₦airaland Forum

THE Rivers State Government has dared the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to tell Nigerians how much the country earns from crude oil sales.
Rivers also challenged the minister to open up on the quantity of crude oil being produced, its market value and the differential between oil prices.
State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday that rather than speaking on how much Rivers had earned as revenue, the minister should tell Nigerians how many percent of the 2013 budget had the nation’s oil revenue been able to fund.
The state government expressed dissatisfaction over the minister’s position against Governor Rotimi Amaechi, adding that Okonjo-Iweala’s suggestion that the Excess Crude Account was one of the means through which the Federation Account Allocation Committee was funded was misleading and a threat to the nation’s fiscal federalism.
Semenitari partly statement reads, “The Rivers State Government as a policy publishes what it earns from all revenue sources and what it expends as well. Since we have nothing to hide, the honourable minister is welcome to reaffirm these figures for the public as they are already in the public domain.
“What is not in the public domain and what the Rivers State Government has respectfully requested the honourable minister to publish are the following –
“How much oil does Nigeria produce? Where is the differential between the oil pump prices? What price is our oil being sold? How much have we earned from our crude oil sales in the last year?
“What percentage of budget 2013 does our crude oil sales revenue fund? Can the Honourable Minister assist in shedding more light on the subsidy savings since the reduction in petroleum subsidy?
“The red herring of how much Rivers State has received from the federation account can be the matter for another day as right now those figures are not in contest, and the spat against Governor Amaechi is unnecessary.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/rivers-challenges-okonjo-iweala-on-crude-oil-earnings/

The All Progressives Congress has accused the Federal Government of using anti-corruption agencies to persecute perceived political enemies.
It said the government was using the agencies to hunt political enemies by victimising selected governors and other top political figures in the opposition camp.
The opposition party said this in the early hours of Wednesday after its meeting with some of the newly defected governors from the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja.
The meeting started around 8pm and ended few minutes after midnight.
The meeting, which was held at the Kano Governor’s Lodge, was attended by several national officers and leaders of the party, led by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd); and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Akande, a former governor of Osun State, also read the communique of the meeting.
He said, “The abuse of public anti-corruption institutions by the Federal Government and the ruling party in persecuting perceived political enemies undermines the integrity of these institutions and subverts the rule of law.
“We have watched the trend in which selected governors and other top political figures are being victimized.
“This does not augur well for a civil relationship in our body politic. It emphasises revenge over fairness and breeds malice, rancour and distrust.”
He, however, regretted that the level of corruption under the present leadership of the country was alarming.
“Corruption under the current Federal Government is endemic and Nigeria’s rating has never been this bad,”Akande added.
He also deplored a situation where he said the Federal Government was using the police against the principles of federalism.
Akande said this action had turned the police into what he described as the “Rottweiler of the Presidency and the ruling party” and called on Nigerians to condemn the action.
On the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Akande alleged that the scale of electoral fraud witnessed in both Delta and Anambra states portended grave danger for democracy.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, came briefly to the meeting.
But the Presidency on Wednesday described the APC claim as a ranting of a dying political party.
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents.
Gulak said, “Nigerians should not listen to the ranting of a dying political party because they are more corrupt than anybody or group they may think of.
“What they want is for the Federal Government to stop the agencies from carrying out their statutory duties.
“Mr. President has no constitutional power to stop the police from maintaining law and order. He cannot also stop the EFCC from looking into the books of even the Federal Government. Anybody facing EFCC or the police should not complain.
“The opposition know that the APC states are the harbinger of corruption but because they control a large section of the media, these things are downplayed.
“Nobody is asking questions. Tinubu replaced Mamora in the Senate with his wife, no questions were asked. He installed his daughter as Iyaloja despite that she is not a trader, nobody is asking questions.
“The fact is that misgovernance is more pronounced in APC states.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-persecuting-political-enemies-apc/

This Is Serious.

