₦airaland Forum

Igbo kwenu

Nigerian films, a must-watch in DRC – Ambassador
News Mar 21, 2011

Kinshasa - The Nigerian ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Hussein Abdullahi, said on Sunday in Kinshasa that Nigerian films were a must-watch for the Congolese.

`The Nollywood films are doing well in Congo to the point that even the Congolese President Joseph Kabila watches Nigerian films,’’ he said.

`We have been talking to Nigerians that it is another platform for us to be able to showcase Nigeria to the world. Nollywood is doing well in the DRC.’’

The ambassador said Nollywood films showcased Nigeria to the outside world and they are shown in cinema houses, video clubs, and shops and even in market places across Congo.

According to him, these films are very educational and have united many unhappy families in the DRC after watching some of them.

The ambassador also recalled that Nigerians had been on the peace-keeping operations in the DRC and had contributed to the peace and stability in the country.

He stressed that Nigeria had been known to contribute to peace-building and peace-keeping in many parts of the world, and particularly in Africa where it is a formidable member of the African Union.

Abdullahi alsosaid that Nigeria would translate its bilateral agreement with the DRC into a working tool by ensuring that the joint bilateral commission became vibrant

3000 Nigerians live and trade in DRC — Ambassador
He further declared that about 3,000 Nigerians live and trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria’s ambassador in that country, Mr Hussein Abdullahi, has said.

The DRC has a population of 67 million, Abdullahi said that most of the Nigerians were from the south eastern part of Nigeria and that they traded in auto spare parts, electronics, food items and clothing.

Majority of them, he said, operated their businesses from containers placed I various parts of the city.

“In Kinshasa we have 3,000 Nigerians mostly from the South East and they are essentially in the spare part trade going to Dubai and China to buy these things and sell within Congo and other countries like Zambia and the rest.

“We have just been able to establish the union. The president is Emeka Ejike and we are trying to ensure that we flag them with the new policies of what we call the citizen diplomacy.’’

Abdullahi urged Nigerian airlines trying to establish link in Congo to be involved in insuring that the Nigeria union is involved in these trade with them.

According to the ambassador, DRC is a land-locked country and has problem in terms of trading through a sea port. Its port is not big enough for maritime trade, but Nigerians are doing their best t cope.

The ambassador added that Nigeria’s balance of trade with the DRC was difficult to establish because the former Belgian colony had been through more than four decades of war and was just trying to stabilise its political arrangement.

He said while some countries had closed their embassies in the DRC because of its political crises, Nigeria had stayed on, making it the oldest diplomatic mission in that country.

Abdullahi also noted that Nigerians living in the DRC were not known for criminal activities, except in some cases where some did not regularize their residency papers, a phenomenon common among foreigners living in that country.

“ Nigerians are not involved in human trafficking. They are content with their spare parts business,’’ he stressed.

The ambassador said that the president of the Nigeria business union had been doing his best to organise the businessmen and women and educating them on how best to conduct themselves.

Abdullahi explained that majority of the Nigerian business people in the DRC got into the country through relations already resident there. (NAN)

One (Buhari) down another (Ribadu) to follow. Nigeria is not Northern Republic of Nigeria. It is simply Nigeria, where every region should be able to participate in governance at the highest level. After more than 35 years of leadership out of about 50 years, the North has nothing to show for ruling the country that long. They should, therefore, take a back seat for some time and let others be tested.

Consensus talks among ACN, CPC, ANPP still on - Ribadu *Emirs, Northern leaders reject Buhari


Monday, March 28, 2011

THE main opposition political parties in the country, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) are still discussing the issue of a consensus presidential candidate among themselves, ACN standard-bearer in April's presidential election, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed in Minna, Niger State, on Sunday.



advertisement

Malam Ribadu, who fielded questions from newsmen at the Minna International Airport on arrival in the Niger State capital for the kick-off of his presidential campaign, said the consensus talks were "real, alive and on the front burner."

He said the consensus talks were about getting the best candidate to rule Nigeria, adding that "we are talking about progressives coming together for at least one individual to confront the Peoples Democratic Party."

"We are talking about a progressive candidate, someone who is going to come and solve the problems of our people," adding that the consensus matter was beyond a political party because it was a national project. Ribadu said that it required the support and contributions of all progressive elements in the country.

