression and the flow of blood to our skin.

We give our emotions away in our eye movements, dilated pupils, biting or pressing together our lips, wrinkling our noses, breathing heavily, swallowing, blinking and facial asymmetry. And these are just the visible signs seen by the camera.

Even swelling blood vessels around our eyes betray us, and the thermal sensor spots them too.

Real-world test

Traditional lie detection depends on the venerable polygraph, first developed in 1921, a much more invasive apparatus with a set of wires attached to the skin. This new device promises non-invasive, even covert truth tests in real time.

"We bring together all this well-established work on expressions, these recent developments in thermal imaging, techniques for image tracking of subjects and our new algorithms into one operational system," said Professor Ugail.

So far, the team has only tested its lie detector on willing volunteers rather than in a real-life, high stakes situation. Later this year, though, they plan to deploy it in a UK airport, probably running alongside experienced immigration officers as they conduct security interviews. The algorithms can then be tested against the verdicts of these officers.

"In a real, high-stress situation, we might get an even higher success rate," noted Professor Ugail, who believes he'll eventually be able to detect around 90% of those who are lying, which is similar to the performance of the polygraph.

The researchers acknowledge, though, that these tests can never be 100% accurate.

What they detect are emotions, such as distress, fear or distrust, and not the act of lying itself. Fear can sometimes be the fear of not being believed rather than the fear of being caught.

Nigeria's latest Earth observation satellites have returned their first pictures.

The spacecraft, launched on 17 August, give the African nation a powerful new capability to map its own lands and other parts of the globe.

NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X will also assist the Disaster Monitoring Constellation.

This UK-managed fleet of spacecraft is used to picture regions of the Earth gripped by natural calamities.

These might be catastrophic floods or a big earthquake. Images sent down from space will often be critical to organising an effective emergency response.

The first picture released from the Nigerian pair is of New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland.

It was acquired by NigeriaSat-X, and reveals the buildings and the landscape surrounding this major urban centre.

It is just possible to see the wakes of ships passing under the harbour bridge that joins downtown Auckland with North Shore City.

The satellite is equipped with a multi-spectral imager for general mapping agricultural monitoring and disaster relief work.

Nigerian engineers built NigeriaSat-X with the help of their British counterparts. The resolution in this picture is 22m per pixel. Vegetation is picked out in red.

Both NigeriaSat-X and NigeriaSat-2 were designed and built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) in Guildford, UK.

What is interesting about NigeriaSat-X is that the work was undertaken by Nigerian engineers themselves. The skills they have learnt will now be taken home so that they can build future spacecraft in their own country.

It is a model previously followed by Turkey. Its engineers received their education at SSTL as well, and the same rocket that launched the Nigerian platforms also launched Rasat.

This remote sensing satellite (7.5m resolution) is the first to have been developed and manufactured in Turkey by Turkish engineers.

SSTL Executive Chairman, Sir Martin Sweeting, commented: "NigeriaSat-X is the product of Nigeria's training and development programme here at Surrey.

"It is a great credit to NASRDA (National Space Research and Development Agency) and their engineers that this satellite is performing well and its operations are progressing so quickly.

"These highly skilled engineers will not only help Nigeria to manage its resources, but also bootstrap its fledgling high-tech economy alongside a growing nucleus of highly trained people."

A first picture should be released from NigeriaSat-2 in the coming days. This is a much more powerful platform, able to resolve details on the Earth's surface just 2.5m across.

Few countries in the world have access to such a capability.

By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14679166