The Federal Government on Monday reiterated its commitment to create 3.5 million jobs through the agricultural value chains of production, processing and marketing by 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan said this in Uyo at the opening of a three-day international conference on oil palm production.
The conference tagged; ”First International Palm Produce Conference ”, has “Investment in Oil Palm and its Derivatives: A panacea for African Economic Growth and Sustenance”, as its theme.
The President, who was represented by Dr Samuel Ortom, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said that government was poised to unlock the enormous potentials of agriculture.
He expressed government’s determination to add 20 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic supply by 2015.
“We have identified oil palm as one of the important commodities and key drivers to promote the value chain initiative.
“We have also intensified efforts to provide enabling environment.”
Jonathan said that between 1961 and 1965, Nigeria was the world largest producer and marketer of palm produce, contributing 39 per cent of the world average production.
“It is an irony that we allowed this position to slip out of our hands.
“Nevertheless, this administration is resolved to return the nation to the former glorious level of performance.”
The president said that a major breakthrough towards the attainment of the objective objective was the launching of Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES).
Under the GESS, the president said that farmers were receiving inputs directly.
In his goodwill message, Gov Idris Wada of Kogi said that his state was the highest producer of oil palm in Northern Nigeria.
Wada, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Femi Folarin, said that oil palm has high economic potentials.
He said that his administration was investing heavily in oil palm production across the state.
Wada appealed to private investors to partner with the state to boost production of the commodity.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration with National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria.
The conference was also sponsored by the Akwa Ibom Government and moderated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-create-3-5m-jobs-through-agriculture-by-2015-jonathan/

Lagos State Government has debunked the claim that the Principal of Ikeja Junior Grammar School, Mrs. Adesiyan Balogun has been suspended from office.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, who made this known, said: “At no time did the state government place the Principal on suspension over a negative publication in a national daily or for any other reason.
Ibirogba affirmed that the said Principal was, in line with Lagos State Civil Service Rules, asked to explain the situation in her school to enable government assess the true position of things and she had since replied.
Vanguard had published a story about lack of basic furniture in the school
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/suspend-principal-lasg/

RIVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party to impeach him for defecting to the All Progressives Congress and said that the plot would fail.
Amaechi described the move by the PDP to oust him through the State House of Assembly as senseless and unnecessary, adding that the PDP would not be able to persuade the state lawmakers to impeach him.
The governor said on Sunday that he already had 26 members of the State House of Assembly that were on his side and pointed out that it would be difficult for the remaining five lawmakers in the House to remove him from office.
Amaechi, who spoke through the Chief of Staff Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, said the governor had not committed any impeachable offence.
He said, “It is very impossible for the governor to be impeached. The impeachment plot, if it is real will definitely fail. How can five lawmakers impeach a governor in a House of 31 members?
“They (PDP) are groping in the dark and they will soon realise that they are embarking on a wild goose chase because not even one of the 26 lawmakers will listen to any impeachment plot.”
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assemby, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, said that none of the 26 members of the State House of Assembly would succumb to any pressure to impeach Amaechi.
Kwanee explained that majority of the lawmakers were obligated to continue to support the governor till the end, adding that Amaechi’s position was aimed at protecting the future of the people of the state.
He said, “Rivers State is already a bad market for any committee that will come to persuade us (lawmakers) to impeach the governor.
“We, the pro-Amaechi lawmakers are obligated to support him (Amaechi). What the governor is doing is to protect the future of the people. It is for the future of Rivers State.
“Some people have been talking about brotherhood from the South-South. But politics is about interest and not brotherhood. The lawmakers in Rivers State will never succumb to any pressure to remove their governor.”
He said that there was a subsisting court judgment that prevented the House of Assembly from impeaching Amaechi.
http://www.punchng.com/news/pdps-plan-to-impeach-me-will-fail-amaechi/

