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kel4soft: A ret rd should be ignored as usual. Please PM me let get your contact. I will personal call you so you can come over to the creeks since you are happy in the comfort of Asaba.You have a house to offer me in Asaba, you moronic impostor? |
LAGOS (AFP) – Nigerian authorities, battling to stem an escalating Islamist insurgency, covered up a bomb attack in the financial capital Lagos by claiming a blast near a major fuel depot was an industrial accident, according to an AFP investigation. The explosion ripped through an area of Nigeria’s biggest city on June 25, just hours after a suspected Boko Haram car bombing in the administrative capital Abuja, which killed 21 people and stoked fresh fears that the group’s deadly campaign was spreading. The Lagos blast in the Apapa district, on a main road feeding Nigeria’s busiest port and in an area housing most of the city’s fuel depots, was blamed on a cooking gas cylinder which exploded, with no casualties. But AFP has seen photographs of the scene showing a destroyed car plus damage to surrounding vehicles, which the British Army’s former head of bomb disposal said left no doubt as to the cause. “This was definitely an incident involving the use of high explosives,” Bob Seddon, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and a specialist in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), told AFP in an email exchange after reviewing the images. “The type of blast effects and fragmentation pattern you would get from a gas explosion are quite different,” the former Royal Logistics Corps colonel said, assessing that 25-50 kilos (55-110 pounds) of improvised high explosive were used. Senior foreign diplomats also indicated privately that the blast was deliberate, attributing the official denials to fears over the potential effects of a confirmed first attack on Lagos, which drives the country’s economy. - ‘Militant attack’ - The first suggestions of an attack appeared on social networking sites after 8:30 pm (1930 GMT) on June 25 and in local media the following day but failed to gain wider attention because of government denials and the focus on the deadly Abuja bombing. Flat denials or no comment from the government are not uncommon in Nigeria, particularly involving Boko Haram, whose five-year insurgency has intensified in the northeast and seen almost daily attacks. But questions have lingered about the Apapa incident because Lagos, in the southwest of the country, has so far escaped the violence. Lagos is home to some 20 million people as well as major overseas companies in key sectors such as oil and gas. The city is also seen as a gateway to trade in the wider west Africa region. There has been no claim of responsibility and Lagos state police have launched an investigation. Federal government spokesman Mike Omeri, who deals with homeland security issues, told AFP the probe would “look at all issues… whether it is IEDs, car bombings or accidents”. Political and security consultants Control Risks, which has an office in Lagos, said the Apapa blast was a bombing that killed at least four people, according to a briefing note seen by AFP that it sent to foreign business and government clients. “Drawing on eyewitness sources, Control Risks assesses that the incident was a militant attack rather than an industrial accident,” the group’s senior West Africa analyst, Roddy Barclay, said in a separate interview. - Increased security - Since June 25, the Lagos state government has ordered tighter security at key fuel and infrastructure installations, and beefed up state hospitals’ capacity to deal with mass casualty emergencies. State health commissioner Jide Idris said measures included increasing blood stocks and buying new ambulances as well as putting all emergency units on stand-by. But he maintained the measures were only because of the countrywide state of alert. Seddon’s analysis and Control Risks’ assessment chimed with the accounts of seven eye-witnesses interviewed by AFP, who all said independently that there were two explosions. The first happened in and around the gates of the Folawiyo fuel depot on Creek Road while the second minutes later when a Toyota Sienna people carrier exploded in the road nearby, they said. “I was on duty that night,” said security guard Samuel George. “All of a sudden, we heard a loud explosion and we quickly shut the gate… Some minutes later, a car that was parked in the middle of the road exploded. “My colleague and I were hit by broken pieces of metal from the car. I had a deep cut on my face and head and since then have not been able to work. Many people were killed, including those I knew,” the 25-year-old added. Another local worker added: “I don’t know why the government is lying. The explosions were nothing short of bombings.” Claims that the first explosion was caused by a female suicide bomber could not be verified with certainty. - ‘Islamist sympathisers’ - The head of the Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies, which runs the fuel depot, has denied that the blast happened inside the facility and dismissed reports of fatalities, according to local media. A US government official said Boko Haram had the “operational reach to get to Lagos” but only Control Risks has so far directly linked the bombing to the group. But Barclay qualified: “The incident is likely to have been staged by a local Islamist network rather than being planned and coordinated by Boko Haram’s core leadership in the northeast.” Local groups have more parochial agendas, he added. Further attacks were credible, probably on “soft targets”, but the bombing did not necessarily signal the start of a “sustained insurgency” in Lagos, he said. www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/lagos-fuel-depot-blast-accident-experts-witnesses- |