"We are not seeking for a northern consensus candidate but for a person that is capable of solving the country's multifaceted problems.

"We believe that Nigeria is one and our problem as a nation is the same. The problem that is confronting the North is the same that is confronting the South. We need the best, the most competent president that will come and solve the problem of the country. If he is from northern Nigeria, so be it. We are looking for the best person to lead this country."

Ribadu, who was received at the airport by a large number of party faithful, said the "the broom revolution is on.

The broom revolution is taking over the country," assuring the electorate that "ACN government will effect a change, we are going to do what is good for our country."The people will see the difference when we take over the leadership of this country, we are going to give a leadership that the people will trust and believe in."

He maintained that the ACN government "will work for the development of the country."

Accompanied by Mr Fola Adeola, his running mate and the chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Ribadu later addressed a rally at the polo field in the state capital.

Meanwhile, reports emanating from the recent campaign tours of northern states by some leaders of the zone, who have been meeting traditional and religious leaders on behalf of President Jonathan, indicated that traditional rulers from the three geopolitical zones of the North have rejected the choice of the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

A team led by eminent northern leaders, including Dr Shettima Mustapha, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, among others, had been going round the states of the North in the last one week, with a message of cooperation and collaboration between the North and the South-South in the next election.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that reports emanating from the tours indicated that the northern political establishment was not in support of Buhari.

The zone was also being persuaded, according to sources, by the declaration of President Jonathan that he would not seek re-election in 2015.

Sources said Buhari's alleged refusal to explain his agenda to any of the top political and religious leaders in the North had also hampered his perception among them.

Political violence: Oyo PDP sends SOS to police boss
By Olalekan Adetayo
Sunday, 27 Mar 2011
 


The Oyo State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has called on the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Bolanta, to protect the lives and properties of its members against the increasing violence being allegedly perpetrated by political thugs suspected to be members of opposition Action Congress of Nigeria in the state.

The party made the appeal in a statement made available to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital on Saturday by its Director of Media and Strategy, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas.

The statement enjoined the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged harassment and intimidation of traders at the New Gbagi International Market, Ibadan who are mainly supporters of the PDP on Wednesday when the ACN governorship candidate, Senator, Abiola Ajimobi, went campaigning there.

The statement also noted that the following day, political thugs alleged to be sympathetic to ACN unleashed terror at Agodi Gate where they destroyed over 12 vehicles belonging to the sympathisers of the PDP.

Thomas claimed that many people were injured in the process.

He alleged that the members of the ACN in the state were conducting themselves violently because it was already clear that they would not win the forthcoming election.

The party called on the police boss to rise to the occasion because “it is clear the ACN wants to throw this state into anarchy so that the result of the election may be cancelled.”

The PDP expressed its preparedness to maintain the peace because it was sure of victory at the coming polls.

“The PDP will do everything to maintain the peace but if the police fail to prevent the emergence of anarchy which the ACN is working towards, the PDP will have no choice but to protect and defend its members against the terrorist acts of these reactionary elements parading themselves as latter day progressives,” the statement added.

It was not clear at press time whether the police boss has received a copy of the Save Our Soul message.

Non-indigenes in Ondo endorse Jonathan

| Print | E-mail

Written by Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure Sunday, 27 March 2011

THE chances of the President Goodluck Jonathan to win in Ondo State has received a boost as the 85,000-member Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum (AKPF) and other non-indigene groups in the state endorsed the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.

The groups said this while addressing chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the state chairman, Dr. Omotayo Dairo and the State Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation during the inauguration of the local government coordinators of the organisation in Akure.

The State Coordinator of AKPF, Mr. Frank Umoh, said the group which was a baby of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state spread across the 18 local government areas of the state and was ready to work for the actualization of Jonathan presidency.

He regretted that despite their number, successive administrations in Ondo State had neglected them and treated them differently when it comes to issues of development in the state.

Umoh, who said members of the group had already registered in Ondo State, added that the people were ready to join the mainstream of the campaign for the president and ensure that the PDP wins the presidential election in Ondo State.

