As the 2015 presidential election draws near, a group under the umbrella of Northern Youth Voters Forum (NYVF) has appealed to former Head of State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to drop his presidential ambition and support former vice president, Abubakar Atiku.


The group said Atiku had the political muscle and capacity to chase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of government in the next general elections.


The northern youths cited the role Atiku played under former president Olusegun Obasanjo, by reportedly standing his ground and kicking against the third term ambition of Obasanjo, saying only such a personality could wrest power from any presidential candidate in 2015.


They also notedthat since General Buhari had contested the presidency three consecutive times and was not successful,it was not wise to give him another opportunity for fear that it might not favour him and his numerous supporters.


Addressing newsmen yesterday, the National Coordinator of the group, Idris Ibrahim, repeatedly said only Atiku had the political ability to defeat PDP's candidate in the forthcoming presidential contest.


Ibrahim, who was accompanied by members of he youth group that trooped out in their large numbers, wearing shirts and caps with the picture of Alhaji Atiku printed on them, unanimously endorsed the candidature of the former vice president as their presidential flag bearer on APC platform.


"We are using the opportunity to appeal and request the pleasure of our humble leader with honesty and sincerity, General Muhammadu Buhari, to kindly join Turakin's movement in making Nigeria one of the best. We need your support, we need your cooperation and we need your contribution to save the Nigerian security and economic challenges.


"We have agreed to endorse Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as our presidential aspirant in the forthcoming 2015 general elections. We are using this opportunity to urge the aspirants to give their total support and acknowledge the movement of making Atiku, Turakin Adamawa, the president of Nigeria in 2015.


"Our presidential aspirant knows the PDP's maneuvers above any other presidential aspirant and knowing your enemy is the key success to knocking him down; Turakin will knock down PDP in 2015," the group stated.


"Based on the above reasons, we find it mandatory to support this political giant for credible leadership to establish a better Nigeria, we the Northern Youths Voters Forum do hereby assure the world that on behalf of our families, relatives, youths and elders, hereby declare, endorse and give our votes to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as our presidential candidate in 2015, " the national coordinator said.
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/aug/4/509.html

Biafra my father land here I come

Na lie why d doctor dnt cover his nose,head n body

Space booked

vedaxcool: Fat boy na so u dey fear? I thought u were planning to make blood rain in nigeria if don't ebola jonathan is not reelected? Coward! Na so obj arrest u like common rat , nonsense.

After arresting him wht happen?
He walk freely n his piple love him infant he has mouth 4 Nig more dan OBJ
I luv him becos he is a no nonsense man
Niger delta can never 4get him

Peace is wht we need in Nigeria nt war

UMUAHIA- OHANEZE Youth Council [OYC] has given the Northern Governors’ Forum a 21-day ultimatum to take drastic action against the its youth wing, Arewa Consultative Forum over its statement concerning investments of Ndigbo in the North.

The group was reported to have cautioned that Ndigbo have billions of investment in the North which be at danger if Northerners in the Igboland were asked to leave on the allegation of being Boko Haram members.

It said the statement tantamount to placing the lives and properties of Ndigbo in the North at danger. OYC called Northern governors to reassure Ndigbo in their states of their safety.

According to OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the silence of the Northern Governors’ Forum in the midst of such threat was dangerous and warned that at the expiration of the ultimatum, it would be forced to take other appropriate actions.

“The Ohanaeze Youth Wing rejoices with our Muslim brothers on the occasion of this year's Eid El Fitr celebration. In the spirit of Sallah, we enjoin them to promote peaceful co-existence by imbibing the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

“In the same vein, we ask the Northern Governors' Forum under the leadership of Dr. Babangida Muazu Aliyu of Niger State to reassure Ndi-Igbo domiciled in the North of their safety and their continued preparedness to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians in their respective states.

“This has become necessary owing to recent statements emanating from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) listing Igbo investments in the North as targets of possible attacks based on unfounded claims of victimization of Hausa/ Fulani Muslims in Imo State”, Isiguzoro said.