kel4soft: Who respect Asari in Ijaw land?You don't have a say in the matter. You NL impostors have to stop, your antics is getting out of control ![]() |
kel4soft: Asari a well respected Ijaw man? eh, you got to be kidding me. He is no role model to no one. We still see as a militant and business man QED.If Asari is not a well respected ijaw man, can you tell us the ijaw young men in his same age group that are well respected in the creeks and upland of the Nigerdelta? He is a militant and a businessman, so what? |
barcanista: Igbos keep re-canting Asari statement but forget that HIS views on Biafra has always been his views and NOT Ijaw views...because of his maternal Igbo link.You always sound like a pathetic soul. What is your aim here? Are you trying to define Asari ? Little boy, go home and seek where you come from. |
jpphilips: If you were not a f00l (pls forgive my language) America who has proven to have one of the best intelligence agencies in the world, who by military superiority can take you, your president and Asari on a second round of slavery if they wish, have come out to tell you, that though some people are sympathetic to the boko cause, there is no tangible evidence that the Boko movement has a significant political undertone,American intelligence reports also told the world there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The end result is playing out on your TV screen today. They also said boko haram was caused by poverty, a juvenile like you probably subscribes to that rubbish. Now ask yourself, between you and the OP, who is a FOOL. Your attempts to pour, your puerile diatribe fell flat. Some of you need, to have your heads donated to the gods. ![]() |
This conference has not been bad after all. ![]() |
By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA—THE planned showdown between southern and northern delegates at the ongoing National Conference over reshaping the power configuration in the country, turned into an anti-climax, yesterday, after conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi ruled against reversion of positions adopted last week. The planned confrontation followed the mobilisation by Northern delegates for a repeal of the conference’s position on the creation of new states and local governments as a way of balancing the superiority enjoyed by the North. The stage for battle was set as the conference resumed, yesterday, after the opening prayers when Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, a delegate from Sokoto State raised objections to the procedures used in adopting the resolution on the creation of new states. According to him, the procedures were full of errors. While he was still on his feet that the decision on local governments was faulty, the hall was enveloped in shouts “No, no,’ ‘name the page properly.’ With their voices almost being drowned out, some northern delegates hinted on crippling the conference by walking out if their position on state creation and local governments were not met, insisting that the only thing the conference could do was to set the criteria for state creation and not to announce those that should be created. In his contribution, a delegate on the platform of Elder statesmen category, Abdullahi Ohoimah called for the creation of another state from the Central Zone. He said that the zone was cheated in the list produced last Thursday. A delegate representing North Central Zone, John Dara explained that the proposed Kainji State is composed of emirates from Niger and Kebbi, with the bulk of the new state in Niger, which explains why the proposed state is in the North Central. He added that there will be no additional state from the North Central. In his contribution, a delegate representing the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu kicked against the proposal for new states, saying that the present ones were not viable, not implementable and would make a mockery of the conference if approved at the end of the day. There were shouts of “Point of Order” which forced Aremu to stop. Oduduwa State Also in his contribution, a delegate on the platform of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and the Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, made a strong case for the creation of Oduduwa State with capital in Ile Ife as one of the three to be created out of the Southwest. Noting that the demand for Oduduwa State has been on for more than 30 years, he said the proposed state would have a total population of 1.7 million besides the rich cultural legacy of the people. According to him, the Council of Obas in Yoruba land commenced the campaign for the creation of the state 30 years ago. He said Oduduwa means a lot to the people of South West zone and the proposed Oduduwa State has a total of 1. 