PDP thugs vandalise Lagos ACN deputy governorship candidate’s campaign office
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
Emmanuel Oladesu 27/03/2011 00:45:00
image Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire

There was pandemonium yesterday in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State, following the invasion of the campaign office of the running mate to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire,  by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP thugs.

Residents took to their heels as the hoodlums, who were allegedly led by the PDP House of Assembly candidate for Alimoso Constituency, Segun Adewale, brandished dangerous weapons, including guns, cutlasses, axes and broken bottles.

Eye witnesses told our correspondent that the thugs shot into the campaign office located along 85-87, Idimu Road, wounding four persons. The victims were immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Alimoso, along Egbeda-Iba Road.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation said the matter had been reported at the police station, Idimu, and State Security Services (SSS) Office, Shangisha.

ACN Chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, condemned the attack saying that PDP is jittery over the general elections.

He said the resort to intimidation and violence has confirmed that PDP is finished in the state, urging Lagosians to reject the conservative party at the polls.

The invasion of Adefulire’s campaign office came on the heels of the attack on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) House of Assembly member in Alimoso Constituency, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, by suspected PDP thugs. Also, the chairman of Olorunda Local council Development area (LCDA), Hon. Amida Abudu, cried out that PDP chieftains have concluded plans to arrest ACN leaders and supporters on the eve of the National Assembly elections holding on Saturday.

He said: “PDP chieftains have been intimidating us in the Badagry Division. They say they want to capture Badagry for PDP because the state PDP chairman, Setonji Koshoedo, is from Badagry. We are not intimidated because our party is waxing stronger in this division. biut we must not leve anything to chances”.

Orelope-Adefulire, who took exception to the attack on her campaign office, said the resort to hooliganism by the PDP candidate marked him out as an enemy of the peace-loving people of Alimosho.

Narrating her ordeal, she said: “I was at a rallyorganised by our party, ACN, in Apapa, when I was informed that my campaign office, located in my father’s house, was invaded by the PDP candidate for the House of Assembly in Alimoso Constituency.

“He came with thugs who shot at my office. They wounded four persons, vandalised the office and damaged many office equipment. He has been going about with nefarious activities in the area for three weeks. We have reported him at the police station, Idimu, SSS office, Idimu and Shangisha”.

The running mate added: “I don’t know what PDP is up to. If the PDP candidate is afraid or not ready for the election, the best option is for him to withdraw from the election. He should withdraw, if he is frustrated”.

Collaborating the commissioner, ACN House of Representatives candidate in Alimoso Federal Constituency, hon. Adeola Olamilekan, said the attack was unwarranted, warning that PDP wanted to derail the elections.

He said: ‘Between 10.30 am and 11 am, we were getting set for our campaign. Then, PDP members were seen super-imposing PDP posters on ACN posters. PDP boys were challenged for doing that. They now went and reinforced and came back with guns, matchets and other dangerous weapons. They stormed the campaign office of Mrs Joke Orelope-Adefulire and started shooting sporadically. Blood flowed, cars were damaged and the office damaged.

“We alerted the police and they came to restore order. The PDP boys opened fire on police. The police over-powered them and one of their cars crashed into a drainage and one of the boys was arrested. the incident was reported to the police. Police and SSS called the PDP candidate for interrogation, but an order came from Abuja that he should be released”.

Also narrating his experience, Hon. Yusuf said: ‘At 4 pm, at Abesan Estate, when I was going for campaign, we ran into the PDP entourage. I was attacked. My banner was seized and set on fire i reported the incident to policemen at Ayobo Station’.

Hon. Amida said the plan by PDP to drum fear into ACN members in Badagry would fail, addingb that PDP chieftains are cowards.

“PDP is afraid of this contest and they will meet their waterloo on Saturday”, he added.

rhymz:
The advantage GEJ has over all the candidates is the bulk support and followership he commands in the whole of the eastern region especially the igbos. The eastern region has the highest number of population spread and that is what is going to give GEJ the widespread acceptance that the constitution demands. Take for instance the NW and the SW regions which have the higest numbers of registered voters have a good number of Igbo people in their mix; lagos Kano and Kaduna whose numbers are the highest can attest to my claim.

In essence, Igbo determine who wins.