Isiguzoro further said that it was challenging that “such Hausa/Fulani Muslims who were allegedly victimized by Governor Rochas Okorocha's Government to make their identities known and in the spirit of oneness, the Ohanaeze Youth Wing shall use all legal means to champion their cause".

According to the group, "based on intelligence reports that Boko Haram is working assiduously to setup bases in Eastern Nigeria, we ask security agencies in Ala-Igbo to be alert and not to be distracted by ongoing attempts to politicize issues of national security".

“We urge Dr. Aliyu Mu'azu to emulate Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State, who as Chairman, South East Governors' Forum has always assured Hausa/ Fulani Muslims and all other non-Igbos resident in Ala-Igbo of their safety.

“From our intelligence reports, Ndi-Igbo in North are apprehensive since no Northern leader, especially the Governors, has come out to condemn the anti-Igbo statement from the ACF.

“We commend Ndi-Igbo in the North for being peaceful and we enjoin them to remain vigilant while living harmoniously with their hosts. Obviously, the present threat to Ndigbo is in response to their perceived support for President Jonathan's 2015 re-election bid.

“If within 21 days the Northern Governors' Forum does not deem it necessary to reassure Ndi-Igbo in their domain of their safety, the Ohanaeze Youth Wing shall take necessary action”, OYC warned.
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/31/333.html

The leadership of a pressure group, Igbo Ga-Adi-Mma has warned members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), not to disturb its members, saying they represent a peaceful group.


In a statement issued in Onitsha, the leader of the group in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Comrade Goodluck Oguejiofor, said his group had not done anything to interfere with the activities of MASSOB and should therefore, not be disturbed by MASSOB or any other group.


Comrade Oguejiofor said some uninformed MASSOB members had tried to castigate Igbo Ga-Adi Mma and tarnish its image unnecessarily.


He said: "We are a peaceful organisation with the sole objective of propagating the course of Igbo people. We are not violent and would not at any point, promote violence.


"We, therefore, want to appeal to all and sundry to understand our mission and allow the organization to function without any interference from MASSOB or any group of people, for that matter."


The Igbo Ga-Adi Mma leader said it was ridiculous that MASSOB, which image had been widely battered, could engage in smearing the good name of Igbo Ga-Adi Mma, rather than carrying out an image laundering of itself.
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/29/514.html

Asari d iron man I love him

Guys if u tink ds guy is a lier



Like my post

Isreal God's own country anybody dat curse u r curse 4 ever n anybody dat bless u Will be bless 4 ever

Bt who 1st throw stone hamas or isreal?

Boko harm in trouble

rozayx5: who first threw the stone

U dey mind those fOolish piple

Pandemonium rocked the General Hospital, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend when armed robbers unleashed hell on patients and workers.

It was gathered that the robbers, for the umpteenth time, in the hospital raped patients and female workers before carting away their belongings including cash, GSM handsets and other valuables.

Investigation revealed that the robbers, who were many, shot into the air on arrival and ordered the people around, including medical personnel to lie face down before executing their mission. Checks by Daily Sun revealed that this was the third time men of the underworld would terrorise the hospital and they succeeded on each occasion.

Consequently, the people of the area are now scared-stiff to patronise the hospital as their safety was no longer guaranteed. A middle-aged woman, who visited her hospitalised relations, said she could not stay up to five minutes for fear of being attacked by robbers.

Meanwhile, relations of other patients at the hospital are already withdrawing their wards and relocating them to other hospitals and herbal homes. Most of those who spoke with Daily Sun urged the state government to provide security in the hospital to curb the excesses of bandits, who had made life unbearable for patients and workers.

In another development, a suspected armed robber was set ablaze by a mob for robbing members of a church at gun point in Warri, Delta State. The suspect and two others had stormed the church located in the busy Kolokolo area of Warri and dispossessed worshippers of their valuables.

