₦airaland Forum

Boko Haram: Christian Association In Northern Nigeria Calls President Jonathan A Failure, Asks Him To Resign
Posted: August 12, 2012 - 23:00
Families of victims of Boko Haram attack in Suleija during a meeting with Pres. Jonathan
By SaharaReporters, New York

For his inability to contain Boko Haram, and statements indicating his inability, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria today described President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a failure and asked him to resign.



In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Elder Sunday Oibe, CAN said it would no longer trust any commitment expressed by President Jonathan, citing his inept leadership.



It pointed out that Mr. Jonathan’s recent positions portray him as soft and that he cannot overcome the daily insurgency and killings of security operatives, civilians and foreigners in the country.



“Are those being killed by the Islamic sect, particularly Christians not members of the Nigerian family the President is talking about?” the association asked, querying whether members of Boko Haram are now sacred cows.



“What he is telling us now is that there is nothing he can do about it, but we know that the federal government has the capacity to stop the madness being unleashed on Nigerians, however, it is now obvious that the President would rather shield criminal.”



Turning to the federal government’s justification of its opposition to Boko Haram being branded a terrorist group, namely that Nigeria may come under sanctions which will hurt Nigerians as well as scare away investors, CAN asked: “Are we not hurt already? Are Nigerians not suffering? How many investors are coming to invest?”



It pointed out that many business premises in Yobe, Maiduguri, Kano, Kaduna and Jos have already shut down.



“Nobody is coming up north to set up any business,” the association said. “People are selling off their houses and relocating from the north. Our churches are being close down on a daily basis. So what investor is the government talking about?

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/boko-haram-christian-association-northern-nigeria-calls-president-jonathan-failure-asks-hi

Desola: You are trying to be clever but some of us see through your veil. You are not only referring to Kwarans as geographical northerners but asserting that they are northerners in culture, traditions and religion. Who died and made you the spokesperson for the Kwarans, anyway? You bloody divisionist who thrive on propaganda and subjugation. You are northerners; inferior set of barbaric baboons who were mistakenly amalgamated with civilised people. You lot belong to Niger republic blood suckers!

Katsumoto: Alhaji Ndu chuks is ready to fight to preserve Nigeria at all costs.

The USSR, which was more complex than the current Nigeria, split peacefully.

was ussr really more complex than nigeria?me thinks theey are or were on the same level

Gunmen attack Gombe Catholic Church, kill policeman
On August 12, 2012 · In News
8:39 pm
0

Gombe – Gunmen on Sunday morning attacked the All Saints Catholic Church, Kanoyel in Gombe State, killing a policeman who was on duty at the church.

A source said that the gunmen arrived at the church premises when the parishioners were coming out of the service and fired at the policemen.

The source said the gunmen also tried to gain entry into the church but that the parishioners shut the gate.

Rev. Fr. Williams Ochai, the Parish Priest of Church, said that the gunmen opened fire on the policemen deployed to guard the church during the mass.

According to him, as soon as the parishioners heard the gun shots, they immediately shut the gate to the church.

He, however, said one of the policemen died instantly while the other sustained serious injuries.

Reacting to the incidence, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Gombe State, Rev. Abare Kalla, described it as unfortunate.

Kalla said CAN had an information that there would be an attack but did not know where it would occur, adding that security agents were informed.

The chairman said the aim of the attackers was to gain entry into the church but that they could not succeed because of the fence.

He confirmed that a policeman deployed to the area was killed in the incident while another sustained injuries.

Kalla commiserated with the family of the policeman and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, told NAN on phone that he was in Abuja.

He directed reporters to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

“I have been promoted to the position of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and I am now in Abuja for that purpose. So, get in touch with my PPRO,’’ he said.

Fwaje, however, on phone said that it was only the Commissioner that would comment on the issue. (NAN)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/gunmen-attack-in-gombe-kill-policeman/

Desola: Thank you!

I suspect that he is an aboki who has mixed with Yorubas in his state and as a result learnt to speak fluent Yoruba and comes here to confuse the Yorubas. Bloody northerner!

so suraj oyewale is not a yoruba name?

afam4eva: I think he has a point. Jonathan should be careful with the kind of people he surrounds himself with else he may go the way of Aguiyi Ironsi.

well let us see how he will react.

Avoid Aguiyi-Ironsi tragedy, Evah tells Jonathan
On August 12, 2012 · In News
6:03 pm
0

By Emma Amaize
WARRI- ACTIVIST and Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to recall the former National Security Adviser, NSA, General Andrew Azazi (rtd), who he fired, about two months ago, to avoid the calamity that befell former military Head of State, the late Major- General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi -Ironsi, 46 years ago.

Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi, born in 1924, was the Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966, until he was overthrown and killed July 29, same year, by a group of northern army officers, who revolted against his government.

