₦airaland Forum

This obviously is unheard of and a first in my life time. Don't know but with igbo couples and babies always expect the unexpected. Only a couple of months back in London, doctors were running around trying to figure out how a Nigerian igbo couple gave birth to a white baby. Yes not albino but full breed Caucasian 

On June 10, 2011 · In News

By Chidi Nkwopora

OWERRI- Immediate past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Goodluck Opiah, his deputy and nine of his colleagues, impeached or suspended recently, have approached the court to contest the actions and pronouncements of the Amaechi Nwaoha-led group in the Assembly.

Opiah’s suit, number HOW/283/2011, and handled on behalf of the plaintiffs by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, and five other lawyers, is in High Court 1, presided over by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Benjamin Ahanonu Njemanze.

The lawmakers want the court to determine whether, by the combined effect of the provisions of Rules 7(2), 14, 20, 21(1) of the House Rules of Imo State House of Assembly, as well as Section 92(2)(C) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the defendants could validly suspend and remove the speaker, deputy speaker and nine others from office on allegations of abuse of office, corruption and acts inimical to the legislature in total disregard to the principle of fair hearing, House Rules and the 1999 Constitution.

They also sought a relief for a declaration that the procedures and proceedings of the sitting of the House held on 31 May 2011 at 8.30am, wherein the defendants suspended and removed the claimants from office was unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

While Opiah and his colleagues prayed the court to set aside the purported removal of the Speaker and his Deputy, as well as suspension of the nine members, they also sought an order of court restraining Imo House, its servants, agents or privies from relying on the illegal acts of the defendants in tampering with any rights, privileges, entitlements, duties and obligations conferred on the claimants by virtue of their office until same was constitutionally resolved.

Before giving the ex parte order, Justice Njemanze said he carefully read the motion papers requesting to serve the originating summons and other processes in the suit on the defendants by substituted means.

From Simeon Nwakaudu, Makurdi

Angry Naval Rating allegedly beats carpenter to death over unfinished cupboard

THERE is no thawing yet in the frosty relationship between officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy and their civilian host communities in Benue State. Rather, it is getting colder.


The carpenter gets nailed , into a coffin

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It has been a cat-and-mouse kind of existence - the Naval personnel being the cats while the civilians around them are the mice. The relationship is dogged by one incident after another, of civilians being harassed, intimidated, beaten up, maimed so much so that members of the public are beginning to question loudly enough what the Navy are doing in the state.

The physical assaults have become so common they hardly make news anymore.

But one incident, last year, was an exception when a Makurdi-based businessman was abducted by Naval personnel at a restaurant in town and dragged to the Naval Base where he was beaten to an inch of his life and stabbed in the lap.

His wrist was slit and would have been killed, had another Naval officer not pleaded that the life of the businessman be spared.

There was public outcry as people from all walks of life urged that the culprits be brought to justice.

If anyone thought that the furore that the uprising that incident almost caused would teach the Naval personnel any lesson, then, such a person was wrong, as was proved by the event on Monday evening at Wurukum, a suburb of Makurdi.

That Monday, a popular carpenter in the area known as Philip Udoh, from Konshisha Local Council of Benue State, was beaten to death by a Naval rating named, Charles Gbodi.

The carpenter was killed for failing to deliver on a promise to complete Gbodi's kitchen furniture on schedule after collecting a payment of N5,000.

The kitchen furniture is like a cupboard used by residents for cooking in front of their rooms in compounds that they share with other people.

It is meant to keep the user away from the general kitchen in compounds where they live.

Trouble started on Monday evening after the Naval rating had gone to the home of the carpenter to collect his cupboard and was told that it was not ready.

The late Udoh had started the construction and had done considerable work on the item, but had not completed it as he was said to have gone to the seminary in the town for another job.

An irate Charles Gbodi could not accept the explanations and pleas that only a little remained to be done on his cupboard.

He attacked Udoh in the presence of his family members, beating him mercilessly and was unmoved by the pleadings of people around.

A furious Naval Rating Gbodi was said to have grabbed an object and smashed the head of Philip Udoh, who fell to the ground, unconscious.

It was at this point that Gbodi, a frequent to the area, fled the scene and reported himself to the B Division of the Benue State Police Command.

Udoh was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, where sympathisers rushed him to.

For now, Naval Rating Charles Gbodi has been transferred to the Benue State Police Command Headquarters while further investigations go on.

Contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Alaribe Ejike said that he was yet to receive details on the incident and that the Command would brief reporters on the matter as soon as information was received from the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Residents of the area who witnessed the killing were shocked that the Naval Rating refused to heed the pleading of the people to stop beating the carpenter.

A local traditional ruler in the area who witnessed the killing, Zaki Agishi, claimed that several persons attempted to intervene, but Charles Gbodi threatened them with bodily harm, hence they stayed at a safe distance and watched him beat the carpenter to death.

Speaking to The Guardian, Agishi said he was called by distressed residents from his home and had to rush to the scene, hoping that the Naval Rating would respect his age and stop the beating.

He said when he got to the scene; the late Udoh was already in a pool of his own blood and was begging the Gbodi for his life.

He said: "I noticed that the situation was getting critical and I took the risk to approach the Naval Rating. I told him to stop the beating; otherwise he would kill the boy. He did not heed my pleas and continued until the boy died."

Another eye-witness, Hilary Karem, stated that ordinarily, residents would have saved the carpenter, but because they knew Charles Gbodi as a Naval Rating and did not want to fall prey to him and his colleagues after the incident.

He said it was common for Naval Ratings in the area to return, at a later date, to beat up those who had attempted to intervene in altercations that they had with their victims.

He said it was out of fear that they called the local chief to intervene, believing that the Naval Rating would respect his age.

Karem said: "For Now, Udoh is dead. But the law enforcement agents should ensure that Gbodi is brought to justice so as to discourage other Naval Ratings from beating ordinary, harmless and usually innocent civilians whenever they have issues with residents".

He called on the Federal Government and the Naval authorities to build a barracks for the Naval personnel in Makurdi to avoid the harm they cause to residents since they opened a base in the town.

He claimed that several residents had received different degrees of injuries from Naval personnel in the last one-year, but had been intimidated to remain silent.

He said Udoh's case was heard far and wide because he died at the hands of his assailant.

In February, a mobile policeman also shot and killed one Aondowase Angu after an altercation. Nothing has been heard about the case after the police quelled the uprising that ensued.

Agency reporter

A man, who laundered money in a business deal with ex-Nigerian dictator, late Gen. Sani Abacha, has been ordered to repay £26.5m (N6.73bn) by Jersey's Royal Court.