Sources told Daily Sun that the bandits shot severally into the air, ordering everybody to lie face down and dispossessed them of their money, GSM handsets as well as the offering.

Nemesis, however, caught up with the hoodlums when some of the worshippers, who managed to escape, raised the alarm, which attracted passers-by. Sensing that their game was up, two of the robbers narrowly escaped but the third was apprehended and given the beating of his life and set ablaze.
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/22/517.html

A palpable panic has gripped non-northerners resident in Kano State following a threat by Arewa Youth Development Foundation (AYDF) insisting that southerners must obtain settlers permit to remain in the North.


Indication to this effect emerged after an emergency meeting of the Ethnic Traditional Leaders Forum in Kano, which consisted of traditional rulers of the South-west, South-east and South-south regions.


A press release signed by His Highness Alhaji Abdullahi Salihu, Oba Yoruba, Deacon Fred Akhigbe, Enogie and Igwe Boniface Ibekwe expressed their fears and also condemned the threat by the northern youth group that non-northerners residing in any part of the North should relocate to their various regions of origin within two weeks to give way for northerners coming back home.


The traditional rulers furtherdeclared that there is no iota of truth in the accusation of harassment of northerners in the south as contained in the statement signed by the AYDF National President, Aliyu Usman, a lawyer.


They, therefore, charged the Federal Government and the relevant security agencies to treat seriously the threats made bythe Arewa Youth Development Foundation (AYDF)in the interest of all.


They stated further: "That we, as leaders, distance ourselves from the tumultuous intolerance being exhibited by AYDF as non-indigenes whose main task as true Nigerians is to preach unity and peaceful co-existence for the good of all."


They advised southernersin the north to stay put and continue to do their lawful businesses even as they implored the southern governors not to join the mischief-makers working against the sustenance of a united Nigeria.


"We shall not be a party to the agenda of failed leadership whose allegiance is to their cabals of origin masquerading as "owners of Nigeria" instead of building a more united, stronger and progressive nation the group said.


Last Wednesday, the ArewaYouth Development Foundation had charged Northern governors to come up with deliberate policies compelling southerners residing in the north to immediately obtain settlers permit.


The youth group made the call during a protest rally held at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11, wherethey presented their petition to the new monarch, alleging that northerners in the south were subjected to intimidation and harassment.


The youth group, which appeared to be fronting for some interests in the state, carried placards that rained unprintable abuses on the people of southern Nigeria during the rally.


They also challenged their governors to take practical steps to ensure the immediate release of northerners currently detained in the south while asking the Federal Government to bring an end to thekillings and destruction
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/20/513.html

Despite the pervading lull occasioned by the Ramadan season, frontline presidential contenders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are leaving nothing to chance in their bid to get the nod of the party to fly the party's flag in next year's elections.


With eyes on the forthcoming national convention of the party, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who only joined the party six months ago has made tremendous inroads through benchmarking his wide network of contacts within and outside the party. Also high on the beat is former military Head of State and three-time presidential runner, Gen Mohammadu Buhari (retd) and Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.


While Buhari has already opened campaign offices in about 22 states evenly spread in the six geo-political zones, Kwankwaso has stepped up his consultative base, reaching out to influential power brokers within and outside the party. His consultations so far have been limited to the North where, Sunday Sun learnt, he plans to make his initial stronghold, through "endearing the APC and his person to the people." As part of his strategic manoeuvre, he recently floated a survey poll to ascertain his popularity and chances of clinching the party ticket, against interested and tested heavyweights like Atiku and Buhari.


While his relentless attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have shored up his popularity in the party, he is said to be constrained by peer rivalry and limited geo-political vision.


Most of the power players from the South, who would ordinarily have teamed up with him, are gradually withdrawing since the entry of Atiku into the race, and have indeed counseled on a mellowed anti-south sentiments in order to have a hitch-free victory.


"His views on North-South issues are too strong for a man who wants to be presidential candidate of a national party. He needs to moderate these views and carry everyone along" Sunday Sun was told.


