₦airaland Forum

I recommend Rhino, the guy is detribalised , liberal and imaginative. His posting, " imagine this kind of Nigeria" is very instructive and forward looking.

I hope he would accept

Planner
you are not a fool, Zino Ben is just completely out of character

the kind luck way you give us Yara-sick

Zino Ben

The poster would have appropraitely titled it to say 'IGBOS TOLD TO PLAN FOR PRESIDENCY IN THE YEAR 8015"

Who dash Monkey Banana. There are only 5 Regions in Nigeria.

North East

North West

Middle Belt

South-South

South West

The remaining ones are counterfeits and irrelevant in the scheme of things

Zino Ben you don come here again, watin Ibo people do you, I tire for your case o!

ewu tufiakwa

[size=15pt]Ogun to join oil producing states soon [/size] — DANIEL
Written by Tony Edike
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
ENUGU—OGUN State Government has commenced the exploration of oil deposits in the state and would likely join the league of oil producing states in the next few months, Governor Gbenga Daniel announced this yesterday.
Daniel, who made the revelation while interacting with newsmen at the Protea Hotels Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, also dismissed, as untrue, media reports regarding his frosty relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying he has a cordial relationship with Obasanjo, whom he said “remains my leader.”

According to Otumba Daniel, exploration activities have reached advanced stage at the three oil wells within the state, expressing the hope that, in the next couple of months, they would be taken over by the federal government as part of the oil wells in the country.

The governor, who bagged a chieftaincy title from the traditional ruler of Nike Community, Igwe Julius Nnaji, yesterday, disclosed that his government had made serious investments in the exploration of the mineral deposits in the state, particularly the oil and gas, saying he was hopeful that Ogun would be pronounced an “oil state in the next couple of months”.

He said, “One of the things our administration did when it came on board was to conduct a survey on the resources available in the state. I can confirm to you that there is an oil and gas deposit in Ogun State. I don’t want to politicize it, but I am hoping that, in the next couple of months, the state would be declared as one of the oil producing states of the country”.

He said his administration has embarked upon numerous developmental projects aimed at taking the state to greater heights, explaining that the desire to move the state forward accounted for why he traveled recently to Hong Kong to represent that state in an economy meeting held there. The dividends of the investment tour, he said, would soon begin to manifest in the state, as Hong Kong was ready to partner with the state in so many areas.


source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/18148/45/

it Ibos turn to produce the president

[size=15pt]Igbos told to plan for Presidency in 2015[/size]

By Christian Okeke - 30.09.2008

As the Igbos mark 2008 Igbo Day, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Epiphany Azinge, has suggested Igbos should prepare to take up the leadership of the country in 2015.


Delivering a lecture in Abuja entitled, “Ofu Obi, (One Mind),” the legal luminary lamented that in 2007, the South South region was more organised in clinching the Presidency than the South East.


When the time reached, he said, Igbos should banish any Igbo man who opted for Vice President, adding that it was time for the region to begin to start building bridges with other ethnic groups towards achieving this goal.


Prof Azinge charged Igbos not to accept to be inferior in the country owing to their contributions in making it what it was. He charged the people to rise up against the old practice where contractors abandoned projects in the region and observed that the way for the Igbos to achieve their aims in the Project Nigeria was by paying more attention to oneness.


Prof Azinge lambasted the Ohaneze Nd’Igbo which he described as a group that had not been honest. The chairman of Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT chapter), Vidal Wachukwu, wondered when bickering, infighting would become the thing of the past

source:http://www.tribune.com.ng/30092008/news/news17.html

[size=15pt]Fighting breaks out in Ndokwa community [/size]
Written by Austin Ogwuda
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
FIERCE fighting has broken out in Obetim-Unor, Delta State over the contentious issue of which of the two neighbouring local governments, namely Ndokwa East or Ndokwa West they rightly belong.
As a result of the crisis between the warring factions in the community, many people have fled their homes.

Several people have been reported wounded and property destroyed, while police have drafted anti-riot policemen to the area.

Vanguard had sometime in February this year reported that crisis was looming in Obetim community; that whilst some people from the boundary community are claiming that the community is properly located in Ndokwa East local government area, another group led by the traditional ruler of the community is kicking against it.

Addressing some women from the community who staged a peaceful protest to the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Asaba, the Permanent Secretary in the SSG office, Mr. Andy Omokri told the women that “government is already addressing the issue.

Fighting and crisis cannot solve the problem of Obetim-Unor people wanting to be in Ndokwa East or Ndokwa West. People should have confidence in government. You should allow peace to reign, whether you are in Ndokwa east or west, you are still in Delta State.

source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/18264/44/

[size=30pt]free masaba[/size]

[size=15pt]Man with 86 wives controls family from prison [/size]
Written by Abayomi Adesida
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
THE famous, super polygamist Alhaji Bello Masaba has sent words to his family from prison to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-fitr in a joyous mind in spite of the persecution he is currently facing in Minna prison.
Family sources told Vanguard yesterday at his Masaba Quarters residence that the man who is currently in detention over his refusal to divorce any of his 86 wives still controls the happenings in his home from prison.