Gen. Sani Abacha

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Raj Arjandas Bhojwani, from India, laundered £28m through the Jersey branch of the Bank of India, the British Broadcasting Corporation reports.

He was jailed in 2010 for eight years, but in February it was cut to six years for Bhojwani's good character.

The money was laundered in a business deal with the late Nigerian military dictator, who died on June 8, 1998.

The Royal Court ordered the confiscation of £26.5m and for Bhojwani to contribute to the prosecution costs.

A statement released by the Royal Court said it represented the end of a long investigation into serious money laundering in Jersey.

Attorney General Timothy Le Cocq, said, "This is not the first time the attorney general has brought a successful prosecution for money laundering and we hope that it will send out a clear message that Jersey will deal very seriously with such offences."

The case began following an investigation into the activities of the late Abacha.

The sum of $170m connected with the Abacha investigation had already been returned to Nigeria from Jersey and it is expected some of the confiscated money from Bhojwani will also be returned.

ABUJA-THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which secured a court order to detain former Speaker of the House of Representatives in its custody, yesterday, quizzed Bankole’s deputy, Mallam Bayero Nafada and five other principal officers of the House.


Corruption Charges: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole (middle) led by EFCC operatives back to EFCC office from the Abuja High Court, yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

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The agency had invited the principal officers of the past National Assembly, including former House Leader, Chief Tunde Akogun, Baba Shehu Agaie, Deputy Minority Leader, Sulaiman Kawu, Bello Mohammed, and former Minority Leader in the House, Senator Ali Ndume, who just won election into the Senate.

The former officers of the House of Representatives had reported at the Wuse 2 Headquarters of the EFCC at about 12 noon yesterday to answer questions regarding their roles in the alleged mismanagement of House funds including a N10 billion loan secured from one of the first generation banks on behalf of the House.

EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the "arrest" through an SMS to our correspondent in Abuja, said the former principal officers of the House of Representatives would likely get bail at the end of their interrogation.

Babafemi said: "The following principal officers of the sixth House of Representatives were invited to make statements over some of the allegations levelled against ex_Speaker, Bankole. They are former Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, Baba Shehu Agaie, Sulaiman Kawu, Bello Mohammed, Tunde Akogun and Sen. Ali Ndume. They are likely to be granted bail after their interrogation later today."

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to keep the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, under its custody till Friday when his bail request will be considered.

Justice Donatus Okorowo made the order shortly after the embattled former Speaker pleaded not guilty to the entire 16-count criminal charge preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.

Vanguard noted that frantic effort by his team of lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, to secure his immediate release from EFCC custody, yesterday, proved abortive.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who opposed the move, informed the court that the commission ab-initio uncovered subterranean moves by the accused person to flee the country.

Keyamo who equally faulted the bail request on the premise that it was tendered orally, urged the court to allow the former Speaker to remain with the anti-graft agency, saying he still had questions to answer in relation to other allegations against him.

Judicial notice of treatment

Earlier, Chief Awomolo who led three other Senior Advocates of Nigeria that represented Bankole, pleaded the trial court to take judicial notice of 'inhumane' treatments he said was meted to the accused person from the point of his arrest to his subsequent arraignment, insisting that his client, being a law abiding citizen, resolved to go ahead and "take plea of protest."

Awomolo said: "My lord, we consider it appropriate to bring to your notice the manner EFCC operatives arrested him in his house around 8.00 pm on Sunday, June 5. He was not only manhandled, he was arrested in the full glare of pre_arranged cameramen that were engaged by the prosecution.

"My lord this is condemnable and we consider the hurried charge that was filed against him before this court highly unconstitutional. However, we will address that issue at the appropriate time."

Refuting the allegations, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Keyamo, maintained that the ex-Speaker was arrested in accordance with the due process of the law.

Keyamo told the court that the agency got an intelligence report that the accused person had concluded plans to abscond the country the next day, a situation he said informed EFCC's decision to effect his arrest on Sunday night.

He said: "My lord it is not true that he was manhandled by EFCC operatives. We only took him into custody in order to forestall any attempt to thwart the course of justice; he was not handcuffed or pushed in the same manner the former IMF boss was arrested."

Order to remain in custody

After listening to the parties regarding the propriety of releasing the embattled ex_Speaker on bail, Justice Okorowo, upheld the arguments of the anti_graft body, stressing that he should remain in custody till 12.00 pm Friday, a period within which his formal bail application would have been filed before the court.

The judge said: "I would have loved to take the bail application orally and deliver my ruling today (yesterday), but I cannot force the prosecution to concede to the oral bail application".

He ordered the defence counsel to ensure that he filed the bail application before the close of work yesterday to enable the prosecution to promptly respond to it.

Before adjourning definite hearing on the substantive suit to July 26 and 27, trial Justice Okorowo warned the EFCC to refrain from issuing disparaging press statements against the accused person, adding that he should be treated as an innocent citizen until he is convicted of any of the criminal charge against him.

Bankole who was ushered into the High Court premises by stern looking security operatives at 8:45 am yesterday, looked unperturbed throughout the proceeding.

His relatives and well wishers besieged the High Court complex which was secured by about 30 heavily armed mobile police men that mounted sentry at various strategic positions within the vicinity.

After moves to secure his release crumbled, the former Speaker who wore a white 'buba and sokoto' with a matching cap and black sandals to court, was subsequently whisked away by EFCC operatives in a white coaster bus marked ABUJA_BR_ 739_ BWR.

EFCC had maintained that he connived with other persons at large, to inflate the cost of several contracts awarded by the House in 2008, to the tune of about N894 million, contrary to section 58(4) (a) of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under section 58(5) of the same Act.

Some of the alleged illicit deals that formed the conduit pipes through which the said monies were pilfered by the accused person, includes the purchase of 400 units of 40_inch Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets, 800 units of Desktop Computers (HP Compaq dc 5700), 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316, 400 units of HP LaserJet 2600N, among others.

The EFCC further alleged that he rigged the bid for the purchase of 3 units of Mercedes Benz S_600 cars, 2 units of Range Rover vehicles (without bullet proofs) and 400 units of DSTV systems, by refusing to follow all the procedures prescribed for public procurements in Sections 17 to 56 of the Public Procurement Act No.14 of 2007, leading to a loss of value to the national treasury and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4)(e) of the Public Procurement Act, No.14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.

Fundamental human rights

The embattled Speaker had earlier approached the Federal High Court with an application seeking an enforcement of his fundamental human right. He is specifically praying the court to issue "a declaration that the detention of the applicant without trial is illegal and unconstitutional as it offends the applicant's right to free movement and personal liberty as guaranteed by section 41 and 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999."