7 million people with land mass of 8,000 square kilometres. Oba Adedapo’s intervention was only one of the few times that the meeting removed itself from a shouting match as northern and southern delegates squabbled over the issues debated last Thursday. Erstwhile Nigerian diplomat Professor Ibrahim Gambari helped calm passions, yesterday, when he called for decorum in the plenary, warning against abuse of voice vote in the conference especially on issues that affect unity and security of the country. Professor Gambari, who reminded delegates of efforts made by some elders of the conference to reconcile decisions of the conference to ensure transparency and accountability, stressed that steps must be taken to take the conference to its conclusion, hinting that “all northern delegates are committed to the progress and success of this conference”. According to him, Northern Elders met with the leadership of the Conference to complain of abuse of voice vote, especially on very serious issues, adding that at the end of the meeting which he termed very constructive, there were promises from the management that corrections would be made as well as reconcile where there were conflicts. We’re no slaves to anyone — Clark But comments by Gambari did not go down well with a delegate under the Elder Statesmen category and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark. In his reaction, Chief Clark reiterated his warning that no part of the country should think it was in any way superior to others, even as no one was inferior to the other. He added that it was sad and unfortunate that the Northern Elders could meet with the management without carrying along other leaders and elders especially from the South South zone. He said: ”It was sad that issues are now being raised almost when we are at the end of the conference. We have considered 19 reports and we have just one to go and issues are now being raised”. Explaining that delegates consulted among themselves to have pre-conference meetings of an 18-man committee to resolve contentious issues before coming to the conference, Chief Clark, who specifically named Professor Auwalu Yadudu as gate-crashing into the meeting of the delegates and despite being welcomed, moved to discredit the conference because his point of view was not accepted. He said that the pre-conference meetings were approved by leaders of the geo-political zones, noting that it was wrong for any group to send a delegation to leadership of the conference in the bid to seek reversal of decisions taken. He opined that the best such aggrieved persons could do was to liaise with delegates from other zones to see how compromise could be reached for the good of all, just as he appealed to delegates to be more united in the interest of Nigeria and progress of the country. Chief Clark said: “Let me say this, this country called Nigeria which was amalgamated North and South was made up of equal citizens. That is, we all belong to a country where we are all equal. Nobody is superior to the other. That was the basis of our coming together. If I know any moment that you are superior in this country and I am inferior, then I do not argue with you. “We came to this conference in order to have harmonization, consensus and some of us came out and consulted our fellow leaders. Can we have a meeting, a pre-conference meeting? This was up to last week. I consulted Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, I consulted with Alhaji Coomassie, I consulted with Jerry Gana, and we met Olu Falae, Jerry Gana, Gen Ike Nwachukwu and others, and we set up an 18-man committee to meet and resolve issues before we come to the floor. They met once in AIT conference room. After that, there are people who believe they know so much. Some of us here also have children who went to some of the best universities in the world, and no one should come to flaunt his professorship to others here. “Professor Yadudu, who was not selected by the North, came there and objected to everything. He wrote a letter to Dokpesi that they have withdrawn, that no surrender. So we said; can we meet so that we can resolve issues? Then we came to the open here, it is very unfair. Who defines important matters and who defines matters that are not important? Nobody!” Following his speech, delegates urged the leadership of the conference to stop entertaining private delegates from the zones. Soon after Chief Clark, a delegate representing Kebbi State and former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed in his contribution called for the sustenance of voice vote and consensus in deciding the final report. However, his assertion that some decisions earlier taken should be suspended until further consensus was reached was followed by shouts of ‘no, no, no’. Reiterating his point, he said: “I propose we allow time instead of saying these decisions