According to a family member who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, “Baba runs this family from where he is on the telephone.

“It is a pity that you have arrived at a time that all those with his express permission to call him are currently on their way to meet with him at the Minna Prisons.

“If any of them ere to be around, they would have called him up and he would have answered all of your questions on the telephone.

“I am very sure that he would even have granted your request to take photographs and speak with as many members of the family as you would wish to do.

“As you can see, we are just back from the general prayers and as he commanded us, we have just slaughtered the bull he permitted that we should slaughter for celebrations.

“The women there are waiting for those that will carry those four bags of rice to the kitchen for them to start cooking for the celebrations.

“If only you can check in to an hotel, I am sure that later in the day, those that went to Minna will return and you can speak with Baba yourself on the phone, if not tonight, then the first thing tomorrow, your request would be granted.

“But the other way round it is that if you can by yourself go to Minna Prisons, ask that they allow you to see Baba, he will listen to you and call anybody here that he so wishes to allow you take photographs and answer your questions.

“If you cannot do any of those, then, you will have to go and come back some other time to try your luck if any of those with his permission would be around to listen to you and place a call to him so he can grant your request,” the family source told this reporter outside Pa Masaba’s house in Bida.”

Family members of all both sexes and all age grades were seen outside the partly-completed two storey building as well as an adjoining bungalow, watching the mastery of the butchers that slaughtered a brown bull that was meant for yesterday’s celebration.

Thirteen middle-aged women as well as some young girls were also spotted outside the small holding area in the fore part of the ground floor of the building; while two nappy hangers were spread in the sun to the right of the building with wet baby nappies hung around them.

As at the time this reporter was departing the scene, a detachment or regular police came close to confirm that visitors have been barred from the premises of Alhaji Bello Masaba unless those with permission from the family or government.

According to an inspector who led the team, but would not also agree to be mentioned, “we have been posted here to prevent any form of lawlessness, if you want to work here as a journalist, go and get a written permission from the area Commander or the D.P.O. (Divisional Police Officer).

“If you get that order, we will escort you into the house, but if the people there still insist, then, you may have to go and get Baba’s permission to conduct any form of interview within the premises of his property.


source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/18169/42/

[size=15pt]Biafran agitators disrupt Igbo day in Enugu [/size]
By Adelani Adepegba, Enugu
Published: Tuesday, 30 Sep 2008
THE celebration of the 2008 edition of the Igbo Day which held at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu on Monday was hijacked by agitators for the defunct Republic of Biafra.

The event was almost marred by the unruly conduct of the youths who were suspected to be members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra.

The atmosphere at the venue became charged following the actions of the agitators who chanted war songs, and demanded a separate nation for Igbos.

The incident led to a hurried ending of activities by the organisers who feared that the protest might get out of hand and embarrass their guests which included governors Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Peter Obi of Anambra State.

The event had commenced quietly with various dignitaries making speeches, and culminated in the conferment of a traditional title of “Enyi-Di-Ora-Nma 1 of Ndigbo (Friend of Ndigbo) on the governor of Ogun State and his wife.

source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200809303302212

l hope Nigeria different tribe return to their pre amalgamation status, let everybody bear his fathers name

the 83% failure in WAEC exam, is a true reflection of Nigeria as a nation:
Nigeria is 83% a failure in all aspect of human endeavour

In naija, our teachers are sooooooo lazy that they only focus on the top 10% and don't care much about the other 90%. My mother used to say that when she was in secondary school, the teacher would only focus on the top 4 smartest kids in the class, if they understood the chapter, then he was moving to the next, he couldn't be bothered about the others in the class.

make una leave teachers alone o!
they are trying their best within a very difficult circumstance.

whats is the problem with a summit, everybody is free to hold summit for a way forward.
l suggest the militants should hold summit too.

water pass gari, watin man pikin go talk

[size=15pt]Fresh moves to stop Nigerian prostitutes influx into Italy! [/size]
Written by Fred Iwenjora
Sunday, 28 September 2008
'Edo is main campaign focus'

Moves have been renewed to stop the trafficking of Nigerian women and minors to Italy and other European countries for prostitution.

SINCE it became known that several African minors and young women are victims of human trafficking, the world has become very alert to face the problem head on. Statistics show that over 80 per cent of young African women and minors who travel to Europe are going to fall into the prostitution racket.

The United Nations through its various agencies started making concerted efforts to combat human trafficking. Countries where it has become noticeable that it is being perpetrated are not also left out of the battle to stop or reduce its incidence. Reports say that the number of minors and young women who are trafficked for various reasons including for labour and prostitution have been on the increase within Nigeria, Africa and through out the globe. It is no longer strange to hear of traffickers in minors being intercepted with their victims in many countries of Africa.



Emma Eff and other leaders of the NGOsIn Nigeria, the police have regularly intercepted several lorries and trailers loaded with young women and children headed to unknown destinations just like the perpetrators have faced the law. Efforts by influential Nigerians like the former First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Eki Igbinedion, who set up Idia Renaissance and created skills acquisition centers for young women in the state where most of those trafficked to Italy and other Europeans cities and countries hail from.