Comrade Evah in an interview with Vanguard said the sacking of Azazi was a contrived agenda by some northern elements, which he (President Jonathan) fell into, despite the fact that he was forewarned not to fall into the ambush by those who want to oust him from power.

His words, “I said it long before General Azazi was removed and it was published by a national newspaper that Boko Haram would ask President Jonathan to resign once he makes the mistake of firing Azazi. It is one of the grand designs of the group and now, they have asked Jonathan to resign after he fired Azazi”.

“Some people may not know, but I want to tell you that we have a serious battle at hand now. President Jonathan should humble himself and recall Azazi.

“He should stop listening to bad advisers who he has surrounded himself with. They are confusing him and since he recalled the Director General of the Security Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunmah Oteh, I don’t see why Azazi should not be recalled”, he said.

Evah said the plan of those who wanted Azazi out was for Jonathan to expose himself, and having achieved that, “the next target is to impeach him”.

“But my prayer is that God should open the eyes of Jonathan to see the dangerous plans against him. I forewarned in my earlier interview that they would expose him as it happened to former Head of State, Gen Aguiyi Ironsi before they will strike and that is what is happening now.

“When Jonathan was trying to remove Azazi, I told him not to attempt it, that he was playing with fire, he did not listen. He ignored us because he was listening to sycophants. Now that the handwriting is very clear on the wall, he should ignore these sycophants and recall Azazi to continue with and improve on his strategy against Boko Haram”, Evah asserted.

He said from his practical analysis of the problem, Gen Azazi (rtd), understood the game plan of Boko Haram and had devised a strategy to nail them, which some powerful forces saw and deftly moved against him, but Jonathan could not decode the scheme and fell for it.

The activist said it was not easy to bring Boko Haram to its knees because of the level of support and conspiracy of people of people behind it, but he reliably gathered that Azazi and his team refused to negotiate with the terrorist group and were prepared to step on toes of persons when the President was used to cut him to size

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/avoid-aguiyi-ironsi-tragedy-evah-tells-jonathan/

i do not have any reason to doubt osun's own as i do not know the state that much but lagos statistics does not quite fit.8percent?with the numerous aimless guys lounging around?

PhysicsQED: Fixed.

physics when did you become disillusioned about the country?i do not think your thought pattern was like that before

it is going to be very difficult for us in nigeria to correct the structure we are runnig.

Constitution: Six geopolitical zones divide North, South
August 12, 2012 by MIKE ODIEGWU, OZIOMA UBABUKOH, LEKE BAIYEWU and ALLWELL OKPI 9 Comments
A map showing the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria

A map showing the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria
| credits: nigeriamasterweb.com

Moves by the National Assembly to further amend the 1999 Constitution has again brought to the fore the sharp division and mutual distrust between the North and South, as both have taken opposing views on the entrenchment of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution.

The North said it represented 60 per cent of the country’s population, and therefore, would resist efforts to equate it with the South, which it claimed represented just 40 per cent of Nigeria.

It added that any attempt to deny the majority its position on the matter would lead to anarchy.

The Convener of Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Juniad Mohammed, said these in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents on Friday.

The Northern Governors Forum had similarly opposed the inclusion of geopolitical zones in the constitution, just as Arewa Consultative Forum scoffed at the suggestion.

Mohammed said, “When some people insist that 60 per cent of the population must be made equal with the remaining 40 per cent, I don’t understand it. In the last census in 2006, the North-West was 37 million, while Ohaneze’s South-East was 15 million. How do you equate the two of them?

“Democracy is a game of numbers. Any attempt to deny the majority would result in anarchy. From the records of the census that have been conducted in this country, it is obvious that the North constitutes at least 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

“They’ve been trying to do this since and now they want do it through the back door by putting it into the constitution. I say it will never happen. Geopolitical zones will never be accepted in the constitution no matter what it takes. North and South are not equal and we can never be equal,” he said.
[b]
The President-General, Chief Ralph Uwechue, however, said the current concept of six geopolitical zones was ethnically based, with three zones accorded to the larger ethnic groups while the three other zones were derived from smaller ethnic units.

He explained that this made for political balance and stability.

He said, “The simple lesson from this structural arrangement is that the ethnic units are recognised and accepted as the veritable building blocks in the ongoing construction work and nation-building process in Nigeria.

“We are now saying that the six geopolitical zones of today should inherit the same powers and responsibility the three zones had at that time.

“What it means is that these six zones will become the federating units of Nigeria and any other arrangement each region wants to make will be entirely left for the zones.”

“This is the best thing that can happen to this country right now.

“Our position is that we should have six regions coinciding with the current six geopolitical zones and having the same powers and responsibility as were given to the regions at independence.

“The difference is that instead of three regions at independence, we now have six regions.”[/b]

According to the Ohaneze chairman, the northern governor’s refusal to allow the inclusion of the zones in the constitution was a way of perpetuating the autocratic military distortion of the master plan, (political arrangement) which produced Nigeria in 1960.