He is also asking for an order directing the EFCC to release him, even as he sought for damages in the sum of N20 million, contending that it was loss he has suffered due to his unlawful and unconstitutional detention.

Akala hurriedly withdrew N3b in five days – Ajimobi

News Thursday, June 9, 2011

By Ola Ajayi

IBADAN – GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said his predecessor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, in an attempt to empty the state treasury, hurriedly withdrew a sum of N3billion just five days before he left office.


Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala

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He revealed this during a meeting with some traditional rulers over theimplementation of the N18,000 minimum wage forOyo state workers.

But responding, Prince Dotun Oyelade denied the allegation saying "Akala's administration did not withdraw N3b as alleged by the new administration in the state. What happened was that money was paid to contractors upon the presentation of certificates for job done and certified by the monitoring unit, the State Ministry of Works and the Due Process unit".

He said."this is the conventional way of paying for projects executed. The onus is therefore on Ajimobi to prove that the money was wrongly applied or prematurely released.

Among the traditional rulers invited to the meeting are the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana and theSoun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi. Though, the Olubadan could not attend in person, he delegated the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye to stand in for him at the meeting.

The former Governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala had, at the twilight of his four-year tenure, pledged that he would effect the implementation of the N18,000 monthly, minimum wage.

Ajimobi, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Festus Adedayo, expressed worry over the issue especially when the new wage bill exceeds the total monthly revenue of the state.

In an earlier meeting, the governor held with labour leaders in the state, he explained to them that "while statutory allocation accruing to the state was, on the average, N2.4 billion monthly, the state's Internally Generated Revenue nets about N1 billion, which, if added to VAT and other revenues accruable to the state government, pushes the state's monthly income to about N4.2 billion on the average".

The governor further told the labour leaders that, with the hurriedly approved new minimum wage increase by the out-gone state government, the state would pay monthly salaries of N4.4 billion which meant that the state government would have to borrow the sum of N200 million monthly to be able to pay the salaries of its workers.

He also added that it would be an impossibility to actualize all the lofty dreams which he swore to provide for the people of the state.

He admitted that workers in Oyo State were among the worst-paid salary-earners in the South West adding that "If the Ekiti State salary model is adopted, the new salary will increase workers' wages by between 45 and 100 percent, push up the wage bill by N800million per month and push the wage bill to N3.7billion,".

There is an element of truth to the poster comments. Africans need to start asking themselves question, starting with WHY?

@ alj-harem

We actually agree on something. I am not surprised though, u are sought of a fair person sometimes. On this issue of killing poor thieves that are trying to feed their hungry belly and honoring the real thieves that are stealing for generations unborn something needs to be done in Nigeria.  

Honestly, don't think the yoruba's and Igbo's deserve to be left in the loop the way they have. All the post went North. The Northerners have been reaping the rewards of the rich oil south for too long and GEJ government need to be dominated by southern and central official that voted for him .

Is Jonathan making a mistake to surround himself with northerners? Is he deluding himself to think befriending the devil will turn evil to love? I think so, but patiently waiting to see how it all plays out and consequences. 

I have said it before and i will reiterate, these Northern sect are nothing more or less than cannibals. Anyone that disagrees should tell me why any sane minded  person would murder in cold blood a human being they have never met in their life? I put it to u that the only reason for such murders is to eat. Northern's are cannibals. 

Political expedience,because these two are big time ballers, lol

09 Jun 2011

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Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and musician Akon were among ninety-five other Africans that were listed among the top 100 Most Influential Africans in the June issue of New African magazine.

The compilation, in no particular order, featured “top influencers, opinion-shapers, doers, agitators, groundbreakers and myth busters who are shaping the face Africa” and were broken down into categories, by the sector, that include Business and Finance, Music, Science and Technology, Media, and Authors and Poets.

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, AfDB President Donald Kaberuka, one of Africa’s most influential business leaders Mr. Tony Elumelu, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Egyptian Businessman Naguib Sawris and Phuthuma Nhleko formerly of the MTN Group were some of those who made the exclusive list from the world of business and finance. Robert Mugabe, the current President of Zimbabwe and controversial leader, was stated to “continue to mesmerise the world as well as vex his opponents with his ability to hold on to power”. Other entrants in his category Politics and Activism include the revered Nelson Mandela, who still carries weight as Africa’s elder statesman, as well as individuals behind the recent political upheavals and movements that have occurred in the past year such as Goodluck Jonathan, Salva Kiir, President of the new South Sudan and Wael Ghonim, the face of the Egyptian revolution.

Post-election crises: Nigeria is not divided – Jonathan
On June 9, 2011 · In News

From DANIEL IDONOR, in US

NEW YORK — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared that the rising cases of terrorism in the Northern part of the country are not an indication that Nigeria is divided along ethno-religious sentiments, but that they are part of an emerging global phenomenon which can best be described as the ugly side of world history.

The President, who spoke at an interactive session with the Association of United Nation Correspondents, at the UN building in New York also stated that the increasing pace of bomb explosions and other acts of terrorism across the country are not due to his emergence as president, but that the reign of terror by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, had been there before the demise of his predecessor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

United States President Barack Obama and President Goodluck Jonathan at the White House, yesterday.

He, however, expressed support for the move by the Governor of Borno State to negotiate with the Boko Haram members, saying that the autonomy of the states with the federation allows states to embark on such initiatives but warned that if that fails the Federal Government would move in to enforce the law decisively.

He denied insinuations that the rising insecurity was as a result of sharp division between the Christian-dominated South and Muslim- dominated North, even as he said that the security situation in Nigeria can be tackled internally and does not call for international alarm.

“We have these challenges but it has nothing to do with elections, somebody tried to relate that to the elections whether a Christian or a Muslim is elected is not the issue. This issue of explosions have been with us and we are doing all we could to curtail it but I promise you that as a government we are committed and we will bring it down”, he said.

He noted that “all over the world when you have issues of terrorism it cannot be easily wiped out. You might be the most powerful country but with terror attack you have to manage it and gradually suppress it and that is what we are doing. It definitely has nothing to do with the elections whether I am a Christian President or a Muslim President.

“I always tell people that it is part of the ugly history of the world and the issue of terrorism will definitely be over maybe in the next few years. And that is one thing Nigeria is committed to doing with other friendly countries. Initially we as a nation didn’t believe we have terrorists amongst us until it became obvious that we have some elements of terrorism by the explosions in Nigeria.