In Italy alone, several young Africans including Nigerians are trafficked for prostitution and sundry reasons that even the Italian government has seen that the menace is assuming unprecedented heights. Some of these minors are even punished or killed if they resist the terms of agreement.

Just recently, a middle aged woman who rejected all entreaties by her elder brother to go into prostitution abroad was set ablaze somewhere in Edo State. Several measures have been taken to see that the streets of Italy and indeed other cities in Europe are rid of this menace caused by the traficking of these minors and young women just as several NGOs have been set up to counsel or rehabilitate victims. All hands seem to be on deck.

And here is where the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is of great assistance. It is a pilot project which its first phase came on stream from 2002-04, and now the second phase entitled, "Preventing and Combating Trafficking of Minors and Young Women from Nigeria to Italy", is starting.

To help their work there is also the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Related Matters (NAPTIP), which was created five years ago and coordinated by Carol Ndaguba. A coalition of Nigerian NGOs has been created as well and it includes the Committee for Support of the Dignity of Women (COSUDOW), the International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group (IRRRAG), the Women Action Initiative (WAI), the Girls Power Initiative (GPI), the African Women Empowerment Guild (AWEG), and Idia Renaissance. But there are not only Nigerians working everyday on this project.

There are also Italians in the team and their duty is to have a close eye on the activities of the project, meet victims as well as vulnerable subjects and get them to talk about this issue. The reasons for Italian government's involvement may not be far fetched because Italy records a considerable population of African prostitutes than any other country. Apart from the fact that they wear the shoe and know where it pinches, so to speak, the more there is awareness on this inhuman treatments, the closer the world will be to the end of this drama.

This begs the question whether these laudable efforts would ever succeed with the harsh economic condition of the people where far much money provides for far much less, a problem occasioned by bad appropriation of state funds by leaders in Africa. With the understanding that several of the young women-victims of trafficking for prostitution in Italy and other parts of Europe come from Nigeria, an Italian young woman, Emma Eff, has a mandate to help spread the word that the story that the streets of Italy is paved with gold, which is usually spurned by mistresses who traffic in young women for prostitution purposes, is not as it seems.

She has been traversing Nigeria working with the NGOs to help nip in the bud what has become a global menace and also to help rehabilitate the victims. She is very optimistic that the battle is tasking but very possible to win.

According to her "what we do is to help reduce the trafficking in minors and young women from Nigeria to Italy for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Edo State is the main focus and we are hooked with over six NGOs and NAPTIP whose counseling and rehabilitation unit has played and will continue to play a critical role in the implementation of prevention, assistance and reintegration activities." Nigeria and indeed the world hopes that these efforts would not go in vain to put an end to one of the greatest scourges that has plagued human existence

source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/18034/42/

Again, JTF Nabs 25 Militants, Seizes Munitions
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 09.28.2008

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Barely four days after the Joint Task Force in Rivers State arrested 229 suspected militants in a raid at the waterfronts in the capital city, Port Harcourt, the organisation yesterday said it, again, arrested another set of 25 suspected militants in Eleme area of the state and seized arms and ammunitions.
The raid, THISDAY gathered was based on complaints from residents that activities were being perpetrated by certain elements illegal in the area following complaints by residents of the same area.
Confirming the raid and arrests, JTF spokesman in the state, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said the beauty of the operation was that no shot was fired and that nobody was either injured or killed in the hour-long operation.
“Following a tip-off from some residents of Eleme area of Port Harcourt city, the JTF raided a hideout of suspected hoodlums on Friday, September 26. No shot was fired throughout the one hour operation, nobody was wounded or killed.
“The following items were recovered; two AK47 rifles, one locally made double barreled pistol, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, six empty magazines and two catridges”, Sagir said.
He also said the appropriate arm of the JTF has commenced investigation to determine those culpable and to release those who are innocent and prosecute the others.
The JTF had earlier in the week raided the waterfronts in the city and arrested a number of miscreants. The military also promised to screen and ensure the safety of the law abiding citizens of the state.

source:http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=123733

[size=15pt]N/Delta: Real reasons behind militants’ ceasefire[/size]
By Chris Akpor - 28.09.2008

After a week of destructive activities, trailed by a host of dead oil facilities, dead and wounded militants and about 150,000 barrels per day shut-in in the nation's daily crude output, the face of militancy in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared a "unilateral ceasefire" and retreated its name, not men because it possesses none, from the campaign it tagged 'Hurricane Barbarossa'. Before the latest declaration, analysts of activities of armed groups in the region had predicted an early withdrawal of the MEND from its needless campaign, premising on some indices which the group had inadvertently made obvious to the world.


Like it was indicated last weekend in the earlier piece titled "Hurricane Barbarossa: The 'War', the 'Why', observers had predicted that the militants would back-off at a point when they must have gone out of logistics and manpower, ignoring the boastful statements that had been credited to the MEND in the media in the course of the week. The militants played the script on Sunday, September 21, 2008, through a statement sent by the voice of the MEND, Jomo Gbomo, which claimed the hurricane had been down-graded to a "tropical storm", which was taken to mean that the oil war had been put on hold, at least for the time being. The so-called ceasefire had since been so observed that even when the considered adversary, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Flush Out 3, carried out another alleged offensive on a militant camp, the kind of alleged aggression, which had 'provoked' MEND to declare war in the first instance, was attempted by JTF two days later, there was no recognizable response or reaction other than a statement from the information machine, informing of a double attack by the JTF.