He further said, “The terms they are kicking against are the terms of having Nigeria as a country, and these terms were arrived at after negotiations between political parties at the time.”

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Movement, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the geopolitical zones should be maintained, while power is decentralised.

He said, “In my opinion, the zones should stay. They should be strengthened to function as federating units in the new structure for Nigeria. They should be autonomous and manage the resources within their territories.”

Groups in the South-South angrily told SUNDAY PUNCH in separate interviews that the North was in the “habit of discouraging moves aimed at giving everyone in the country a sense of belonging.”

[b]Such was the position of the Secretary of the Bayelsa State Elders’ Forum, Chief Thompson Okorotie.

He said, “If they are truly interested in the unity and indivisibility of this country, they would not be opposing any move to give a sense of belonging to all the sections of this country.

Okorotie, a former political adviser in the state the governor, therefore described the North’s stance as divisive,

“When they hold this kind of position, one begins to wonder what their agenda for Nigeria is,” he added.

He noted that the reason for the creation of the existing geopolitical zones was to promote unity by ensuring that all sections and ethnic groups were represented in all issues affecting the country.

On its part, the Ijaw National Congress said the North was promoting “disunity and selfishness” by rejecting the inclusion of geopolitical zones.

Its National President, Mr. Joshua Benameisigha, said the group even wanted 10 zones for the country.

“We are in support of 10 zones. We want to be in our own zone because currently we are Balkanized all over the country.

“The northern groups are living in the past because to have a fiscal federalism, all the zones must be included in the constitution.”

Also, a Niger Delta activist, Chief Nengi James, said for all sections of the country to become one entity, the geopolitical zones must be recognised in the constitution.

He said, “This time around, we are ready for them; if they don’t want it, let them go and form a country of their own. We have suffered enough in their hands but we are not ready to suffer any more.”[/b]

Meanwhile, in a 14-page memorandum submitted to the National Assembly which was made available to SUNDAY PUNCH, Ohanaeze stated that Nigeria made more progress in national development in the early years of its independence when it practiced true federalism of four regions with more extensive powers devolved from the center to the regions.

The memo read, “To return to true federalism, we need a major restructuring of our current architecture of governance. We would need six federating units, instead of our present 36 units, which not only sustain an over-dominant center, but also compel the country to spend not less than 74% of its revenue on the cost of administration.

“If the existing 36 states must be retained in some form, they could be made cost-effective development zones with minimal administrative structures within the six federating units.”

Uwechue, Eze Ilomuanya, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Justice Ezebuilo Ozobu, Chief Nduka Eya, and Chief Gari-Enwo Igariwey signed the document.

However, a Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said it was unnecessary to include geopolitical zones in the constitution.

Rather, he opted for the old regional system, which existed in the First Republic.

He said, There are more important issues in the country at this moment. It would be a waste of time and resources to drag the issues, because at the end of the day it will not work out.”

The six zonal structure was adopted in 1995 constitutional conference, following former vice-president, Alex Ekwueme’s proposal.

http://www.punchng.com/news/constitution-six-geopolitical-zones-divide-north-south/

Ekiti farmers and marauding herdsmen
August 12, 2012 by FEMI MAKINDE Leave a Comment
Herd of cattle

Suspected Fulani herdsmen and farmers in some parts of Ekiti State have been having a running battle of sort. But the face-off may escalate, as some farmers are daily losing their crops to cattles, reports FEMI MAKINDE

Some farmers in Ekiti are currently groaning in pains. The pains are occasioned by the loss of their crops to the cattles of the suspected Fulani herdsmen who invade their farms from time to time.

Except urgent step is taken, crisis may erupt anytime soon between the farmers and the ‘unwanted’ guests on their farms.

The destruction of farms by herdsmen is not limited to Ekiti State and this has almost become a daily occurrence in many parts of the country.

In April, some Fulani herdsmen attacked farmers in about 10 villages in Ogbomoso, Oyo State and killed one person.

On February 4, one Umar Abdulahi in Bauchi State was attacked in his farm by some herdsmen who pretended to be looking for their lost cows. The marauders were said to have asked Abdulahi the whereabouts of their cows and he answered in the negative. The men were said to have immediately brought out a machete and hit the farmer on the head.

He became unconscious and his attackers left him believing he was dead but a Good Samaritan who saw him raised the alarm and he was rushed to a hospital. He survived it but he lost an eye.

Early in the year, crisis erupted between the Ishi Ozalla community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State and some Fulani herdsmen. Some youths in the community engaged the Fulani herdsmen in a bloody fight for destroying crops belonging to some farmers and even molesting some women.

The fear of herdsmen may prevent some of those who have the interest in farming from taking the risk of planting crops which may be easily destroyed by cows and this is not a good development for the nation which is struggling to become self- sufficient in the area of food production.