”It started some years back from the Niger Delta up to the north eastern part of the country, incidentally I am from the Niger Delta”, he said

According to him, “the issue of insecurity has nothing to do with the issue of Christians or Muslims. If you look at the population of Nigeria, the two religion share 50-50. If you look at the result of the elections, you will see that I won almost the whole country, it was only in about four states that I had less that 25 per cent. Our constitution states that to win an election you must win 25 per cent of two-third but I got 25 per cent in about 32 states and actually, if you include Abuja it would be 34 states out of 37.

Even in the states I didn’t get 25 per cent the margin was quite minimal, 16 was the minimum”.
He added that “one error most people who are not Nigerians make is that the northern part of the country is dominated by the Muslims while the southern part is dominated by Christians. That is completely wrong, you have Christians in both north and south.

Besides, he stressed that “in the South-Western side of the country you have almost equal number of Christians and Muslims, even in the extreme north like in Borno State where you are experiencing most of the explosions in the country, there are significant percentage of Christians though they are more Muslims there.

“For instance the Boko Haram attack, Boko Haram is a sect that is against everything Western either civilization or education, the see those who embrace them as enemies and they are more antagonistic to fellow Muslims that they perceive that have embraced the western way of life. So the explosions are not targeted at Christians because a Christian is the President.

To Work with Tambuwal

The President, who spoke at an interactive session with the Association of United Nation Correspondents, at the UN building in New York, said he is not perturbed by the decision of the House of Representatives to abandon the zoning policy of the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the party will work out another position to assuage for the perceived marginalisation of the South-West zone.

While pledging his commitment to work harmoniously with the leadership of the National Assembly at all times, Jonathan stated that the development is a PDP affair which will be handled by the party to ensure that no part of the country feels unnecessarily aggrieved by the actions or decisions of other parts.

According to him, his government was not against the choice of Ibrahim Tambuwal and Emeka Ehedioha as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Federal House of Representatives. He also defended his party’s position backing a South West candidate.

The move, he explained, was to simply to obey the part of the country’s law which advocated the principle of Federal Character, saying that the essence was to allow every geo-political zone of the country fair share.

The president who was responding to a question on the fate of the South-West in the new political dispensation at the National Assembly as a result of the action of members of the House, argued that the decision was that of the entire House to choose who so ever they wish and this also includes the South West members.

The President was accompanied by Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipreye Sylva, and his Benue State counterpart, Mr Gabriel Suswan, among few other Nigerian officials including two permanent Secretaries and the Special Assistant on MDGs, Hajiya Amina Ibrahim Zubairu.

Jonathan met with President Obama yesterday and will this morning meet with Bill Clinton, before returning to Nigeria, tonight (Thursday).

Imo: Speaker, Principal Officers Defect to APGA

By Amby Uneze

08 Jun 2011

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Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State

Speaker of the newly-inaugurated Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ben Uwajimogu, representing Ihitte Uboma State Constituency; Chief whip, Hon. Ozuruigbo Ugonna; the majority leader, Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma Eke and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mrs Ngozi Pat Ekeh, have defected to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP .

Their defection was announced at the floor of the Assembly during the inauguration.

Inaugurating the 5th House of the State Assembly, the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Jude Agbaso, congratulated the new lawmakers for emerging victorious at the polls.

He urged the members to work together with one accord as a united entity so as to move the state forward.

Donald Ozoemena representing Oru West constituency was elected as the Deputy speaker, while Hon. Ozuruigbo Ugonna was elected chief whip.

Other principal officers elected at the floor of the House include, Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma Eke from Ahiazu Mbaise as Majority Leader while Hon Acho Ihim from Okigwe constituency and Mrs Ngozi Pat Ekeh from Aboh Mbaise constituency were elected Deputy Majority Leader and minority leader respectively.

09 Jun 2011

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President Goodluck Jonathan

By Tokunbo Adedoja in New York and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that the imbalance in the body politic caused by the election of a new speaker and deputy speaker in the House of Representatives will be redressed through other appointments.

On a reconciliatory note, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a truce with key officers of the lower chamber over their refusal to abide by the party’s position on the distribution of government positions.

The party had zoned the speakership to the South-west and deputy speakership to North-east to balance out the other appointments which saw the North-central get Senate presidency, South-east deputy Senate presidency and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The South-south had already produced the president and the North-west the vice-president.

But the emergence Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from the North-west as speaker and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha from the South-east as his deputy has effectively shut out the South-west and the North-east from the top seven positions in government in the next four years, while the North-west now has the vice-presidency and speakership and the South-east controls the SGF, deputy Senate presidency and deputy speakership.

Fielding questions from United Nations correspondents at the UN auditorium at its headquarters in New York, President Jonathan said: "Well, I am not the chairman of PDP. I am just a member of PDP and the president of this country - though a senior member of the party. But based on our party structure, chairman of the party is the number one citizen of the party. As the president, I am second to him.

"But I don't think it is a major issue because if the House of Representatives, for one reason or the other has decided to vote against the position of the party, the speaker is going to be their own leader. We (PDP) will look at it as a party and see how we adjust to make sure that a section of the country doesn’t feel marginalised."

Noting that there is always a lot of confusion about the issue of zoning and the spread of political offices because Nigeria is multi-ethnic and multi religious, he said that is why there is the federal character law that set up the Federal Character Commission.

He said: "So to make sure that people don't get angry over certain things, the Federal Character Commission was established very long ago. It was even during the military government that we came up with the Federal Character Commission to make sure that offices are spread. So the PDP believes that whenever you elect the president, who comes with the vice-president, who would come from different zones, you spread other offices to the remaining zones.

"That has nothing to do with the so-called zoning that people are talking about. But there is always a mix up and for the circumstances of my own election; I don't like to comment on it because of mix up. So PDP tried to decide that after the president had emerged from the South-south and the vice-president from the North-west, that other offices should be distributed among other zones just to obey that federal character principle by ensuring that there is uniform distribution of the top political positions. But the House of Representatives, in their own wisdom, voted against the position of the PDP.”

On the view that the South-west in particular, which the party zoned the speakership to, may have been marginalised by the election of Tambuwal, Jonathan said: "We should also know that even the South-west that does not seem to have a key position voted for the speaker (Tambuwal)."

According to him, "From the result, I believe they also voted for the speaker. I have not seen the analysis of the voting. You know in parliament, voting is no secret. It's open or open secret. So if you want to know, you will easily know who voted for whom."

He, however, said: "Even if that is the wish of the South-west, there may be a way of amending it. There are other positions within the parliament, even within the House of Representatives. You have the positions of the minority leader, minority whip, which could be used to balance that perceived skewed distribution."

The president also spoke on the rising wave of bomb explosions, especially in some parts of the North, particularly on the day of his inauguration, arguing that it had nothing to do with his election as president.

On the explosions on the day of his inauguration, he said it had nothing to do with his election.