"About 1730 Hrs on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, the Nigerian military still seething with anger from the humiliating defeat of the 6-day oil war, launched an unprovoked air assault on the camps of the Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) and Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV) in an attempt to destabilize the on-going ceasefire.


The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) condemns this cowardly act and will not play into the hands of the military by retaliating and putting the peace process in jeopardy at this time. It is a well known fact that the Joint Task "Fraud" (JTF) is desperate to showcase its relevance as they will be quickly out of business in an atmosphere of peace", Gbomo had said in a statement to inform the world of the attack on Ateke's group and another.


But in the view of those studying the activities of the groups, the response to the attacks was unusual. The MEND they know would go "an eye for an eye", it would even challenge any super-power that tries to meddle. The way of the MEND is that of bare braggadocio and exhibition of brute force, but the MEND that responded in the message seemed born again or something else was the matter. This was where observers' prediction came true. They had said by the time militants run out of ammunition or lose so much men that they don't have fighters again, they would withdraw from their unilaterally declared "oil war".


According to insider and security reports, the MEND's unilateral ceasefire has come at a point when none of the various groups out to gain points could lay claim to any categorical victory because of a number of reasons. When MEND was making declaration, it did not point at any ideological reasoning for which it was suspending actions, other than the intervention of some Ijaw leaders. "We decided to "stop outside Baghdad" even at a time of victory over the military and utter helplessness of the oil companies. This is again due to the passionate plea made by Chief Edwin K. Clark, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, Senator David Brigidi and no others", the machine had claimed.


But reports have it that the six-day war especially sapped the militant groups of both ammunition and men. As it currently stands, the surest source of arms and ammunition for the insurgent groups in the region seems stalled. Before now, informed sources had drawn inferences on the feverish call by all groups as well as some Ijaw leaders for the unconditional release of the detained leader of MEND; Henry Okah. Facts abound on the role of Okah as the sole facilitator of arms and ammunition for the various groups in the region. In his various press interviews after he was freed from detention, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, had spoken extensively on how Okah supplied him as well as other groups in the region with arms and ammunition for their various operations. "I met Henry Okah on the 3rd of February 2003 at the residence of a mutual friend who introduced him to me as an Ijaw man who deals in arms", Dokubo-Asari had said of Okah in a detailed account of his relationship with him.


So with their sole touch with ready supply of ammunition still standing trial and cooling his feet in the gulag, there sure is the need to tread with caution as far as the use of ammunition is concerned. The caution is more needed especially now when linking a fresh source may not be easily accessible and the nation's intelligence network is said to be waking up to its responsibilities and plugging those holes through which other ammunition sources might have been thinking of reaching their illegal markets through. Therefore, ammunition is said to be a challenge currently in the various camps of the Niger Delta armed groups.


At some point within the week of the unrest, the spokesman of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, raised the alarm about a recruitment drive by militant groups. He said the force had intelligence reports to the effect and was calling on the populace, especially the youths, to be wary of plots to lure them into being involved. "The JTF wishes to draw the attention of the public to an evil plan by notorious militant groups in the state, which have commenced recruitment of youths to replace their lost colleagues with the intent to polarise the state", Musa had stated, adding "Abuloma, Amadi-ama and other areas have been identified as mobilisation centres". It was just a matter of hours after raising the alarm that other security reports revealed and led to the arrest of some sixty-nine suspects in some waterfront areas of Port Harcourt, days after then, another two-hundred and twenty-nine were arrested. It is believed that these arrests might not be unconnected with the militant recruitment drive.


Another reason for the abrupt call-off of the campaign, it was gathered, was the need for groups from Bayelsa and Delta states to return to their bases. These ones have no direct or personal grouse with the administration in Rivers State. Their interest was to make sure that their states do not take cue from the strict pattern, which had virtually rendered their comrades in Rivers wretched as there is no free money. In Rivers, government is determined to be government to the people and is not ready to condone any rivalry from anarchists/hoodlums. Besides, it might not be economically wise for them to continue to lose men and ammunition trying to cover another's flank, with theirs left dangerously opened. So the withdrawal of the other groups from sister states was another decisive setback on a campaign, which had set out with the vow "the operation will continue until the government of Nigeria appreciates that the solution to peace in the Niger Delta is justice, respect and dialogue".


It is believed that if the groups had had it their way, this is not the time to pipe low, they would not have suddenly beat the retreat. As it stands, they still seethe with anger and earnestly look out for some lifeline to get at constituted authorities. Watchers also believe that it is not time yet for security agencies to heave a sigh of relief.


They say security watch should now be broadened beyond where it currently is. It should, it is believed, now be extended to such quarters where militants' current challenge, being dearth of ammunition and other logistics like cash, could be exploited.