Buhari, as a serial loser, will lose again. As for Ribadu and his rascally motley ACN crowd, I dey laugh.

Wetie yes; and that is the crux of my own argument. You can keep beating about the bush like the fool you are.

Wetie saga =precedence 1
Omoboriowo saga =precedence 2
Abiola and all the June 12 killings =precedence 3
Funso Williams  and others =precedence 4
Dipo Dina and others =precedence 5
April 2011 = precedence 6

Omoboriowo is not what am talking about. Wetie is not Omoboriowo. Mumu, Omoboriowo was later, also showing a second precedence of political violence and killing in your part.

Awo got a jail term due to wild wild west. Awo was released from Enugu prison by Ojukwu.

^^`Wetie is the same as Akintola's killing? What a glorified olodo

Did wild wild west (wetie) happen before or after the coup? Simple answer. Before

^^`Wetie is the same as Akintola's killing? What a glorified olodo

See mumus wey no know their own history. No wonder they claim Odua fell from the sky.

Crisis in Western Nigeria

Prior to independence, he was persuaded by prominent members of the Action Group to lead the party as Leader of the Opposition at the Federal Parliament, leaving Samuel Ladoke Akintola as the Western Region Premier. Serious disagreement between Awolowo and Akintola on how to run the western region led the latter to an alliance with the Tafawa Balewa-led NPC federal government. A contrived constitutional crisis led to a declaration of a state of emergency in the Western Region, eventually resulting in the Agbekoya crisis of the late 1960s.

Excluded from national government, the position of Awolowo and his party became increasingly precarious. Akintola's followers, angered at their exclusion from power, formed the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) under Akintola's leadership. A constitutional crisis in the region led the federal parliament to declare a state of emergency in the Western region. The federal government suspended the elected Western Regional Assembly, and then reconstituted the body after controversial new elections that brought the NNDP in control. Shortly afterward, Awolowo and several disciples were charged and jailed for conspiring with some Ghanaian authorities under Kwame Nkrumah to overthrow the federal government.[6] The remnants of the Action Group fought the National election of 1965 in alliance with the largely Igbo, and south-eastern NCNC. Amid accusation of fraud by the opposition, the NPC-NNDP won the election. There were violent riots in some parts of the Western region.

Politics of the First Republic

The country was split into three geopolitical regions — Western Region, Eastern Region and Northern Region — and its political parties took on the identities and ideologies of each region. The Northern People's Party (NPC) represented the interests of the predominantly Hausa/Fulani Northern Region, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) (later renamed to National Council of Nigerian Citizens) represented the predominantly Igbo Eastern Region, and the Action Group (AG) dominated the Yoruba Western Region. The NPC took control of the federal parliament, and formed a coalition government with the NCNC. Ahmadu Bello, leader of the NPC, was poised to become the Prime Minister, but instead he chose to become the Premier of the Northern Region, and supported his deputy Tafawa Balewa's candidacy for Prime Minister. This raised suspicions amongst the southern politicians, who resented the idea of a federal government controlled by a regional leader through his designated proxy. In the end, Tafawa Balewa of NPC was named Prime Minister and Head of Government, and Nnamdi Azikiwe of NCNC was named President. At Nigeria's independence, the Northern Region gained more seats in parliament than both Eastern and Western regions combined—this would cement Northern dominance in Nigerian politics for years to come. Resentment amongst southern politicians precipitated into political chaos in the country. Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of Western Region, was charged with sedition and convicted in a controversial trial. With incarceration of Awolowo, Samuel Akintola was elected as the Premier of Western Region. Akintola was widely seen as a tool of the North, and he presided over the most chaotic era in Western Region—one which earned it the nickname "the Wild-Wild West". This forced the Balewa government to crack-down on lawlessness in the West using military might.

^^^^^
You are a fool. Wetie (wild wild west) happened before the coup. You are a mumu of the highest order.

^^^^^^

Mumu I have always known you are an ignoramus par excellence. You do not even know your own checkered history? Go and ask your equally ignorant father when wetie happened.

After the coup (Ironsi>Gowon> Muhammed> Obasanjo>Shagari), there was no civilian regime until Shagari. So when did Akintola happen? See how crassly moronic you are?