Ekiti State Government is seriously urging people of the state to move from subsistence farming to commercial one but many farmers are scared of going into large scale farming because of the fear of losing what they toiled for to the herdsmen and their livestock.

A farmer in Ikere-Ekiti, Mr. Bamidele Okunola, had in 2011 approached First Bank Plc and Amoye Microfinance Bank Ltd, Ikere-Ekiti for a N2m loans to expand his farm. He planted maize and cassava on 50 hectares of land with the loan. He used his only house as collateral for the loan.

However, despite that the two crops showed signs that the harvest would be a bumper one, Okunola lost everything to the herdsmen who invaded his farm and grazed their cattle in it.

Not satisfied with the destruction by the cattles, Okunola, who narrated how his farm was ravaged said the herdsmen came back and set fire on the remaining crops on the farm.

The farmer, who was devastated by the loss, because the banks are on his neck to repay the loans or forfeit his asset.

He brought his son along to narrate his experience to journalists in Ado-Ekiti last week, stressing that despite cultivating 50 hectares, he and his family members were now being daily tortured with the pangs of hunger.

As at 4pm when he came around to address journalists, Okunola amidst sobs, said nobody in his family had eaten anything that day. It’s an understatement to say that the farmer was in grief, his son cut a picture of one of the children in famine -stricken area as his eyes looked sunken and his gait gaunt.

Okunola stated that he was expecting to realise at least N5 million from the sale of the farm produce which he said were almost ready for harvest before the invasion of the farm. He appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to assist him, saying he was on the verge of losing his house to the bank.

He had said, “I am appealing to our governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for his assistance on this matter because I used my house as a collateral in obtaining the loan. My family members and I have not eaten anything today and that is to show you the extent of the hardship. Please, kindly assist me to pay off the loan. I am back to square one.”

Soliciting for government assistance, Okunola said he had intimated the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, about his loss.

Two other farmers who have suffered huge losses from the invasion of their farms described their their losses as ‘uncountable.’

One of the farmers, who identified himself as Oladele Ogundeji, said the “impact of these rampaging cows is more felt by those of us around Ikere Ekiti, and Ise Ekiti.”

Ogundeji said the herdsmen, when arrested always found a way of coming out to cause more havoc.

He also alleged that some of the herdsmen, apart from destroying farm lands, also engaged in robbery especially on Ikere-Ise Road. He, however, said farmers in the area might be forced to find their own way of safeguarding their farms if security agents fail to guarantee the safety of their lives and crops.

Arowosafe said that the problem of unguarded grazing had become a problem in the state but he added that the state government was looking for a way to solve the problem.

The commissioner said, “For anybody going into large scale farming, insurance with Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation is required. The farmer said that he insured his farm but I discovered that his premium was not paid up to date.

“The man is overwhelmed with the loss and said that he would commit suicide if he was unable to pay the debt. If he had insured the farmland, he would not have been in the present situation.

“But to guard against this in the future, the state government is setting up a grazing land at Oke-Ako where cattle rearers could go to graze their livestock. We have acquired about 2,000 acres of land and we have started to plant grass for the livestock.”

He said that the farmer had expected to be given money the moment he got to his office but he explained that the government was only ready to assist him by giving him land to farm and inputs to use on the farm.

According to him, farmers enjoying this benefit from government are expected to pay their loans after selling their farm produce.

Arowosafe observed that the issue of unguarded grazing was a national problem, saying it needed to be urgently addressed to prevent clashes between farmers and herdsmen. According to him, herdsmen are always quickly released by security agents because there is no law in place to charge them.

He, however, said the state House of Assembly was working on a bill that would outlaw grazing on farmlands. “When it is eventually signed into law, it would then become a crime for anybody to graze on anybody’s farm,” he added.

With the cases of destruction of farms caused across the country by herdsmen, one begins to wonder when unguarded grazing will stop in Nigeria.

One of the major causes of this problem is the porous borders in the country and it is believed that some of the marauders pretending to be herdsmen come into the country from Chad, Niger Mali and beyond. The security agencies must step up their efforts at controlling the influx of foreigners, especially with the security situation in the country.

http://www.punchng.com/feature/ekiti-farmers-and-marauding-herdsmen/

is it by prayers or mere wish or just plain fate?

We’re Jos indigenes, Hausa-Fulani tell Jonathan

Posted on Friday, August 10th, 2012

•Reject probe reports

By Chesa Chesa, State House, Abuja

Representatives of the Hausa/Fulani community who met with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night over the intractable inter-ethnic crisis in Jos, Plateau State, have advised him to ignore the reports submitted by past panels of inquiry commissioned by the state government on the conflict.

They insisted that they are indigenes and not settlers in the state.

Wednesday’s meeting came two days after representatives of Berom ethnic group in the state led by the traditional ruler of Jos, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Buba Gyang, similarly met with the President.

The meeting held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, from 10 p.m. into the early hours of Thursday.