According to these observers there sure are those who want to seize any slight slack to cause chaos all in a bid to achieve a personal end, this class would be more than ready to part with any amount to as well as use their influence, as they are actually people of great means by all standards, to make all the logistics these gangs might need available. Situation will not escalate again very soon if the security forces, through the use of high intelligence, can put lids on all these avenues.

source:http://www.tribune.com.ng/28092008/news/news1.html

JTF Attacks: 'Please, Save Our Souls'


Communities Petition Presidency, National Assembly

35 People Killed, 77 Houses Burnt

Reps To Investigate
THIRTY-FIVE people were killed, seven villages attacked, 77 houses burnt and property worth millions of Naira was destroyed.
This is the picture the Tombia communities in Rivers State have presented in a petition to the Presidency and the National Assembly on alleged military expedition aimed at flushing out militants in the area.

They requested an investigation into the destruction of their villages and the killing of over 30 persons by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives plans to investigate the petition written by the Tombia Council of Chiefs calling for a thorough investigation of the military incursion into Elem-Tombia and other communities on September 13.

The lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal constituency in the House, Dr. Sokonte Davies, told The Guardian that the Rivers State government had commenced a process of trying to ascertain the exact situation of things following conflicting reports on the Joint Task Force in the area.

Davies said: "When petition goes to the House, the House will look into it. The problem I foresee is that if it is treated as internal security issue, it might take some time but if it is seen as a matter of urgent national importance, it will be taken straight on the floor of the house."

He explained that an obvious mistake was made by the military, who, he said, are trying to convince the Rivers State government that their operation in the Tombia axis of the state was flawless. And based on the contrary information available to the government, the situation was being reviewed.

According to Davies, "I know that the governor is trying to ascertain the exact situation of things. He actually had conflicting reports. The intelligence is trying to convince the governor that what they did was right but the governor is inundated with contrary information. He is actually looking at the matter."

He insisted that as far as Elem-Tombia was concerned, all those who were killed were innocent people. He challenged the JTF to prove that those killed in Elem-Tombia were the so-called militants that necessitated the attack

"It is obvious to everybody that a mistake was made on the side of the security agencies. There are no mistakes about it. What is left now is to find way to address the mistake. I think the security organisation was not properly informed. An error of judgment had been made."

The Joint Task Force (JTF) reportedly carried out the operation on September 13, attacking Elem-Tombia, Ogboma, Elem-Bekinkiri, Oloko, Iyalla-Ama, Alapuminjibiri and Mbiakafimimo.

But the JTF has denied the allegation that the military attacked and killed civilians during the raid on militants' camp around the Elem-Tombia general area.

Its Commander, Brigadier-General Sarkin Yarkin Bello denied that the attack on the Tombia general area was pre-meditated, insisting that the encounter the JTF had was with the militants and not unarmed civilians.

Surprisingly, a video of the military operation shown to journalists by the JTF Commander in Port Harcourt indicated that the military was unchallenged, as it pushed through to the communities.

Indeed, the video revealed soldiers smashing drinks and setting buildings and property inside ablaze. They also carted many items away from the raided communities.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) - the dominant militant group in the region - appeared to confirm the JTF claim that it attacked militant camp in the area.

Claiming civilians among nine militants killed in the JTF raid at a time of a lull in hostilities, the MEND subsequently declared an 'oil war' against oil installations and military personnel guarding such facilities.

The reprisal attacks code-named 'Hurricane Barbarossa,' were prosecuted for eight days with heavy toll on oil pipelines and flow stations of major oil companies alleged killing of many troops before the MEND declared a unilateral ceasefire.

But the JTF has debunked the report of death of any of its troops in the hands of the militants.

Yet, on the strength of the said military attacks on their communities, the Tombia Council of Chiefs has petitioned the presidency and the National Assembly, requesting for investigation into the destruction of their villages and the killing of over 30 persons by the JTF.

In the petition endorsed by the chairman of the and the secretary of the Council, Chief Lucas Aluye-Benibo and Chief Daye Ikiroma-Owiye, they said the people of Tombia now live in perpetual fear "because there seemed to be a concerted plan for systematic extermination of their people.

They particularly referred to strong "rumour" from the military quarters that the next place of attack by the JTF would be the Tombia Town and its settlements.

"Our citizens have started running away from the communities for fear of being killed by the Nigerian security forces," they alleged.

Really, a visit by The Guardian to Tombia exposed stories of how this once thriving community has changed over the years and particularly within a few weeks.

The sea route to Tombia is most often empty, a lucid indication of the atmosphere of fear that pervades the area

source:http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=280908&ptitle=JTF%20Attacks:%20'Please,%20Save%20Our%20Souls'

DeepZone

Don't take it out on me bro. I pray and hope you guys get on your feet so you can break away from Nigeria

dont mind all of them, na jelousy go kill them. l dey always enjoy your posting, and l think you are among the top ten poster on nairaland. keep up the good work.

Meanwhile, l dey look for wife to marry, one of my friend tell me say yoruba girls sabi take care of their man , na true. me be think say na calabar girls hold the gold medal.

l tire for this Yoruba people self
how come they nominate area boy to be ambassador

[size=30pt]free masaba[/size]

[size=15pt]Police Clear Man With 86 Wives[/size]
From John Ogiji, Minna

THERE are strong indications that the police may not prosecute super polygamist Mallam Bello Masaba.