"We have these challenges but they have nothing to do with the election, These issues of explosions have been with us and we are doing all we could to contain it. I can promise you that as a government, we are committed to the task and we will bring it down," he said.

Buttressing his point, he said: "If you look at the elections, if you look at the spread of how I won the elections, you will see that I got almost the whole country. Only about four states had less than 25 per cent. Our constitution says for you to win, you need to get about 25 per cent of at least two-thirds of the states. Even the states in which I didn't get the 25 per cent, the margins were quite minimal, 16 was the minimum. Unlike previous elections, you see some regions voting for one candidate and the other candidates scoring less than 10 per cent.

"So one error people who are not Nigerians make is that Northern Nigerians are all Muslims and the Southern part of the country is all Christians. That is completely wrong. We have Christians and Muslims in both North and South.”

He said even in the far North, there is a significant percentage of Christians even though there are more Muslims, adding that the population of Nigeria is about 50:50 in terms of Christians and Muslims distribution.

Meanwhile, the controversy over the emergence of Tambuwal and Ihedioha may have come to an end as they both offered apologies for rejecting the directives of the PDP on the zoning arrangement.

Instantly, the party accepted their apologies, congratulated them and urged them to carry the party along in the filling of other vacant positions of principal officers.

The party had on Tuesday refused to congratulate them.

Tambuwal and Ihedioha arrived the PDP national secretariat at 3.25 pm where they were received by the Acting National Chairman, Dr Mohammed Harilu Bello, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking first on their mission, Tambuwal said: “We are pleading with our party to forgive whatever it was that went wrong in the process and continue to accept us because I know that we have not been rejected as your children and continue to guide us in doing only those things that will promote the unity, harmony prosperity and peace of this country.

“Mr Chairman, I and my deputy are here to assure you and indeed the party, through you, Mr President, the head of our government that we shall give our government maximum cooperation, towards ensuring that all the laudable programmes of our party are implemented through good legislation that will come out of the House of Representatives in collaboration with the Senate.

“We assure you that we shall give cooperation and every support to Mr President and the government so that our party can deliver on its promises to the electorate. As I said earlier on, Mr Chairman, we seek for your understanding. We seek for your forgiveness, we hereby apologise.”

He also said they were not unaware of the fact that in the course and the process of the emergence of the leadership in the House, what happened was beyond their control.

According to Tambuwal, “Even though we were not exactly wanted, we knew that we actually gave you the party night.

“As your dear children and as loyal members, we are here this afternoon to give you your due respect and to say here and now that all that we did was not intended in anyway, to either undermine our party or out of disrespect to our party. It was a sheer coincidence of the history of this country and destiny and providence had it that from the inauguration of the 7th National Assembly, House of Representatives in particular, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from North-west, and Emeka Ihedioha from South-east, contrary to the hope and aspiration of our party will emerge as speaker and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. It was designed by God; it was not designed by us.”

In his response, Bello said: “Now that what has happened has happened, the remaining positions in the House, you should allow the party to look at how we can balance it, so that the other zones are taken care of before we come back to you to give you the chance to lead your people in electing to reflect balance in the leadership of the House. Thank you very much for this visit, we accept your apology.

“Mr Speaker, you are welcome to your home, the headquarters of the party. You are right; we are not very happy with you at this moment. But we are quite aware that you and your colleagues in the House did not quite work in line with the policy of our party.

“But you have not left the party, what has happened has happened, it’s not a surprise to us. We are not quite comfortable, but we have not rejected you. And PDP, being the largest party, and a collection of different mind sets, we are used to crisis in the affairs of our party.

“We believe in different views and like we said in our statement yesterday, we believe in free choice, for all Nigerians including members of the National Assembly. What has happened may be a breakdown in communication between members of the party and this will not be for the first time. Fortunately, PDP is a versatile party, and we have got the organisation and the strength to weather all our problems and to work our solutions to whatever misunderstanding that arise within the family.

“The election of Speaker has happened; I am glad it was free and fair because we observed it even though it didn’t go according to the dictate of the party. We are faced with a fait accompli. What remains now is for the party to use our usual dispute resolution mechanism, to work out the way forward. All we want is peace and stability in this country.

“That is why PDP arrived at zoning. In the process of zoning we don’t look at the individual; we look at the institution because it is only PDP among all the parties in this country that has the zoning policy that assures all parts of this country of fair share of participation in the decision making in the ruling of this country. PDP wants to assure that all zones, all tribes, and all religions, big or small, have got a share and have got a say, in the formation and the process of governance of this country.

“That is why we have had zoning and rotation and put it in our constitution. I am sure Mr Speaker, your election will not mean the end of zoning. Because even if we don’t take zoning as a policy, PDP is a party of equity and fair play. And equity and fair play demand that of the major positions, at the party and the government, each section of this country should have at least one position or the other so that we can achieve peace and stability. I know Mr Speaker, you wouldn’t go out of your way to spite your party.”

But speaking later, the National Auditor of the party, Dr Samuel Ortom, said the party had forgiven them, but could not take a decision on a constitutional matter like zoning. He said the party would consult with its other organs such as the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) before a final resolution on the matter is reache

Implications of Amaechi/Odili reconciliation in Rivers

Written by Bolaji Ogundele
Wednesday, June 8, 2011

[Governor Rotimi Amaechi] Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, was sworn-in recently in Port Harcourt in a colourful occasion. But the event was made more memorable by one unusual presence; that of his former boss, Peter Odili, who had kept a distance for about four years from the state government. Bolaji Ogundele relives the event.



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Sunday, May 29, 2011, the appointed Nigerian Democracy Day, would go down in the annals of Rivers State as perhaps one of the most remarkable days. This is because it was the day the political icons of the old and the new orders of the contemporary politics of the River State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Governor Peter Odili respectively, decided, probably inadvertently, to finally bury the hatchets, a political difference which had lasted for more than four years and had generated political heat around the polity.

It all began with the zonal rally of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South-South, where all gubernatorial standard-bearers of the party were meant to be officially presented to party faithful in the region with the symbolic presentation of flags to the candidates. The leader of the party at that time, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, presented all candidates with the flags, save for one.

The event took place at the capital of Rivers State, Port Harcourt, and it was the candidate of the party in the host state that was denied due to what Chief Obasanjo explained to be a "k-leg", which was meant to be sorted out later.

Then, the people did not know what the problem was. But the party hierarchy soon surfaced with a solution in the person of a candidate that did not take part in the primaries of the party, an older cousin of Chibuike Amaechi (winner of the ticket), Celestine Omehia.