APGA also promised to support President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
The Anambra Governor-elect, Willie Obiano, has ascribed his victory in the just-concluded elections to the hard work of Gov. Peter Obi. His party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the ‘credible’ election.
Mr. Obiano said the commitment of the outgoing governor in bringing about development in the state assisted in ensuring his victory.
The governor elect said this while reacting to his victory, which was announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka on Sunday.
He said that Mr. Obi’s “good work actually led us to victory and I must commend him for his exemplary show of support”.
The governor-elect also commended the people of the state, the Chairman of the party, Victor Umeh, other party stalwarts and the security agencies for their commitment to their duties during the conduct of the election.
He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring ‘credible polls’ in the state and assured him of his unflinching support.
“I am assuring the people of Anambra that I will continue with the great strides of Obi in moving the state forward,” Obiano pledged.
On his part, Mr. Umeh said: “We dedicate this victory to the evergreen memory of our great leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, whose dream and legacy have been sustained.”
“The light that shines when he was alive is now shinning gloriously.’’
The chairman also commended President Jonathan for “keeping faith with democracy’’, saying “If it was not Jonathan, we could have had problems now.”
“The victory did not come as a surprise, it came as a result of the superlative performances of Gov. Obi”, he added.
Mr. Umeh, who assured the president of his party’s continued support to the federal government, also commended the INEC for “doing an excellent job’’.
He, however, urged opponents in the contest to give peace a chance and consider the interest of the state before their personal interests.
“I congratulate them for contesting; some of them worked hard but the people of the state have spoken.”
“This is the time to show that they have the interest of the state at heart by congratulating the winner,’’ Mr. Umeh said.
Also reacting, Gov. Obi expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for remaining committed to democracy, fair play, free and credible election in the state.
“For us in APGA, we have every reason to show appreciation to President Jonathan because this is the second time after 2010 that he is ensuring credible polls.”
“He is our presidential candidate and we will continue to give him support,” Mr. Obi said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr. Obiano the winner of the contest after polling 180,178 votes while the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Tony Nwoye, had 97,700 votes to emerge second.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chris Ngige, with 95,963 votes, placed third while Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party scored 37,495 votes.
The declaration of Mr. Obiano as winner of the polls followed the completion of the supplementary election in the state on Saturday in areas where election did not hold on November 16.
The APC, Labour Party, and the candidate of the PDP, boycotted the supplementary election and demanded a total cancellation of the November 16 election, citing disenfranchisement of voters and late delivery of electoral materials, among others.
The PDP headquarters, however, said the November 16 election was free and fair; which led to the APC accusing the ruling party of abandoning its candidate and working for APGA in the election.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/150658-anambra-apga-thanks-jonathan-obiano-ascribes-victory-governor-obis-performance.html

For Example you can wish the person any good thing that comes from your mind.
Let the poster below me start...

When that plot failed, Abacha and some other officers convinced IBB to step aside but that he should leave some trusted officers, to work with an interim government to stabilise the polity. That way, the coast was left free for Abacha to have his way.

http://www.punchng.com/news/abacha-betrayed-our-plot-to-topple-babangida-install-abiola-col-umar/

You were opposed to the annulment of the June 12 election; what informed your position?
When I was appointed a military governor in 1985 by the Ibrahim Babangida administration, he told me that if I found anything wrong, I should not hesitate to let him know. So, when he announced the transition-to-civil rule programme, I counselled that he should ensure that the date he fixed was sacrosanct, the date should not be changed under any circumstance. Soon after the announcement in January 1986, things started unfolding. To cut the long story short, by 1992, the primaries were about to be annulled, I wrote a letter to IBB that the election was losing credibility, that there was the need to hurry up and handover.
By December 1992, at the Chief of Army Staff Conference, I raised the issue under other matters that since we were being embarrassed, there was the need to conclude the transition programme. Gen. Sani Abacha asked me to see him in his house. I went to Abacha’s house in company of the current National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. What General Abacha told me then was that they were all eager to see that power was handed over to civilian administration but it looked like IBB was dilly-dallying, that he didn’t want to go. But what I discovered later was that that was not correct. Anyway, we moved to the June 12 election. When the primaries of the two parties(National Republican Convention and Social Democratic Party) that was created by IBB held, and Moshood Abiola and Bashir Tofa emerged candidates, I kept putting pressure on IBB to conclude the transition and hand over but Abacha kept telling me that IBB was not committed to the election and that we should keep putting pressure on him. I kept going to IBB and he kept assuring me he was on course.
About two weeks to the election, IBB called to say that some military boys were putting pressure on him not to hand over because the Structural Adjustment Programme had not achieved results and Nigeria was in a precarious situation.
In the meantime, Abacha was saying if IBB did not hand over after the June 12 election, we should move against him, topple him and hand over to whoever wins the election.
The election was held, we realised Abiola was going to win, I dashed to Abuja, met with the chairman of the electoral commission. He told me he had received 22 states and it looked like Abiola was coasting home to victory. I pleaded with him to ensure that he announced the results. Abacha invited me. He told me that IBB would not allow the results to be announced. He said we should go ahead, topple him and hand over to the winner. He sent me on a wild goose chase; he said I should get the army boys ready for any eventuality. Of course, I went round the country, we got our boys ready. What was agreed was that the person that would announce the overthrow of Babangida would announce the result of the elections and hand over to the winner. We got all the boys in all the regional headquarters ready. Abacha said he was going to call the GOCs to let them know that the military had decided to let the winner of the June 12 to take over.
On the eve of the coup, we went for a coordinating conference, all the boys were alerted. The conference had current NSA, Col Dasuki, Col Gwadabe among other officers to coordinate the last minute of the take-over. Gen. Abacha was to join us later but he failed to appear. An officer asked me which appointment I would like to take in the new government. I replied, ‘Which government? I was told that Abacha had decided to take over power for six months before handing over to Abiola. I told them that was a very dangerous development and that I would not partake in such a plan. We reached a deadlock and I decided to go and confront Gen. Abacha. Around nine in the night, I went to Abacha’s house and I met him alone. I asked him why he changed the plan. I told him that the only reason I joined in the plot was to hand over to Abiola immediately. I told him that I knew that any coup against Babangida was like a suicide mission but I decided to join even at the cost of my life because I wanted Nigerians to know I was not part of the annulment that would plunge the country into crisis. I told him we should continue with our earlier plan. He said the problem was that Abiola could not control the country with all the problems. I told him that whatever happened I would not partake in a coup that would bring him to power.
While I was talking with him, Gen. Ahmed Abdulahi appeared. I told him that I was out of the plan. I left and radioed all those we put on the standby and told them that the coup plan had been terminated, that we were not going to continue. I told senior officers that Abacha was only trying to hoodwink us..