Reason: The Niger State police command, which conducted a search in his house, said it did not find anything incriminating in the residence of the man with 86 wives.

The State Deputy Commissioner of police, Mr. John Olayemi who led the police team that arrested the Islamic cleric in Bida in the wee hours of Monday, September 15, exonerated the octogenarian of harboring anything incriminating.

"We found nothing incriminating in his house. There was no knife, no pistol or skull in his house, when we invited him to the headquarters for a chat," Olayemi declared.

But when asked why the Police went ahead to arrest the octogenarian, Olayemi explained that the command only acted on an instrument of Upper Sharia Court directing the Police to investigate the embattled Polygamist for committing offence against sections 210, 383 386 of the Penal code.

"The Police only carried out a court order. We had a court instrument, ordering the Police to investigate the man. He was alleged to have committed offences against sections 210, 383 and 386 of the penal code. His case was a religious one and not with the Police and it is in the Shariah Court," the Police boss explained.

Meanwhile, the embattled octogenarian polygamist has filed another suit at the Federal High Court, Minna seeking an order for his release on bail pending the hearing of the suit before the Minna Upper Sharia Court.

Joined in the suit no FHC/MN/CS/27/08, which motion had been fixed for Friday October 3, this year are the Niger State Government, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Sharia Commission and Comptroller of Prisons, Minna.

Masaba was ordered to be in prison remand until October 6, this year by the Minna Upper Sharia Court last week Monday on a three count-charge of inciting/insulting contempt of religious creed; he was also accused of instituting unlawful marriage and marriage ceremony without lawful marriage.

He was also accused of unlawfully marrying one Alhaja Fausat Bello Masaba and 85 others and keeping them in his house unlawfully. These charges were in contravention of Sections 210, 383 and 386 of the Penal Code.

In another development, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adamu Usman has refuted a newspaper report (not The Guardian) that an Abuja high court has freed the embattled polygamist.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner in Minna yesterday, the Attorney- General stated that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered that the applicant (Masaba) be produced before the court on October 27 when the matter will come up for hearing.

He added that the court then ordered that a notice to that effect be issued to the Comptroller of Prisons, Minna where Masaba is being detained on the order of Minna Upper Sharia Court.

source:http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=270908&ptitle=Police%20Clear%20Man%20With%2086%20Wives

[size=15pt]We have reports of soldiers encouraging militancy, says CDS, Dike [/size]
Written by Emma Amaize,Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja,and Uduma Kalu
Saturday, 27 September 2008
'Some JTF soldiers extort, harass innocent citizens', •Politicians, foreign oil companies aid militants, •For destroying illegal bunkering, militants declared Oil War, JTF •Details of the FG, militants’ secret talks

Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Air Marshal Paul Dike has expressed concern that secret military information meant for the Joint Task Force (JTF) fighting militancy in the Niger Delta region is leaked before it gets to the soldiers.




Air Marshal Paul DikeThe CDS also has information that some soldiers attached to the JTF encourage illegal bunkering in the area. He has also been informed of extortions and harassment of the people in the area by the soldiers.
Dike made this revelation during his visit to the Niger Delta, last week.

The CDS, who addressed men of the JTF in Effurun, Delta state, said he was worried at how information meant for the JTF get leaked to the militants before they reach their destinations.

Thursday, last week, Dike toured the strife-wracked Niger Delta where militants launched an “oil war”. He said he was in the region, hit over the past five days by some of the worst attacks on oil installations in recent years of insurgency, to see how the military was handling the unrest.

Five years ago, the government created and deployed a special military unit, the Joint Task Force (JTF), to combat the rebellion by local armed militants claiming to be fighting for a greater share of the oil revenue in the Niger Delta.

Dike said he embarked on the mission to assess the performance of the JTF, adding that “I am pleased to say that I am very satisfied with what I have seen, although there are a couple of areas we have to work on,” Dike said at the end of a tour he conducted secretly.

Dike however told the soldiers that: “We have gotten reports about harassment by men of the JTF. We have gotten reports about extortion by men of the JTF. The mandate you have here is to protect lives and property.

If in an attempt to discharging that duty, you start harassing men, children and women, you lose your respect. For sometimes now, the Nigerian military and the police have lost some little bit of their respect because of the way we behave. We are determined to put things straight. No amount of sacrifice that you put in here will mean anything if you don’t have self respect. For any well trained soldier to be focused, you must be disciplined. If you lack discipline, you cannot achieve anything.

“I am a bit worried also, about the way information leaks out to people who should not get to know about the content of the message. Everything again boils down to discipline. We pass messages from Abuja , before it will get to where it ought to get to, the message is already leaked. Is it that some of us here are informants, or some of us lack the requisite discipline to wear this uniform? We need to work hard to get the respect that the Nigerian military used to have because anything you do here, if you lack discipline, it is zero.

“There are suggestions in certain quarters too, that some of you in one form or the other encourage bunkering. I don’t want to believe that some of you participate in it. If you do gentlemen, your days are numbered. It is unheard of that men of a disciplined force will involve themselves in economic sabotage, because if you are involved in bunkering, it is nothing short of economic sabotage. That is why I am saying do not spoil the good work that you are doing here”.