Some of his arch-supporters who have apparently taken a reticent lukewarmness to his ambition include Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, and former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki.


In fact Amaechi, who initially was positioned as his running mate has since re-aligned and has had extensive discussions with Atiku.


Buhari's presidential ambition in the party has never waned. The ex-military General has nurtured and dressed-up a close rapport and association with the power base of the party, fuelling speculations that the ticket is his, just for the asking.


The burgeoning relationship with a leader of the party, and former Lagos governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been the source of multiple frictions in the party and innuendoes of a Muslim/Muslim ticket plot. The lid to the plot blew open during and after the recent first national convention of the party. It has led to mass-disaffection with notable party stalwarts like former Borno State governor Alli Modu Sheriff, and ex-minister Femi Fani-Kayode defecting to the PDP.


Suspicions of a pact between Buhari and Tinubu which paved the way for a rancour-free constitution of the National Executive of the party and zoning of elective offices have also elevated Buhari's ambition while thwarting the interests of prospects. "He did not raise his finger against Tinubu's imposition of officers. The duo also conspired to zone offices including elective ones tothe zones that will match their interest. The fact that Buhari began opening offices and doing subtle campaign when others were yet to recover from the ripples of the convention is another pointer to their well-heeled plot," Sunday Sun was told.


Reacting to the development, spokesman of Atiku, Mallam Garba Shehu, while not denying emphatically that the Turakin Adamawa has opened offices and intensified consultations said, "Turakin has never left politics. There are always politicians around him. I don't know if that is what people are referring to as consultations. On the issue of campaign offices, we only have an APC support office in Yola. I am not aware that there are other offices in other states."


He described the campaign posters, pairing Atiku with Amaechi, which have adorned some major streets in Abuja, Yola and Port-Harcourt as the handiwork of "mischievous people". You know, sometimes people do some of these things to achieve certain selfish ends. If posters are to be printed, my office will see to it, and as I am talking to you now, we have not printed any."


Shehu also explained Atiku's role in the zoning of elective offices and emergence of national officers of the party at the last convention.


The former vice-president allegedly refrained from interfering with the methods that propped up the zoning and substantive national officersand has since remained indifferent despite rife speculations about his frontline presidential aspiration status.


"My principal allowed the fowls to have their pick, and they did. No one is rattled. Turakin is a firm believer in democracy and its ideals. The presidential ticket has been zoned to the North. That is the battlefield," Shehu explained.


Calculations within the party are pointing towards an upset. The general belief is that of a likelihood of a Buhari/Tinubu candidature, but there are also conjectures that Atiku may cause an upset because of the perception that he has what it takes to give President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP a good run. Those who are inclined to this, cite his political astuteness, and how he snatched the Northern consensus ticket ahead of acknowledged bigwigs including General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), Buhari, and General Aliyu Gusau (retd) in 2010.


Meanwhile, the three presidential aspirants have been linked to some faceless motley groups within the party drumming support for their aspirations. One of the groups, "National Support Initiative" in a statement last week canvassed support for Kwankwaso's presidential ambition, describing him "as a patriot and selfless leader."


The Turaki Vanguard similarly is in the forefront of the former vice-president's ambition. The group, led by N'dua Wakado earlier last month enunciated his sterling qualities and pre-qualification for the exalted seat. "He is detribalized, visionary, courageous and an unrivalled philanthropist. He deserves the ticket of the party and the exalted seat of the president," the statement said.


On the issue of presidential running mate, while Tinubu is believed to be in near-full grasp of it, the outgoing Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi is being positioned as a fall back in case Tinubu's candidacy fails to pull through.