are sacrosanct”, and again, chants of ‘no, no, no’ filled the hall. Confab: Delegates back increase in derivation Meanwhile, majority of delegates, yesterday, gave heed to an increase in the minimum level of derivation proceeds accruable to mineral producing areas of the country. Delegates speaking ahead of the consideration of the part of the report dealing with derivation scheduled for today, urged for an increase in minimum derivation, saying such was necessary to enable states in the Niger Delta adequately tackle challenges in the region occasioned by oil exploration. That was, however, not without opposition from delegates primarily from the core northern states, who said that such measure would be amounting to giving much to the Niger Delta states at the expense of non oil producing states. While most delegates from the South, particularly, the South South and South East said derivation should be increased from the present 13 percent to between 21.5 and 50 per cent, the delegates from the core north insisted that it should rather be reduced further from where it is now. The committee co-chaired by Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom State; and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, the former Inspector General of Police, had after weeks of disagreements and inability of its members to shift positions, recommended that the existing 13 percent be maintained. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/north-fails-stop-confab-new-states/#sthash.0DL4AE83.dpuf |
oduastates: No resource control without regionalism ,regional security and regimental army.Come scrap the NDDC, if you can. They will spend almost N500b this year, too bad it gives you hbp. |
PenSniper: What sort of a leader/elder is this Edwin Clark ? Someone from his zone demanded for 50% and he, rather than support him or ask for more, asked for 25%. Can this old man not be a mole for the north ?Who in this conference is going to agree to 50%? Raising it to 25% is a more plausible solution. We seek solutions, not just empty talk. Clarke is very correct. |
StBlack1: SAY NO TO RESOURSE CONTROL !!!You will hang yourself before all is said and done. Look at you killing yourself for other people's resoruce |
EmeeNaka: Nigeria was not created bearing Ijaws in mind.Nigeria belongs to Igbos,Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba. The oil or anything in Ijawland belongs to Igbo,Hausa-fulani and Yorubas. Ijaws cannot give what they dont have. Ijaws are ingrate because they do not recongise that they are like eggs which can be broken at will. By the way,Russians expelled certain stubborn minorites from Russia and if care is not taken,Ijaws will not escape such treatment.What a lowlife. |
EmeeNaka: First of all, if Igbos withdraw their support for GEJ,he will not contest.Look for a long rope and hang your miserable self. |
mogentle: @OP, they will surely become forgoten until another OBJ comes on board to give them a chance again. But I doubt that 'cos, they are ingrates and heavily clueless.Look around and see who in Nigeria is an ingrate, your pathetic self and village or the ijaw nation. You are just another parasite, that contributes nothing to the country than loud noise loaded with blood. |
confused OP. |
Nyako has lost control of the process. Worst thing to happen to a politician. |
Some people actually believe this story. ![]() |
Rivers Progressive Forum?? Nah which people bi this? No wahala , all we need in rivers is peace. |
With 54 states, all local governments will be delisted from the federal constitution . This is not a bad idea. |
State creation: North wants fresh vote •May insist on head count •Reversal would mean annulment —Southern delegates AS northern and southern delegates to the national conference held series of crucial meetings on Sunday night to strategise on the vexed issues of state creation and delisting of local governments from the constitution, both sides are also reportedly working on options available to them, including the possibility of another round of voting. To this end, delegates, especially those from the minority groupings in the North and particularly those representing North-Central, are reportedly being wooed, mainly by core northern delegates, to vote in support of their views on the issues. A couple of southern delegates had also been toeing this path, in the spirit of having an “Option B” in an event the conference leadership succumbed to the opposition’s wish of re-opening the issues. The core of southern delegates is, however, opposed to the re-opening of the issues, saying such would be tantamount to another annulment, with grave consequences. On Thursday last week, creation of 18 additional states and delisting of local governments from the constitution were approved at the conference by voice vote. Delegates from the core-North were, however, kicking against the decisions, while those from the South and Middle-Belt were fully in support, contending they were in the spirit of true federalism. The decision to delist local governments from the constitution would mean that only states and Federal Government would draw direct allocation from the federation