Emerging from the parley, leader of the Hausa group and former Minister of State for Information and Communications, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, noted that the conflict affects mainly Jos North and Jos South local government areas, saying reports of the commissions of inquiry set up by various Plateau State Governments, which the Beroms want implemented have become obsolete and sub-judice.

“The discussion was on how best to tackle the crisis in such a way to enhance tolerance, accommodation ad respect for one another so that at the end of it all the conflict would have been put behind us.

“We also discussed mechanisms which government will help to put in place so that each time there is conflict, ways and means of resolving it amicably would be used.

“We discussed and agreed to a larger extent that most of the commissions of inquiry, especially those set up by Plateau government; we said all those commissions of inquiry have lost contemporary relevance.

“But we are confident that the one set up by the Federal Government, especially the General Abisoye report as well as the Advisory Committee on Jos Crisis, headed by Solomon Lar; we are comfortable with that.

“But the rest are in fact sub-judice and therefore, cannot be implemented,” Nakande told newsmen.

He disclosed that government was expected to hold further meetings with other communities that are involved in conflict in Plateau State “so that we can jointly find lasting solution to the problem.”

In his own remarks, head of the Fulani delegation and Protem National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria, Sale Bayari, said a chunk of the solution lies in resolving the issue of grazing rights between cattle rearers and farmers in the area and which “we have appealed to Mr. President to address.”

While blaming the Plateau State Government for not adopting the strategies used by neighbouring states to solve similar conflicts, Bayari insisted that the affected Fulani are indigenes of Plateau State, and not settlers, as widely believed.

He stressed that Federal Government’s intervention was imperative.

“For the cattle rearers in Plateau State, especially problem areas like Jos South, Barkin-Ladi and Bassa, the Federal Government should try and ensure that the conflicts are resolved because we have the grazing reserves in those areas and there is conflict between cattle rearers and farmers.

“But with the intervention of government, it will be reduced to a minimal level, and when that is done, we are sure that the issue of people alleging reprisal attacks will be reduced also,” Bayari said.

According to the Fulani leader, “The issue of saying that some people are regarded as not belonging as if they just sprang from another planet and landed where they are now is an issue that should also be looked into.

“We have given the history of the cattle rearers, it is not as if they came from somewhere else, they are as indigenous as any other people.

Asked if he thought the President would come up with a final solution, he replied: “Yes, with this Presidential intervention, from the way the President has given us time and the way he listened to us like children listening to their father: you know that when you see your father in a pensive mood, you know that the matter must have touched him so much.”

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/08/were-jos-indigenes-hausa-fulani-tell-jonathan/

Northern Governors Jittery, To Inaugurate Reconciliation And Healing Committee
Posted: August 10, 2012 - 20:12
Northern Governors Forum
By SaharaReporters, New York

A prominent Northern politician who is close to some of the zone’s governors has told SaharaReporters that the conference of Northern governors is determined to act in order to stem the monster of sectarian violence ravaging the northern part of Nigeria.

“The governors are jittery and panicking over the lingering violence spreading in the North,” said the source. He added that the 19 governors were now determined to act decisively to end or drastically reduce the waves of Boko Haram insurgency and ethno-religious violence sweeping the region.”

According to the source, the governors have realized that it is impossible to achieve any meaningful development if they continue to spend billions of naira on seemingly intractable security crises.

The source quoted one governor as stating that “The North is heading to the brink where serious financial crises will ultimately bring governance to a complete halt.” Our source added that only Kano and Kaduna states are financially solid enough to partially pay the salaries of public workers without strain, but the rest of the Northern states are too deep in financial distress to meet minimal obligations of governance.

“We have serious problems owing to violence,” said the source. According to him, most companies in the North-East have closed or are closing. He added that the dismal economic picture was taking shape in Kano, Plateau, and Sokoto. “And now Kogi [State] has been added to the fold,” he said.

Our source disclosed that the region’s governors, under the auspices of Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), plans later this month to inaugurate a 30-person committee on Reconciliation, Healing And Security.

SaharaReporters learnt that some well known public figures have been slated for membership in the committee. Its members may include former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, Mr. Abubakar Tsav, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, Mr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim. In addition, other members of the Northern political elite, clergy and conflict resolution experts are being recruited to serve on the committee.

Northern governors have been criticized for taking no initiative to tackle the rising spate of religious violence. But in a recent statement, they denied the charge of apathy and nonchalance. “The Northern Governors’ Forum has left no one in doubt about its concern for the general welfare of the people in its areas of jurisdiction,” said the statement. It added that the forum had “made several attempts to address the unabated security challenges confronting the region that have not only led to massive loss of lives and property but also severely altered the harmonious community relations established and nurtured over several decades, with negative potential for gravely affecting the longstanding freedom, liberties and thriving economic activities within the Northern States.”