Fayemi's name has dwarfed other fringe contenders since the June 21 catastrophic governorship elections in Ekiti State. Since the position has been zoned to the South- west generally presumed as the biggest stronghold of the APC, other aspirants like the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, and ex-Abia State governor and former national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, may have re-adjusted their interests in line with the party policy. There is a perceptible freeze in their wide consultations across the length and breadth of the country since the last convention. Okorocha, who initially wanted to fly the flag of the party, necessitating his controversial defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) later modified his ambition for a vice- presidential slot. He had engaged in a whirlwind campaign criss-crossing the nation, meeting influential Emirs, colleague-governors and other eminent leaders of thought within and outside the party. He had hoped to leverage on his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. He had also inthe pursuit of this goal awarded monumental contracts covering roads, and buildings to many contractors of Northern extraction in his state, turning Owerri into the mecca of Northerners.


Amaechi, Sunday Sun learnt, still has an outside chance of getting the ticket, owing to his iconic doggedness, passion, courage and enduring political
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/20/520.html

Dnt mind all of them transfer d money 2
EFCC acount them will bring it where ever u r

God we wat peace in ds country we can nt move 4ward when we r against each other let's settle ds matter amicablely b4 it turns 2 sometin else
Love is far from ds country dats why we r suffering n smilling

Etumgbe: Just passing through maraba keffi road now and I witnessed a very heavy protest. Their protest is in support of nasarawa state gov whose impeachment is on it's way.
Pls anybody around there should update us.

Nobody is protesting again everywhere is cool like ice block

D protest is divided into two
Nasarawa people said dat d governor must leave office while hausa piple said dat d governor must remain in office bt everywhere is cool now

Na like ds world dey?

World is turning around do nt bost with d world

@ OP
U r a fool

@OP
U never tell why Nig will break now

WARRI-THE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Delta South senatorial district, Delta State, yesterday, criticised the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, for allegedly painting the group in bad light.

MASSOB'S zonal leader, Mr. Joseph Odikpo, in a statement in Warri, said: "We want him (Umeh) to be rest assured that the group's national leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, does not lack focus as he claimed.

"Those who told him lies were the ones that could not abide by our regulations and were suspended from the movement."

He advised the APGA leader to focus on his political ambition and leave MASSOB alone, saying "the non-violent posture of the body should not be taken for granted.

"We are a non-violent group fighting for our legal right and nothing more. From the beginning of the struggle, MASSOB made public its aims and objectives, which is to actualise Biafra."
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/9/302.html

ABUJA-Last minute spirited efforts by two former heads of state to stave off the axe of impeachment hanging over the head of embattled Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, are not yielding fruits.

The two former leaders, Vanguard learnt, went with the governor, who had worked closely with them at different times, to plead with President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday night to save the governor from being disgraced out of office.

It was learnt that at the meeting, the former leaders drew the attention of the presidency to the heightening ethno-religious tension that was building in Adamawa as a result of the move to oust the governor and the implications for the worsening security crisis in the North-East.

The two former leaders, who were in Abuja ahead of the Council of States meeting, which took place yesterday, reportedly impressed it upon President Jonathan that nothing should be done to escalate the violence in the region.

But a source close to the meeting told Vanguard last night that the President explained to the two leaders that he had no hand in the move to impeach the governor.

A source close to the president said the president upbraided Nyako for the insults he heaped on him in an offensive letter the governor wrote two months ago to his northern states counterparts, accusing the president of committing genocide in the north in the name of fighting Boko Haram.

But apparently to appease the former leaders, the Presidency was said to have told them that Nyako must first withdraw the inciting letter he wrote to the northern governors early this year and publicly apologise to Jonathan and Nigerians as a condition for intervening in the impeachment process.

However, an unrepentant Nyako was said to have stood his ground that he would rather go down than recant on the contents of the said letter, which sparked outrage when it was made public.

A source close to Nyako confirmed, yesterday, that the peace parley was deadlocked as a result of the governor's refusal to disown the controversial letter and apologise to Jonathan.

"At that point, the governor is willing to step down rather than recant the content of the letter in question," a loyalist of Nyako told Vanguard.

"It is true that the meeting got deadlocked at that point but another round of discussions was slated for Tuesday night (last night) but we cannot say whether the outcome will change anything," the governor's friend added.