Eko ile is the veritable fasola ar/se licker. I hope he does not leave a hole in Fasola's an-us

Aigbofa:
Didn't ibos carry out the mother of all political violence in Nigeria to date, by violently overthrowing the first democratically elected government and murdering several elected leaders except those of ibo origin?

What other precedence are you talking about?

How far back in history are you willing to go? Okay! Remember wetie and wild wild west? Awo, omoboriowo, Akintola, the agbekoyas, etc? All which occurred before the coup in which a Yoruba was also a co-mastermind. Does it make sense now?

Buhari=serial loser and as with all serial losers, he will lose again. Say no to a shariarist. Say no to a high-wired bigot. Say no to secret corruption and pretense.

PapaBrowne:
This is good news!! We need Sharia in the south West!! That is the exact reason we should vote in Buhari so he can hasten the implementation of Sharia. We really need Sharia in the south West!!

Supported. Please make haste and bring sharia to the SW. They desire it badly.

Olumogun:
While some politically ignorant ones are already ranting here,
I will advice that we ALL wait until after the election before we come here
with the total casualties from each state and zones,
then we can talk about who is FOOLISH, silly, or VIOLENT.

There is a precedence on political violence in Nigeria. While the North, East and South South can raise hell during elections, they hardly kill themselves on account of politics. The same cannot be said about the West. Got it? ACN of the south west brought the first indication of political killings to the greater East (Akwa Ibom, now in South South) recently.

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=632285.msg7993738#msg7993738 date=1301182727]Why should there be any implementations to the constitution for religion. Is this not a clear way of Islamic imposition. First islamic banking, then OIC(or whatever its called), and now they are trying to spread sharia to all states by a constitutional implementation. Where does it stop? Do they not have sharia courts in the sharia states? Why can't we establish Igbo religion across the states in nigeria and put up an Igbo religious court system as well? How bout the Yorubas, Ibibios, and others do the same. Whats so special about muslims?[/quote]Their quest for sharia will end where you have a preponderance of muslims, namely North and South West. The East and South South are no-go areas.

Shari’ah states seek constitutional amendment for rights of Muslims

Adamu Suleiman, 26/03/2011 01:50:00




The 5th National Conference for Shari’ah implementing states ended yesterday in Sokoto with a call for the amendment of the constitution to address the rights of the muslim population, just as it immediately established a National Council on Shari’ah Implementing States.

It also viewed with utmost concern, the need to extend necessary support to the South-western part of Nigeria in their quest for the actualisation of the Shari’ah legal system in the region.

In its 8-point communiqué signed by Dr.Abubakar Nababa Umar, Permanent Secretary in the state Religious Affairs ministry at the end of the 3- day conference held at the Shukurah-Coral Hotel, Sokoto, it also urged Muslims to unite for a common goal, particularly on Shari’ah implementation in order to achieve the desired peace and unity in the country.

Similarly, the Sharia implementing states in the communiqué made it mandatory for Muslims to actualise the economic foundation of Sharia in addition to criminal issues. They were also called upon to take advantage of the Internet and ICT facilities to ensure the management of information and facilitation of the course of Shari,ah

The open air conference venue which witnessed attendance from 12 official Sharia implementing states of Bauchi, Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi , Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Gombe and Yobe also attracted representatives from Oyo and Lagos states including numerous others yet to officially implement the Sharia system.

However, the conference urged Nigerians to avoid political thuggery and money politics in order to achieve a smooth political dispensation in the country.


http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/31855.html

Sharia will be good for the Swners. They cannot eat their cake and have it. Either they are muslims like Tinubu or they are not. No in-betweens.lol

This is what Buhari and Ribadu will first bring to bear on other Nigerians should they smell Aso Rock. Spit both men out, now.

Who the frigging hell is Banky and Eldee? Who cares about them? Do they have more than one vote apiece?

Rascally Tinubu boys

Buhari will lose, as always. How can a goat lead a people, freewilly?

Aigbofa:
More foolish than ibos who kidnap ibo children?

Yes, of course more foolish and even more so as they also kidnap their grannies and obas in Ekiti. Foolish people indeed. Shior!!

Ribadu is a loser and Buhari is a serial loser. In a few days they both will be sulking like babies denied of their moms' mammalias.