An apparent injustice, according to many observers, had taken place. Amaechi was encouraged to proceed to the court to seek justice of what had been described as an open affront on due process. The leadership of the party in the state and those around the then governor, Odili, tried to persuade

Amaechi to back down and resign to fate. But as it seemed to the offended and many observers that tolerated wickedness would ultimately become a norm, he pursued the matter to the highest court in the land.

While the legal battle raged on, a lot had gone wrong in the politics of the state. For instance, Amaechi was said to have left the state and then the country because of the fear for his life, as assassination attempts were reportedly made on him. Meanwhile, the general election took place and the man, who was made to replace Ameachi, won and sworn-in as governor.

However, in a twist of fate, the Supreme Court, on October 23, 2007, five months into the new administration, pronounced that Amaechi had been unjustly dealt with and therefore asked Omehia to vacate the seat immediately and that Amaechi be sworn-in as the legitimate candidate of the PDP, and the winner of the governorship election in the state. And there went the watershed in the power scale of the state, the termination of a political dynasty and the forging of a new order.

Since October 26, 2007, most of the people around the government led by Omehia and all protégés of former Governor Odili, were reported to have relocated from the state to Abuja to start a political campaign, whose thrust was to reclaim the state from Amaechi and his emerging base.

Though Odili was not heard all through the various battles to unseat Amaechi, the last of which was the last April elections, the view had been that everything had been built around the former governor and that he was the unseen hand, moving all the puns and other important officers.

Feelers from the people about the relationship between Odili and Amaechi always indicated a strained one. This was why most of the people who were at the inauguration ceremony of Amaechi's second term in office were surprised to see the former governor at the thanksgiving service, which took place at Corpus Christi Cathedral and later at the Liberation Stadium.

The news was not because the former governor had not come to town since after the Amaechi assumed office, but that there had been state events in the past where he was expected, as senior citizen and an elder statesman. But he had stayed away, perhaps because of the existing cold war. For him now to come and be 'the guest of honour' at the inauguration of his assumed arch-enemy was, indeed, a strange development to anyone who thought he understood the political drama of the state in last four years.

Noticing the excitement, Governor Amaechi took the time to shed light on how the strange event came to be, and what brought his predecessor to town, when he was speaking during the thanksgiving service. He said two men, the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Diocese of the Anglican Church, Ignatius Kattey, and the Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi, had been vital to the reunion.

The obviously elated governor described his predecessor as his mentor and political father. He revealed that he felt really unsettled when Archbishop Kattey expressed displeasure at the situation regarding their relationship, adding that he had planned that he must get back with the former governor before his second tenure commenced.

"I feel slightly uncomfortable that those words came from his Lordship. And I said at God's time, it (the reconciliation) will happen. I put in prayer because I had made promise to God that at the end of the elections, before or during the commencement of the second term in office, I would have reconciled with my former boss, my mentor and father. I thank them (Archbishop Kattey and Dokpesi) for helping me to fulfil my promise to God, because probably the journey to see how we can reconcile today would not have started. I assure you that it will no longer break down," the governor said.

But questions have arisen against this development. How long would the making up last? If there is another divide, would the state recover quickly from it? Are there still political undercurrents from both parties with extreme implication? This, however, has been the concern of many citizens of the state.

Even while the ceremony was still on, politicians had started passing comments on the development, while using pleasant descriptions and denotations. In all, they mostly claimed to see it as the best that could happen to Rivers State politics.

The immediate past secretary to the state government, now a senator, Magnus Abe, described the situation as the way to go for the state because it would mean development for the state, forged by the unity of all stakeholders. Also, the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and now member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, in a message he left on his facebook page, said it meant the completion of the reconciliation process in the ruling party in the state.

"I saw former Governor Peter Odili and his wife in church with the Amaechi family and their friends. The reconciliation process appears complete and I'm glad about it," Nwuke said.

According to Abe, "it is a signal that the state will, in the next four years, witness development anchored on the unity of all stakeholders."

But some other observers of the development, who understand the thinking of the political class, are of varying opinion, arguing that most of those surrounding the governor are not likely to feel elated by this development.

According to one who spoke on the condition of anonymity, "Odili will not come back alone. He has a crowd of protégés who are so die-hard; they go anywhere their leader takes them. Admitting these elements into the existing scheme would mean a reduced booty for the core of those loyal to the governor. So, the return of the old horse is not entirely viewed as a welcomed development.

Again, to the pleasure of those who might be feeling threatened by the new development, those studying the political scenario in the state have opined that the coming of the former governor should not threaten anybody because knowing Dr Odili well enough, he is not the kind of person who would play into ridicule.

As much as the coming together of the duo brings relief to the politics of the state, many have expressed reservations that this development would not result to a more distabilising situation for the state.

OAM4J
Posts: 4931

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Re: Awolowo’s Dynasty Cannot Be Rubbished – H.i.d. Awolowo Tells Tinubu And Co
« #21 on: Today at 04:26:19 AM »

I have just cleaned this thread. Please let's keep the discussion civil without any insult or ethnic bashing. Thank you.

OAM4J, Did u miss the jason123, igbo bashing or that don't qualify for insult. U will find the igbo members of the is forum are taking offense above. please do something

@ OAM4J

Jason 123 should be ban because he starts heavily laced tribal sentiment against the igbo's and then runs off to report to the moderator like a kid. Anymore tribalist comment from him on the Igbo's will be met with a swift and equally vernious response.

Don't expect the Igbo's to sit and take insults as a people from a 'church rat' like Jason123, especially if the debate is between the Igbo's and Yoruba not Itsekiri. 

OAM4J, Did u miss the jason123, igbo bashing or that don't qualify for insult. U will find the igbo members of this forum are taking offense. please do something before we start to match his rhetoric!! 

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-685386.0.html

This 'OBJ' guy should do us a favour crawl under a hole somewhere and quench, 

Faggo.t JASON 123, i DEY LAFF OOOOO

OgidiBoy:
^^^ I could have sworn you started a thread two weeks ago announcing your retirement from NL.

Alji Harem

Retire from Nairaland, I dey laugh oooooo! I wait to see the day.

@ Alj harem

I guess u have been sleeping, So all this violence and people getting killed in Northern Nigeria is just fiction. Do u know how wars start or u think it is like u see in the movies. Anyway, u are not a serious person,


[quote author=alj_harem link=topic=685372.msg8475610#msg8475610 date=1307490564]this igbos don start again

i was in borno last month and i asked evryone if boko haram exist , it is a no no

nigeria is not at war at least not in the north

op u are an ideeiot[/quote]

'Boko Haram' gunmen kill Nigerian Muslim cleric Birkuti
Street scene in Maiduguri Motorbikes have been banned at night in Maiduguri in a bid to stop the attacks

A gunman believed to be from the Boko Haram Muslim sect has shot dead a prominent cleric from a rival sect in northern Nigeria.