However, details of the federal and Niger Delta militants secret talks have started to filter to the public. The federal government met with leaders of the three major Niger Delta militants: Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta ( MEND)’s General Boyloaf, Comrade Ateke Tom of the Niger-Delta Volunteer Vigilante, Mr. Farah and other warlords.

The meeting, held from Monday through Wednesday this week at the Presidential villa, Abuja, came barely 24 hours after a unilateral cease-fire on the “oil war”, christened Hurricane Barborossa was secured from MEND through the instrumentality of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark,, Chief Government Ekpemupolo and chairman of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Senator David Brigidi

In their demands to the federal government, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the militants asked that the JTF should cease further attacks on communities in the region and that the task force should be withdrawn.

The militants also asked for the creation of oil commissions by the Bayelsa and Rivers state governments. In these commissions, the oil producing communities will manage 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation funds accruing to the state.

Another issue the groups discussed was the appointment of the Minister of Niger-Delta as well as a general amnesty for all Niger-Delta militants as there was speculation that the government wanted to pardon only selected persons.

However, JTF has accused the Niger Delta militants of launching the oil war because the JTF destroyed their illegal bunkering. Men of the JTF last July destroyed 111 illegal refineries at Tuomo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta state. Coordinator of the JTF Media Centre, Lt Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the illegal refineries were locally fabricated, and that it could be likened to the distillation system used for the production of alcohol.

He added that the local refineries were made of drums, pipe hose, big tripods, cooling system where the product is separated and fire wood with which drums filled with crude oil are heated to boiling point before the products are released into the cooling system. The structure hosting the facilities is small in size. There are over 300 of such illegal refineries in Bayelsa and Delta states, the soldier said, adding that each of them costs about N1m to build.

MEND, through its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, last September 14, declared what it called Oil War in the Niger Delta.

“We have declared an oil war in response to the unprovoked aerial and marine attacks on our positions by the armed forces of Nigeria. We are asking that oil companies evacuate their staff from their field facilities because the brief is not to capture hostages but to bring these structures to the ground.”

However, one of the militants that met the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, told Saturday Vanguard that the federal government begged them to cease fire, and that VP’s hands are tied concerning withdrawing the JTF as well as unconditional release of Okah.

The VP, he went on, alluded that the requests would be met gradually by the government if there is peace in the region. “You know he is not the President; he made us to understand that he would convey demands to Mr. President on whose table the buck stops,”, he told Saturday Vanguard.

But the JTF has accused top politicians and oil companies of aiding the militants. The task force members made these accusations when Dike visited Rivers state on the spot assessment of security situations in the Niger Delta.

Commanding officer of the Naval base in Port Harcourt, Navy Captain Okojie of the Nigerian Navy had told the CDS that on the day militants attacked a Navy patrol boat and the counter attack from the Navy which lasted about an hour, one of the militants who later jumped into the water was overheard phoning frantically on his GSM, reporting how they were being over powered by the Navy in the shootout that resulted in one of the boats being sunk.

Moments after the phone call and while the shootout was still going on, calls from top politicians including some from Abuja, the federal capital, bombarding Navy Captain Okojie and the JTF Commander, with the Pathfinder Commander being threatened of dire consequences if he did not stop repelling the militants, Okogie said.

Dike later proceeded to the headquarters’ of ‘Operation Restore Hope’ at Effurun, Delta State where after he was briefed by the JTF Commander, Brig-General Nanven Rintip, he addressed the troops. Dike while addressing the JTF men accused some of them of lack of discipline. Some of them he said, connive with militants to steal oil. They also leak military secrets sent from Abuja, as well as their molestations of the innocent civilians.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that in Abuja, Clark was the peace broker and after the preliminary meeting with him last Monday, the emissaries went into top secret meeting with the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday night to notify him of the conditions for peace in the region by the militants.

Though the outcome of the meeting is yet to be made open, one of the militant leaders told Saturday Vanguard that , “The Vice President asked seriously that the militants should cease fire and that the Presidency would address the demands gradually, but, he said he did not have the power to grant our requests.

“The way I see it, he is like telling us that his hands are tied in some of the requests like withdrawing the JTF, unconditional release of Okah and all that. But he alluded that they would be met gradually by the government if there is peace in the region. You know he is not the President; he made us understand that he would convey demands to Mr. President on whose table the buck stops.