account. The approved states would also bring all the geopolitical zones at par with nine states each. It was learnt last night that the core-North might back down on its decision to walk out of the conference today, if a reversal of the decisions is not granted, but might insist that a head-count of delegates in support and against the decisions should be taken, for clarity purpose. In anticipation of the move which the conference leadership might likely yield to, it was learnt that both sides in the struggle spent the better part of Sunday strategising. While the core-North delegates were looking for how to garner votes to reach the 70 per cent threshold, southern delegates were simply working on preventing a possible re-opening of the issues. A southern delegate told the Nigerian Tribune that getting 70 per cent support for both sides might be difficult, considering that the North-Central was no longer solid for the South, as Kwara had allegedly switched support for the core-North. The delegate felt a middle-way approach would be better for both parties, adding that the core-North could use its numerical strength to re-open the issues with one-thirds of the conference population. However, speaking for the Southern delegates on Sunday, Yinka Odumakin said the move to re-open the settled issues would be effectively tackled. He told the Nigerian Tribune that the move was akin to another annulment, warning of the consequences of such, with the benefit of history. According to him, “if they succeeded in getting that through (re-opening for head-count), it would start with issues thereafter. “It is impossible to make retroactive decision as that would amount to another annulment. The last time we had an annulment, the country was in crisis for five years. We wait for them to bring anything on, we surely will have an answer http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/9985-state-creation-north-wants-fresh-vote-may-insist-on-head-count-reversal- |
By HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE ABUJA — A stormy session is expected today as Northern and Southern delegates at the ongoing National Conference head for a showdown over power configurations in the consideration of the report of the Committee on Devolution of Powers. The North, Vanguard learnt, is especially concerned with recommendations of the committee adopted last Thursday that could put the South at an advantage and where not, erase the advantage that the North has had in the polity. The National Conference had last Thursday adopted recommendations among others for the creation of 19 new states with three in each geopolitical zone and an extra one in the Southeast and also resolved to delist local governments from the constitution and as such remove the advantage conferred on the North with the plurality of local governments. It was gathered that Northern governors had reached out to the delegates to rescind the decisions. The plot to reverse the decisions nonetheless, Southern delegates at the weekend, were also pressing home their advantage with strategic link to minorities in the North ahead of the consideration of other important recommendations of the Committee on Devolution. Ahead of today’s meeting, Southern delegates were last night locked in a meeting with some prominent delegates from the North-Central during which they were said to be pondering over a deal that will be mutually beneficial to both parties. That meeting taking place in the Asokoro Abuja residence of a powerful Southern media mogul was ongoing at press time. The Southern delegates had at an earlier meeting a week ago resolved to press for the increase of derivation from 13% recommended by the Committee on Devolution of Powers to 21.5%. The meeting which is believed to have in attendance more than 200 delegates, Vanguard learnt, is aiming to weaken the opposition being mounted by the core northern delegates, who Vanguard gathered, are working to ensure that delegates don’t reach the mandatory requirements needed for any resolution to sail through. To ensure that the core north delegates are again defeated, the Southern delegates meeting in Asokoro would resolve to speak with one voice on any issue being opposed by the core Northern delegates. Efforts made by core Northern delegates to maintain the status quo in other key recommendations in previous committees’ reports were not successful. Among the issues the region lost out in, included its efforts to kill proposals for rotational presidency between the North and South, creation of state police, reversal of current national anthem, among others. The core north had equally, previously kicked against the scrapping of local government administration from the constitution. But the southern delegates succeeded in getting it approved through massive support from delegates from North-Central and delegates from minority groups in the North-East and North-West. The arrowhead of the core north’s opposition to the resolution and former Political Adviser to late General Sani Abacha, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, in a statement, on behalf of Northern delegates which was circulated to northern-based