Our source disclosed that the main mandate of committee was to bring about reconciliation and healing in the Northern states. He added that the committee was likely to face stiff problems arising from already soured relations between Christians and Muslims in many parts of the North.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/northern-governors-jittery-inaugurate-reconciliation-and-healing-committee

Desola: Misplaced priorites, ssenseless initiative!

In this day and age where some cannot live with the so called southern infidels; where Lagosians have had it up to their throat with Easterners infilterating their lands, some stupid otueke fisherman is attempting to do away with state of origin? E no go better for am and all that support this rubbish. The earlier Naija breaks or practises real federalism the better. Imagine me answering the same state of origin an an aboki or ajokutamamumi? Ko le sele!

this one na ranting .omo igbo and you from now on go be from the same state .errm easterners infiltrating your land lol

CyberG: This is a good development in some way, bad in other ways! However in order to claim indigenship of a state, you will need to inculcate a new way of life, learn and speak the language, eat their foods, learn the culture and abide by it! No compromises on this one otherwise, you can never be accepted! Otherwise, insulting your hosts would only lead to wide-spread bloodshed and killiings eventually.

Some parts of Nigeria will also now need more than twice / three times the next allocation of the next state in size because more people mean more resources. I think Lagos can cope, it's got historically smart capable leadership which must now be backed up with more resources for infrastructural development. More land may need to be leased from Ogun and Oyo state for the influx of people from every corner of the country. I hope the governors of this state can embark on real planning of big cities so that they cities can grow in a planned manner and not become utter chaos in 5 - 10 years! I see the SW growing in influence, clout, development and making triilions in taxes in the eventual scheme of things. States who have only been stealing all the money they get will now have to provide leadership to an empty state since everyone will go to where they have the best!

i think we should enforce control of resources and pay taxes to center and not any useless allocations.

Pukkah: Lawyers will argue back and forth and confuse everybody at the end of the day. Let's keep it simple. A federating unit (in this case, Bayelsa) wants to assert its sovereignty which does not run contrary to that of another federating unit.

The people of Bayelsa want their own seal and anthem without discarding the Nigerian anthem and flag, how does that amount to separation? Why are people looking for trouble where there is none?

By the way, how come the federating units in the first republic all had their flags and seals?

If Nigeria must remain as one, true federalism (political and fiscal) is the answer. Let the centre (federal goverment) be as weak and unattractive as possible and only be in charge of common issues [/b]like external defence, immigration, customs, central banking, foreign affairs, federal policing, possibly supreme court, etc. The federating units (states or regions) [b]should control their resources and contribute like 10-12% to the centre for the running of these common issues.

The federal government exists because the states exist and not the other way round.

Let this monthly 'begging' visits to Abuja in the name of lazily sharing federal allocations stop. Let each state/region work hard for its money. Let any state/region that wants to leave be free to leave. Let each state be free to practice Sharia if it wants. People should be free to have what they want if it is the wish of the majority. This is the essence of democracy.

Let's demystify all these things.

unfortunately many people have gotten so use to the 'rent' structure we are running.

seedord247: Igbo again? dem use asia swear for them?

ignorance is bliss

it seems they do not like merit or hardwork to get what they want.

hmm he wants to come clean?

Onlytruth: That is my personal problem with Nigeria. Sometimes I try really hard to accept Nigeria as is; but when confronted with the question of its viability (chance of thriving or prospering), I become incredulous again.

While watching the sprints and hurdles, and long jumps in the Olympic games, I couldn't help notice that Jamaica (a country of just over 2 million) has more medal winning chances than Nigeria a country of 160 million.
Anyone who is not saddened by just this example must be a sociopath.

Can Nigeria thrive? Ever?
That is the question.

The harm Nollywood and religion cause Nigeria
August 10, 2012 by Azuka Onwuka 5 Comments
Nollywood Film Shoot

Nollywood Film Shoot
| credits: findingnollywood.com

With all the Nollywood hype on juju, money rituals, power rituals, witches and wizards, and prayers that cure all problems, one would have thought that Nigeria would be topping the medals’ list at the on-going Olympics in London. The Americas, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world would have stayed by the sidelines kowtowing with trembling and trepidation as Nigeria pockets medal after medal.

But regrettably, it seems the potency of the juju from these named climes dwarfs ours. Or, perhaps the citizens of these continents pray better and harder than we do. Or, put more resignedly: Maybe God loves these nations more than Nigeria.

Less than three weeks ago – precisely on July 25 – the media reported the arrest of two men from Nasarawa State, near the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the fresh head of a seven-year-old boy. The victim was identified as Samu Danjuma, the child of their neighbours. According to the confession they made to the police before the media when they were paraded by officials of the State Security Services, they had lured the boy with a loaf of bread, drowned him, and beheaded him for sale to a man who had promised them N250,000.00.

On July 27, two men were arrested in Lagos with the decomposing, mutilated body of their 39-year-old brother, Akinbuyi Ajayi, in their family house in Festac Town. Some body parts such as the head, hands, private part and a part of the two legs had been removed from the corpse. The decomposing corpse was discovered after the two were caught by the police allegedly selling some human parts. That led to a search of their house, a duplex which their parents had left behind for them.