Ibrahim Birkuti has criticised Boko Haram for killing dozens of security agents and politicians in recent months near the city of Maiduguri.

Like most of the other victims, he was shot dead by a man riding a motorbike, witnesses say.

Hundreds of Boko Haram supporters died during an uprising in 2009.
Continue reading the main story
map

Maiduguri: Nigeria's city of fear
Islamists claim Nigeria attacks
In pictures: Aftermath of July 2009 uprising

They attacked police stations in Maiduguri but were defeated and their leader was killed.

The sect campaigns against Western education and is also known locally as the Taliban, after the Afghan group, with which it shares some beliefs.

Mr Birkuti was from the Saudi Arabian-inspired Wahabbi group, which has been gaining ground in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria in recent years.

He had been one of the most prominent clerics to criticise Boko Haram in Borno State, of which Maiduguri is the capital.

A police spokesman told the BBC he was killed outside his house in the town of Biu, some 200km (120 miles) south of Maiduguri.

"A gunman riding a motorcycle stopped outside the house and brought out a gun from under his shirt and shot him twice at close range before fleeing," Babagana Hanafi, Birkuti's neighbour for 15 years told the AFP news agency.

Last week, Boko Haram told the BBC it had carried out a series of bombings after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration last week.

A sect spokesman said it was also responsible for killing the brother of the Shehu of Borno, one of Nigeria's most important Islamic leaders.

In Maiduguri, the police have made hundreds of arrests and even banned motorbikes at night but have not been able to stop the violence.

All this seems like the opening shots of war.

Maiduguri: 'Boko Haram' attacks Nigeria police stations
Family on motorbike in Maiduguri - file photo Motorbikes are a popular mode of transport but have been banned at night in Maiduguri to stop attacks

At least five people have been killed after police stations were attacked in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, hospital sources say.

The BBC's Bilkisu Babangida in the city says there were at least three explosions, while gunfire rang out in what is believed to be the latest attack by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

Its members have killed dozens of police officers and politicians in the city in the past year.

It wants to overthrow Nigeria's state.

It believes that Western education is wrong.
Continue reading the main story
map

Maiduguri: Nigeria's city of fear
Islamists claim Nigeria attacks
In pictures: Aftermath of July 2009 uprising

In 2009, hundreds of its supporters were killed in Maiduguri after they attacked police stations.

The latest raids come a day after the sect was accused of killing a cleric from a different Muslim tradition who had criticised it.

Ibrahim Birkuti was shot dead outside his home in the town of Biu, some 200km (120 miles) south of Maiduguri.

Like previous victims of Boko Haram, he was killed by a gunman riding a motorbike.

Last week, Boko Haram told the BBC it had carried out a series of bombings after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration.

A sect spokesman said it was also responsible for killing the brother of the Shehu of Borno, one of Nigeria's most important Islamic leaders.

The police have made hundreds of arrests and even banned motorbikes at night but have not been able to stop the violence.

jara:
Please, I am curious.
What is there to be envious of? I think both should look for ways of getting along instead of trying to destroy the other's opportunity only to end up as second best. May be that is worth envy.

Yes!!! U finally understand my point and wat envy actually is. The Yoruba's and Igbo's are too busy destroying each other chances to rightfully assume the leadership role of Nigeria that is their destiny from the conception of Nigeria. Consequently, we have a failed state dominated by the North today.

The envy has to stop and practical solution sought to improve the life's of Nigerians who are suffering. But, u and i know that would require a good leader to unite both igbo's and yoruba and end all the envy that is destroying the south.

This is very Good, maybe the yorubas can have some basic sense now. This Northern 'born to rule' nonsense was something that together with the cooperation of all ethnic groups in the south would have been dealt with and the north taught a very good lesson a long time ago but no the yorubas are envious of Ndigbo's.

I dey laugh o, because without zoning it is practically impossible for a yoruba to be president of this country in the foreseeable future.

How we ‘ll lead National Assembly – Mark, Tambuwal

News Tuesday, June 7, 2011

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DANIEL IDONOR, HENRY UMORU, BEN AGANDE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE OLASUNKANMI AKONI & INALEGU SHAIBU

AFTER days of high wire intrigues, horse-trading and politicking, leaders of the Seventh National Assembly were elected yesterday at colourful ceremonies in Abuja.


Senate President David Mark takes oath office while Clerk of National Assembly Alhj. Salisu Mekaswua looks on during Swearing in of 7th National Assembly in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

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According to projections, Senator David Mark retained his Senate Presidency post alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. And Rep Aminu Tambuwal and his large troop of supporters made good their threat of going against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning formula ceding the speakership to the South-West geo-political zone.

Tambuwal, who hails from Sokoto State, North-West was massively elected as Speaker with 252 votes compared to 90 votes garnered by government and PDP-backed Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who hails from the South-West.

In what is panning out as nailing of the PDP power sharing formula, Hon Emeka Ihedioha of the South-East was elected as deputy speaker. With the election, apart from South-West, which has lost the speakership, the North-East has also lost the deputy speakership just like the South-East lost the National Chairmanship and North-West lost the presidency.

Given the implications of the events, the PDP has begun moves to heal wounds arising from the elections. Determined to mend fences with the affected leaders, the PDP hierarchy will meet with leaders of the National Assembly today.

Meantime, eminent Nigerians including President Goodluck Jonathan, governors of the 36 states of the country, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole among others felicitated with the new NASS leadership, pledging to work with them, to develop the country. However, legal icon, Professor Itse Sagay faulted Tambuwal's election and asked him to resign on account of the N10 billion loan saga.

This is as Senate President Mark, Speaker Tambuwal and some new senators unveiled their agenda for the Senate and security agencies almost marred the inauguration.

Mark pledges cut in governance cost

In his acceptance speech, Mark said his unanimous election by the senators “sends a strong signal about the new Nigerian spirit, the birth of a new National Assembly and increasing maturity of our democracy.”

He promised to continue with the collegiate leadership style that he adopted in the Sixth Senate, adding: “I will preside with the fear of God," adding that the diversity of representation in the Senate was a consolation that all the senators would bring in their experience to move Nigeria forward.

While emphasizing the need for co-operation and collaboration among the senators as well as co-operation between the other arms of government, Senator Mark reminded his colleagues that “we are as strong and as effective as the strength of our team work.

For effectiveness, we must ensure collaboration, team spirit, networking and consensus building through dialogue and consultation. To accomplish more, we have to listen and consult more with the civil society, the organized private sector and other major stakeholders" he said.