Royal fathers meet to save Nyako

In the meantime, the eight first class traditional rulers in Adamawa met at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa for hours, yesterday, in a bid to ward off impeachment of the governor.

Although the details of the royal fathers' meeting were not made known, a reliable source confirmed that it was still part of the move by the kingmakers, who exercise a lot of influence in the state, to make members of the House of Assembly to see reason and soft-pedal on their decision to remove the governor.

The source hinted that some key lawmakers from the state were expected to meet with Nyako and some political heavyweights from the state in Abuja last night to brainstorm on the best way out of the political logjam.

The meeting, it was learnt, became imperative following the decision of the governor to resign his position since it had become clear to him that neither the lawmakers nor the judiciary was ready to follow due process in prosecuting his impeachment.

The governor reportedly told close associates that following undue pressure on the Acting Chief Judge, Ambrose Mammadi by vested interests, to reverse himself on his earlier judgement that he should be served notice of impeachment before being tried, he had come to the conclusion that he was being persecuted.

“The governor is of the view that since it is clear that both the Acting CJ and the House of Assembly are determined not to follow due process in removing him, it would be better for him to resign rather than wait for such impunity to throw the state into chaos," a close aide of the governor hinted last night.

The governor is said to be planning to hand over the reins of power to his Deputy, Bala Ngilari, who remained in the PDP when he moved over to APC last year. The Presidency is said to be in support of the Deputy Governor taking over from Nyako because of his unwavering loyalty and support to the PDP.

But the decision by Nyako to hand over to Ngilari has rattled the Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who hails from the same local government with Ngilari.

Initially, the permutation by Fintiri was that by removing Nyako and Ngilari, he would be elevated to the post of the governor but the PDP and the Presidency appear to be in favour of removing the governor and retaining his deputy.

If Ngilari is spared by the panel, it means that the Speaker will step down from his exalted position and become an ordinary member of the House of Assembly, since the speaker and governor cannot come from the same Madagali LGA of the state.

Nyako at Council of State meeting

The embattled governor, however, made a surprise appearance at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa this morning to attend a meeting of the National Council of State.

He was the cynosure of all eyes as his colleagues and cameramen rushed to capture his presence.

Governor Nyako appeared unruffled as he moved round to exchange banters with his colleagues and other presidential aides, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Panel yet to secure venue for meeting

Meanwhile, the seven-man panel constituted by the Adamawa State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi to investigate Governor Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari for alleged gross misconduct ran into a hitch, yesterday, as the panel was unable to secure a venue for its sitting.

Vanguard findings revealed that the J & J Hotel Villa, where the panel held its first sitting sent the panel packing, complaining that the heavy presence of security operatives had scared away customers from the hotel.

The clerk of the Adamawa House of Assembly, who was negotiating venue for the panel's sitting was helpless as other hotels he visited equally turned down his request for the use of their premises.

The panel, it was gathered, moved to the NLC club, where the state chairman of the NLC tactically declined, claiming to be performing the lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia.

The panel's next port of call was the Adamawa State NUJ press centre, where there were divergent opinions from the leadership on whether or not to give out the conference hall of the centre.

A former national officer of the NUJ, who was alleged to be in the fore front negotiating the usage of NUJ centre was alleged to have even made contact with the North East zonal leadership of the union on the need to compel Adamawa council leadership to release the centre to the panel.

The division within the Adamawa NUJ leadership led to an emergency state executive council meeting, where majority of the members kicked against the use of the NUJ centre for the panel sitting.

It was gathered that the Clerk of the Assembly had earlier deposited N170,000 for the NUJ centre which was later returned after the state executive council of the NUJ rejected the usage of the centre.
http://odili.net/news/source/2014/jul/9/325.html

One Nigeria

D one u rejected or another GEJ

Them will start begging n crying till u pity them n leave them make sure u beg n cry till them pity u also when them ask 4 money

continue dey pity them till them dry ur pocket n dump u nigeira girls r nt smilling

Guy r u a learner? Open ur eye

The clamour for state creation pitched delegates againstone anotherat the national conference on Wednesday.