media organisations, had rejected the entire resolution of the Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Governance which they considered not favourable to the North. To ensure that the core northern delegates are again defeated in the recommendations of the Committee on Devolution of Powers, today’s meeting by Southern delegates with their North Central and northern minority delegates would decide how to take a stand during voting tomorrow. Just as the delegates from the South are perfecting their strategies, those from the core north, who are in the opposition are not resting in their efforts at thwarting the efforts of the Southern delegates. Vanguard gathered that they have resolved to resist any attempt by the Chairman of the conference, Idris Kutigi, to allow his deputy, Bolaji Akinyemi to preside over the two-day session where the devolution of powers committee’s recommendations would be considered. The core northern delegates are said not to be comfortable with Akinyemi, who they believe is not only from the South but appears sympathetic to the southern cause at the conference. FG tightens security at confab venue Ahead of the showdown, security has been reinforced around the venue of the conference. Besides, delegates from the South and North are also said to be preparing physically for today’s expected stormy session. A delegate from the North confided in Vanguard that their colleagues have been asked not to wear ‘agbada’, a traditional wear in the northern part of the country to the conference plenary today and tomorrow, given that anything could happen during disagreements that would crop up among the delegates. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/states-creation-north-south-head-showdown/#sthash.rwSvAY1I.dpuf |
Lildreezy: well it seems u're urhobo, and so u'll simply turn a blind eye to the fact on ground. How many ibos hold sway in pdp in delta state apart from Okowa? Forget cosmetic politics of ochei and co, we know the urhobos call d shots and they are not about to share with anyone. Why has there been no anioma governor since state creation? We were hoping for Okowa, but now it seems its Orubebe. Just talk from a neutral point of view and u'll see my point.Reading through your comment, i had to ask myself if you really understand delta state politics. Please name the powers behind Ibori's government. Tell us the primary support source Udughan's administration was built on? Ask yourself why there is no Anioma governor yet the smallest tribe in delta state has a gov. Remember that gov. was strongly opposed by ijaws and urhobos. Take your time and study the political dynamics of delta, you might reassess your views of my people. We have not done anything to you or other Igbos in delta state. |
Lildreezy: its not an insult, its true sir, Urhobos are quite stingy, especially when it comes to money and politics.Just as you are displaying your hate here on Urhobos abi?, You probably never met any in your life. No problem mister, we pray and truly want you to have your state. We will not be made to listen to your gibberish anymore. |
Lildreezy: i school in owerri, and when i tell someone am from delta, the next thing they say is Urhobo wado, or Brendo, and when i'm like am Igbo(Asaba to be precise), they're like hmmm. Its even worse for those from aniocha north, oshimili north, Ogwash and Kwale area.You need to leave urhobos, Isokos,and itsekiris alone. They are not your problem. We hope truly you get your state, at least your insults will stop. |
Obiagelli: [color=slategrey] post your corrections, lets debate. [/color]Are Tunde idiagbon and Salihu Ibrahim from the South? As you have stated? |
You have to expect anything from a party run by demons. After supporting the carnage by their militant wing call boko haram, voters exportation will be no big deal for them. You people are only putting your northern brothers in the SS on the firing line. Operation clear Islamist from the SS will now kick off. |
ayindejimmy: If Nigerians still make statements like this... we're definitely screwed till 2019 if we don't do something fastYou are screwed, till 2019. |
Orlando Owoh: Go study how Ijaw people, whether from Bayelsa or Delta state school in villages outside their communities. Till date, none of the four Ijaw speaking LGAs: Burutu, Bomadi, Patani and Warri South, in Delta State has a centre for JAMB. As a result, they a forced to go to nearby Ughelli and Yenagoa to register.What's your useless point here? |
Obiagelli: [color=slategrey] LIES. The SMC had 15 members other than Buhari, 8 were northerners and 7 were southernersCheck your history and correct this mistake. |
Chino72: You need to appreciate the effort. I was actually driving on that ever busy highway while taking the pictures. You should buy me a bottle Hero!I agree, I owe you more one bottle of hero. I will settle this debt very soon. |
Chino abeg buy new camera . Thanks for the pictures |
This man should become a counselor to all PDP politicians. What a breath of fresh air. I had to read the this interview three times, because I was so impressed with it. ![]() |
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