Just like these two unfortunate people murdered by men without consciousness, many have been killed in like manner. Many have disappeared and have never been found till today.

The reason for this wicked act is that many have been made to believe that using some human parts such as head, heart, eyes, lungs, and genitals for rituals makes one rich and powerful. It is also believed that elections are won easily when charms are prepared with such human parts. There is also the belief that such human parts can be used to prepare charms that will make someone invincible, with such a person’s body impenetrable by bullets, arrows and machete cuts.

It is futile arguing whether these claims are true or false, for mystical issues are never empirical and open. But one question nobody has been able to answer is: If human sacrifice or the occult gives such stupendous and inexplicable wealth and power, why are the top ten richest men in the world not all Nigerian men of the occult, since the money that comes through the occult flows in like a river while the money that comes in through businesses and investments comes in countable proportions?

This belief that money and power can be obtained through human sacrifice and the occult has been accentuated and promoted by many of the films produced by the Nigerian home video industry. It is a fact that the 1992 home video, Living in Bondage, which was the first Nigerian home video that kick-started what is today known as Nollywood, focused primarily on the making of money through the occult. A young man, who saw himself living from hand to mouth as an employee, was convinced to sacrifice his wife to the occult to become rich. He budged and suddenly became a multi-millionaire. At the end of the film, a pastor delivered him from the grip of the occult. Interestingly, many people believe that such rituals can indeed give them wealth and power, and so they seek occult powers and human sacrifice as the solution to their financial problems.

While the film producers and directors are producing films that promote the quick-fix life, many religious leaders intensify that same way of life by making their members and those who watch them on TV or listen to them on the radio to believe that one can go to bed a pauper and wake up with duplexes and exotic cars just by ‘praying’ and ‘sowing a seed’.

That same quick-fix mentality runs through all our life as a nation. It is the driving force behind drug-trafficking, advance fee fraud, armed robbery, bribery and corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Many compatriots have been made to believe that all they need to succeed in life is a supernatural occurrence, which will happen like a bang.

So, on all fronts, our nation has been reduced to a nation of men and women who are eager to reap from where they did not sow; a nation that does not work but wants to eat; a nation that believes more in good luck than in hard work; a nation that believes that its duties and responsibilities will be carried out by supernatural forces one bright sunny morning and all its challenges will be a thing of the past.

And so, whether we prepare well for such sporting events as the Africa Nations Cup, World Cup, the Olympics or not, we hope and pray that we will excel somehow. Whether or not the health system, the education system, the agriculture and productivity sectors are nose-diving, we believe that something will happen to turn around our fortunes as a nation.

We have jettisoned the biblical injunction that he who does not work should not eat, as well as that which says that faith without work is dead. Seeing our desperation to make quick money and achieve quick feats, some conmen in the name of medicine men or religious leaders simply feed on our weakness by making us believe that some rituals or prayers can catapult us overnight from penury to wealth and power.

Our movie makers assume they are teaching a lesson by making these movies that show people involving in human sacrifice, becoming stupendously rich, suffering later and being saved by pastors at the end. On the contrary, many who watch these home videos get a different message: that the occult men who got retributive justice in the home videos were not smart enough to abide by all the tenets of the occult. They, therefore, believe that when they make their own money through the occult, they will be smart enough to avoid all the loopholes. These occult-based home videos teach no lessons in effect: all they do is show the youths that there is a quick way to make money and obtain power.

In addition, the home video makers are inadvertently portraying Nigeria as a land where all rich men and women are members of the occult and people who have made their money through human sacrifice. I have heard some West African nationals dismiss the wealth of Nigerian men and women as “blood money”, a term which in Nollywood means money acquired through human sacrifice and occult powers.

The time has come for Nigeria to directly or indirectly intervene in the type of films released to the public as well as the type of message some of our religious leaders preach. That may keep us and our children safer, and make our youths appreciate the beauty in working and earning a living. The 2012 London Olympics has shown that medals, like success, go to nations that rely on hard work and long term preparations than on good luck.

•Onwuka, a brand specialist based in Ikeja, Lagos, wrote in via azukaonwuka@yahoo.com

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/the-harm-nollywood-and-religion-cause-nigeria/

Obi not a tribalist –Govt
Our Reporter August 9, 2012 No Comments »



•Debunks Arewa Renaissance’s allegations

From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka

Anambra State Government yesterday debunked a report in one of the national dailies alleging that it was harassing and intimidating northerners living or doing business in the state. A national daily (not Daily Sun) had on Tuesday quoted the Chairman of Arewa Renaissance, an umbrella body of northerners living in Anambra State, Habib Mohammed Farouk as saying that it was only in Anambra that they were being harassed and intimidated, painting the Governor, Mr. Peter Obi as a tribalist.