He charged us to go back and tell those that sent us to embrace peace and we ended the meeting on that note”, he explained.


source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/17941/41/

baba una for no move motion, everybody for dey bear in papa name

[size=15pt]Enahoro: Our Mistakes in the Founding of Nigeria[/size]
By Yemi Adebowale, 09.27.2008

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The man who moved the motion for Nigeria's Independence in 1953, Chief Anthony Enahoro has admitted to the mistakes of his generation and the founding fathers by not ensuring that the country was constituted along ethnic nationalities.
This veteran politician, journalist and businessman has remained very much in the news ever since. Enahoro, one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists has seen it all in politics – the good, the bad and the ugly.
In an exclusive interview with THISDAY to commemorate the 48th independence anniversary of the country, Enahoro remains as dogged as ever insisting that Nigeria as presently constituted is an anomaly and not a nation.
He said the Nigeria of today is not what he and other young political activists in the late 1950s had hoped for when they fought for independence, adding it should have comprised separate federating units to reflect and represent the aspirations of the various ethnic tribes that make up the whole.
“Nigeria as it is today, is not a nation. We did not think that just because the British created it this way, we were all bound by it. We thought that even if there was going to be a Nigeria, the component units should be the ethnic groups,” he said.
Enahoro was of the opinion that “there should have been a Yoruba state, Igbo state, Hausa state, Ijaw state and the rest of the ethnic groups. That should have been the basis of our unity.”
He felt the dream of those who fought for the country’s independence had not been realised, stating Nigeria has become a nation of English people and that they conduct their business and daily lives in a foreign language which would not have been the case if federalism had been adopted.
He disclosed it was during the meetings of the youth wing of several political parties in the country of which he was the chairman, that it was agreed that each of the federating units be allowed to exist semi-autonomously.
But Enahoro disclosed that did not happen because older politicians who should have pushed for a confederacy failed to take it up from where he left off after he moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence.
“We thought the elders will take it on from there, but they thought otherwise. That is why we are where we are today.”
Enahoro whose sharp wit and intellect belied his 85 years on earth expressed sadness that the nation had not made significant progress since 1960.
He blamed the nation’s woes on the mistake made by its founding fathers who decided to leave the country as a contraption created by the British colonial regime.
“I still think Nigeria could have been effective if the units that make up Nigeria are the ethnic units. It could have been effective if the internal administration and the business of the people, and not the business of somebody sitting in Abuja.
“I do not think that a hand full of people should take the decision on a place that would be the federal capital of Nigeria. The decision ought to have been taken by all the

source:http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=123647

[size=20pt]olodo rabata[/size]

[size=15pt]WAEC releases results, 83% of candidates fail [/size]

By Segun Olugbile
Published: Saturday, 27 Sep 2008
The West African Examinations Council on Friday released the result of the May/June West African Senior Secondary Examination.

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Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, Minister of Education

The Head, National Office, WAEC, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, who announced this at a media briefing on Friday, said that only 188,442 or 13.76 per cent of the 1,369,142 candidates that sat for the examination obtained five credits passes and above in English, Mathematics and three other subjects.

Uwadiae, while announcing the results, said that a total of 1,369,142 candidates entered for the examination in the country. He said out of this figure, 1,136,387 candidates, representing 83 per cent, had their full results released, while a few subjects sat for by 232,755 candidates, representing 17 per cent, were still being processed.

An analysis of the released results by Saturday Punch showed that 947,945 candidates, about 83 per cent of the total number of candidates that took the examination, failed to obtain five credits passes and above in English, Mathematics and three other subjects. A candidate seeking admission to any Nigerian university, except the University of Lagos, must have a minimum of five credits at a sitting before he or she could be considered for a place. However, to secure admission to UNILAG, a prospective student must have obtained a minimum of six credits at a sitting.He added that this was so because of alleged errors made by the candidates during the process of registration or during the conduct of the examination. Uwadiae assured that the results would be released as soon as the errors were corrected.

Giving a further analysis of the result, Uwadiae said that of the 188,442 candidates who obtained five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, 100,338 or 7.32 per cent were male while 88,104 or 6.43 per cent were female. A further analysis of the results, he said, showed that 91,609 candidates, representing 6.69 per cent, sat for science subjects; 28,898 or 2.11 per cent candidates took social science subjects; while 67,935 or 4.96 per cent did arts subjects. However, the results of 74,956, representing 5.47 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, are being investigated based on various reports of their alleged involvement in malpractices during the conduct of the examination.

Uwadiae disclosed that the reports of the malpractices and the exhibits had been compiled for a presentation to the Nigeria Examinations Committee of the council. He said that the council’s decisions would be communicated to the affected candidates through the schools that presented them for the examination as soon as the committee finished its assignment. Uwadiae, who commended the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the federal and state governments for their efforts in ensuring the successful completion of the script marking, advised candidates to check their results on the council’s result-checking website as from Friday.

Answering questions on the leakage of some of the question papers, Uwadiae said all the papers suspected to have been compromised were replaced by the council. He assured all stakeholders, including the candidates who sat for the examination and their parents that no candidate benefited in any way or suffered beyond the inconveniences of the rescheduling of the cancelled papers as a result of the leakage

source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2008092714561089

@ Afam,

OBJ did not do Nigeria any good.
Nothing again i say.

l disagree with you, history will be kind to OBJ, in years to come, historians will look back at his rule and give him the credit he deserve

Im able to speak to my grandmother in the village simply because of the GSM intoduce by OBJ, he help got our debt cancelled. Tell me any 2 things any administration has done that equal that.

As for corruption, all sinned and come short of glory of God.
I have never met a Nigerian that has never give or receive bribe

this is an untested water, nobody knows. the consensus is that it would bring back liquidity into the system, by allowing inter bank borrowing to pick up in the short term. At the long run, nobody knows