Let us review our federation- Tambuwal

On his part, Speaker Tambuwal called for a review of the Nigerian federation. "We should review how we federate as a nation with the aim of achieving more cumulative efficiencies in the federating units, based on comparative endowment advantages,” he urged."

According to the Speaker, post election and sectional violence and other crises have sought to tear us apart and plant distrust and disunity amongst our people, peace and justice are our heritage from our heroes past and our hope for today.

"As the people'srepresentatives, we must heal our people and heal our nation, we must work to redeem the efforts of our political predecessors and we must work to redeem Nigeria."

Jonathan congratulates NASS leadership

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the newly-elected NASS leadership and looked forward to enjoying harmonious working relations with them. A statement by Mr Justus Abuah, a Deputy Director in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said: "President Jonathan believes that the re-election of Senator David Mark as President of the Senate and the election of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives by their peers in the National Assembly is an affirmation of their leadership qualities and commitment to strengthening Nigeria's democratic institutions.

"The President looks forward to working harmoniously with the re-elected Senate President and his deputy, as well as the newly elected Speaker and his deputy, other principal officers and all members of the Seventh National Assembly on the implementation of his agenda for National Transformation. He wishes the leadership and members of the new National Assembly a successful tenure in the service of the nation."

Bankole congratulates successor

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, has congratulated the newly elected Speaker of the House, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in the keenly contested but transparent election.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunao, the former Speaker, who could not be part of the handing over ceremony as he was being detained by EFCC following his arrest on Sunday night, said Tambuwal's election reflected the wishes of the members of the House and by extension the people of Nigeria, adding that the Parliament, as the bastion of democracy, must elect its leadership democratically.

Police beat, tear-gas journalists, bar governors, others

The smooth inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly at the National Assembly Complex yesterday was smeared by overzealous mobile policemen, who almost halted the exercise They barred a serving Governor, some journalists, Senators-elect, Reps-elect and legislative aides from entering the complex over what they described as security reasons.

A senator-elect was manhandled and his clothes shred. A journalist was slapped by a mobile police woman for protesting while over four canisters of tear gas were shot to chase away people.

Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah, was equally barred but later ushered in through a secret entrance but all the journalists that followed him were chased away and rudely asked not to come near the entrance again.

Another female police officer with the name tag,Rita Egbe, rough handled a female journalist, Kemi Ajala of Crowther FM when she wanted to enter the complex. The police officer shoved Ajala, held her dress and threatened to have her thrown out of the complex, but other security agents intervened.

Well over 40 journalists had to stay outside the complex for more than five hours even after the Senate had concluded its election. Journalists with authentic NASS identity cards were shabbily treated like lepers by the mobile policemen who threatened to beat up a Vanguard correspondent and two of his colleagues.

On investigation on why journalists were specifically singled out to be molested by the police, who worked in conjunction with other security agencies, a Police Inspector, who spoke in confidence to Vanguard said, the Sergeant at Arms specifically advised them to make sure journalists were dealt with "even if possible chase them away from here, na so oga talk."

Our mission in the Senate -Okowa, Ewherido

Some newly elected senators, who were sworn in yesterday were upbeat about their missions in the Senate.

In separate interviews with Vanguard, a cross section of the fresh senators said they would collaborate with their colleagues from other parts of the country to improve infrastructure development in the country and ensure that the living standard of the Nigerians was improved.

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North) said his priority in the Senate would be to ensure that the Revenue Sharing Formula Bill was passed to ensure that states and local governments had more funds at their disposalfor rapid development of the states.

Reason: "If we want achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we have to ensure that more money is given to the states and local governments. They are closest to the people and they need more money to ensure that there are greater infrastructural developments in the country."

Okowa said he would also work hard with his colleagues to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill was passed into law as soon as possible in order to not only sustain the peace being presently experienced in the Niger Delta region but also ensure that individual families in the region benefited from the resources in the area.

"As a senator, I hope that we will organise our people to ensure that we galvanise our people to work towards the actualization of our people producing the governor of. The best way to achieve this is to engender unity among the various groups inDelta North so as to present a common front," he said.

For Senator Pius Ewherido (Delta Central), the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, which was done by the Sixth Senate needed to be looked at again as there are areas that have not been properly captured.

"The constitution has to be amended to ensure that we practice true federalism. I still believe that the constitution , though it was amended by the last Senate, has to be reworked to properly guarantee our practice of the federal system. I believe that the centre is too heavy and we need to devolve more powers to the states."

On the power situation in the country, Ewherido said all functionaries of government, no matter their political affiliations, "need to support Mr. president to actualise the dream of stabilising electricity in the country as it is bedrock of development and the easiest and fastest way of bringing about employment, which is the fastest way to poverty alleviation."

, Oshiomhole too

On his part, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole congratulated Speaker Tambuwal over his keenly contested election and charged him to be sensitive to the growing national concerns about the huge cost of governance.

In a letter of congratulation issued in Benin City, the governor wished Tambuwal a successful tenure and assured him of the "full support and partnership of the people and government of Edo State and my personal solidarity to ensure that you succeed in qualitatively uplifting the House of Representatives".

Sagay faults Tambuwal's election

However, legal icon, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) is not part of the ululation trailing Tambuwal's election.

Condemning the election of Tambuwal as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sagay said he should have withdrawn from the speakership race following the N10 billion loan scandal.

The professor of law contended that for Tambuwal's name to have come up in the N10 billion scandal in the House was enough for the new Speaker to withdraw, I think he should resign.

According to him, "if it were to be in a civilised society, it shows that there is no moral and practice of ethics in public offices. It also shows that our democracy is immature, is still in its formative stage. In United States of America that we imitates such thing could not have happened."

Apparently referring to the scandal, Sagay said Tambuwal does not have the image of a speaker for impressing it on the leadership of the house that there was need for an upward review of the running costs for members which is unconstitutional and illegal.

"They went and borrowed money for their selfish interest, the whole thing is illegal and a man in the fore front of it should not have been elected. If he knows what is good for him, he should just resign to save the country from further shame."

Governors' Forum fetes Mark, Tambuwal

Also governors of the 36 states of the country yesterday congratulated Senate President Mark and Speaker Tambuwal and pledged to work with them to develop the country.

In a statement on behalf of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, said: "I write to congratulate you (Senate President, David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal) on your recent elections as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

That you were elected to this high and strategic positions in our country is an indication of the high confidence of your distinguished colleagues in your leadership abilities and style.

"Your elections is a worthy testimony to many years of hard work and dedication to the lot of the common man and thus a fitting and eloquent way to appreciate the years of sacrifice and commitment. We wish you a successful tenure as the Senate President and House Speaker.”