Farouk was also quoted as saying that the governor reneged in his promise to relocate them. But in a swift reaction, the government, through the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Mike Udah, described as wicked and misleading the statements credited to the Arewa Renaissance leader, insisting that the state had been and remained one of the most accommodating and hospitable to non-natives in the country. Udah, who spoke to Daily Sun on the issue yesterday said: “It is most surprising that people should make that kind of allegation and I’m happy that he even made reference to the visit of Sultan of Sokoto some time ago.

Yes, I remembered that there was a time, some years ago when the Sultan came to Anambra State at the executive chambers of the governor’s office and he told the audience that contrary to the views people have peddled, contrary to some of the ugly stories that he was told about Governor Peter Obi, that this was a man he knew decades before he made that visit and that the governor cannot hot a fly, I’m using his very words.”

Udah said when the governor and the Sultan visited the Bridge Head, the governor said he was not going to make things difficult for any person, “that if the project he intended to execute was going to impinge negatively on any people, including the Hausas he will make sure they are properly relocated. A parcel of land was offered at Umunya and contrary to this claim that land is not in dispute and if it is, no person has come around to tell the governor.”

The governor’s image maker further said he accompanied the governor on a visit to the Hausa community fortnight ago where Obi took out time to appeal to them and promised to personally join in relocating them. and easing whatever problem they would encounter on account of the project and wondered why anyone should paint the governor black ‘as if he is anti-Hausa,’ stressing that “this is not the correct description of this governor, I know him and the generality of the people around know him. He may not be an angel, but he is not a tribalist.

“That allegation, to say the least, is most surprising and it is not true. The governor of Anambra State is not one who harasses any person or group of persons. What is happening at the Bridge Head is an effort by the governor to open up the entrance to the state through Delta at the Bridge Head. The idea is to beautify the place so that somebody who is entering Anambra from Delta will also see a decent state, wide road and a state where people can ache out existence in relative comfort. “Before now, that area of the state was in a most disorganized state with rickety vehicles, with people trading on the side walks, with all manner of garbage lying there.

That is not definitely the kind of response any responsible and decent governor will want to characterize his state with. So the governor is opening up that place, widening the roads and it is not targeted at any person or group of persons, people who have been staying on sidewalks, people have dumped unnecessarily article on the roads cut across all manner of people.

The Igbos are involved, some Yorubas are involved and other citizens of this country in that area are involved. But the good thing is that this is something that the governor hopes and every right thinking person knows will help create a decent environment, will help ease traffic and will help give impression that we are a civilized people here.”

He, however, advised that rather than go to the press to make false allegations against the governor or government of Anambra State, the group should come to the governor if they were having problems relocating to the place given them by government.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/obi-not-a-tribalist-govt/

Court jails grandmother for begging with underage children
August 10, 2012 by Sesan Olufowobi Leave a Comment

The Lagos State Special Offences Court, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, sentenced a 52-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Jemilat Oseni, to three months imprisonment for “using five underage children to beg for alms”.

Two other women- Mrs. Rainat Ado and Mrs. Zainab Abubakar- were fined N10, 000 each for releasing their children to Oseni for the purpose of alms begging.

A prosecutor from the state’s Ministry of Justice, said the acts were “illegal and a violation of the rights of the children”.

The prosecutor, who did not give her name, said, “Four of the children were not hers.

“Two belonged to Mrs. Rainat Ado; one belonged to Mrs. Zainat Abubakar; one is her grand child. Only the last is her child.”

It was learnt that Oseni, who is from Osun State, was arrested while begging for alms with the children by officials of the state Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit at Seme Border.

The children were put between nine months and 11 years old.

However, both Abubakar and Ado claimed ignorance of what Oseni did with their children.

Ado said, “Oseni told me that she wanted to use the children as cover to smuggle some goods from Benin Republic.

“She explained that the children would make custom officials at the border to pity her and allow her to go with her goods.”

She added that Oseni usually give her some quantity of rice after the trip to Seme.

It was learnt that a worker with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation saw the woman and the children at Seme and promptly reported the matter to the task force officials.

The court also ruled that the five children be kept in custody of WAPA.


http://www.punchng.com/news/court-jails-grandmother-for-begging-with-underage-children/

to keep nigeria one is a task that must be done

sheyguy: I see the same divide and blackmail strategy that has won SE more AND more haters all over the OP's writeup.
So Yorubas and Northerners done turn GEJ main opposition abi . . .all because igboman dey smell breakup him wan quickly align with 'oil-landed' pipo them . . .

as usual foolish talk.anambra,imo and abia do not have oil.

why 17 out of 18?what happens to the one remaining one?as for the phcn guys,i wish i had pity but what you guys have done to me would not allow me to.

unleash the attack dogs

yeah right everybody else underdeveloped the north except the northern leaders themselves.

argggh el rufai lol