Some delegates claimed that it was wrong for the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government to have recommended for the creation of one state for the South-East alone without anything for other zones.


The report of the committee says, “There shall be created an additional state for the South-East zone and that all other requests for state creation should be considered on merit.”


The committee approved criteria for the creation of states by saying that anynew state sought to be created must be viable.


In determining what is viable, the committee says such state must be economically viable or potentially economically viable and it should have human, natural and material resources and should have a minimum land mass/mass.


New state, it said, should have cultural/historical antecedents, with strong cultural affinity amongst the population of the new state and that such new state should have a minimum population of one million people.


There were 34 request for state creation before the committee while a request was made to change the name of Adamawa State to Gongola State.


A delegate, who was a former Minister of Industry, Chief Nike Akande, canvassed for the creation of another state from the present Oyo State.


She requested that all requests for state creation should be considered in their merit and “in accordance to the criteria, I support the creation of more states.


“In this regard, I propose the split of Oyo State into two, which are Ibadan State and the rest. Oyo State has a landmass of about 28,245.26km square. It is one of the most urbanized in the country.


“In the 2006 census, the state has a population of about 5.58million ranking in the fifth most populated among the 36 states federation.


“The splitting is justifiable, expedient and necessary given the position of the state. The proposed state meets the generally accepted criteria for state creation including population, viability, historian considerations, culture affinity and contiguity.


“Creation of another state from Oyo State would ensure social and economic development of the states. ”


In his contribution, a former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ahmadu Ali queried the rationale used by the committee to ward a new state for the South-East.


He said, "I don't know what criterion was used in awarding a state for the south-East state. All of us must go and fight to state creation. I said it before that the old eastern region has 11 states.


"I believe that states that wish to merge should merge. Regionalism is retrogressive. The zone we also talk about is a dangerous precedent and is not constitutional. There is an attempt to smuggle it not the report of the Conference.”


Chief Olabode George also called for the creation of Isale Eko State from fhe present Lagos State.


In his contribution, a former Governor of Ofun State. Chief Olusegun Osoba queried the rationale for the creation of local governments in the country.


He said it was wrong for highly populated states like Lagos to have a small number of local governments while smaller states should have large number of local governments.


Osoba said, “Local government should be taken out of the Constitution. A state like Lagos with over 12million people and must 20 local government is unjustified. Therefore, states should be allowed to create their local governments.”


Another delegate, Mr. Lawrence Ikpeazu kicked against the call for the creation of states saying that unlike the country, United States of America had a few states at the beginning but that some of the states that joined the union came with their land, people and resources.


Ikpeazu said, "We should not be asking for the cake when we have not contributed to the baking of the cake."


He suggested that local government creation should not be thrown to the state to avoid abuse of the process.


Belo Aliyu (Zamfara) also said that all those agitating for state creation should be made to follow the laid down criteria, adding that that there should not be preferential treatment.


In his own contribution, Mr. Vincent Okobi drew attention to the poll he said was conducted in China to determine what the problems of Nigeria were.


He told the delegates that the result of the poll indicated that the Conference would be saddled with the problems of tackling poor census and corruption.


Before the problems of the country could be solved including state creation, he called for the conduct of acceptable census, which he said could only be done by the United Nations.


He said, "Mr. Chairman, I am saying, when we are talking state creation, whether we are talking local government, we are talking census. We are talking about the sharing of the national resources.


“Census is the key to the problems we have. We must take this opportunity to remind the government that this country should give to the next generation a census that correct and reliable."


However, Festus Okoye, Sergeant Awuse, Ken Nnamani thanked all those who have supported the creation of an additional state for the South-East.


The delegates are to vote on this and other recommendations and amendments to the recommendations to the report of the committee on Thursday.



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