What’s your attitude to the agitation for power shift to the North?
When you talk of power shift, I don’t believe in it because there has been no evidence that it benefits the people. If you take the North, for instance, there is no sign that power has ever been in the region. When people talk of poverty, the people in the North are the most wretched; when people talk of education, the North is the most disadvantaged, yet the region held power for years. So, if this power does any good to a region, the North won’t suffer any deprivation today. I think what power shift does is that it is dangerously dividing Nigeria along ethnic lines. The politicians are pursing power shift as long as it satisfies their personal interest, it has nothing to do with the well-being of the people.
What then should be the right approach?
What I think is that power should reside with good people and good people abound in all parts of this country. I want to appeal to our politicians to desist from pursuing their narrow personal interest by agitating for power shift, thereby heating up the polity. They need to remember that many lives were lost to preserve the unity of this great country.
How would you score the Federal Government in terms of tackling insecurity in the land?
President Goodluck Jonathan should be treated as a war-time President. He needs the support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians. This is no time for destructive political campaigns. Stakeholders should take cognisance of the fact that conflicts have dire consequences on the country. Then the President should show maturity and magnanimity in dealing with people and issues. Whatever the situation, it will be nice to see the President, in his next trip abroad, go with governors like Rotimi Amaechi and other persons in the opposition.
Talking about scoring, I’ll score the Jonathan government high up in its effort at tackling security challenges. Tackling security challenges can drown a whole government. He has done so well. If not for the security forces, the whole of Nigeria today would have been overrun by the Boko Haram insurgency. So, it is no mean achievement that this is not happening.
And on the war against corruption…
I think the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission must act decisively. When they arrested Sule Lamido’s children on account of money laundering, this kind of thing should go round the children of other governors. The agency should not create the impression Sule Lamido is being targeted because he is a member of the opposition.
Some Nigerians see Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the messiah that will liberate Nigeria from all her woes. How do you perceive him?
No doubt, Gen. Buhari has a pedigree. There is no doubt also that he has the requisite for leadership. For example, he vigorously fought against corruption. This is one reason why he has remained a favourite to many Nigerians. But it will be unfair to a country of over 150 million people to think that only one person has a monopoly of such trait.
I will stress that being a successful president will take more than the ability to prosecute and send offenders to jail; it requires both character and intellectual capacity. What Nigeria requires is zero tolerance for corruption as well as the intellectual capacity to understand very complex issues and be able to make the right decisions and follow up with implementation. To lead a complex, heterogeneous country like Nigeria, we need a consensus builder.
Your reactions so far stand you out as a highly detribalised Nigerian. What informs your broad-mindedness?
First, I thank God for the kind of family I come from. It taught me to see humanity rather than dissect human being into tribes or religions. I was brought to see common humanity that we share. What I wish for an Hausa man I wish for a Yoruba and an Igbo man.
Of course, there is also the military training. I doubt if any military officer, a regular combatant officer, will want to discriminate on the basis of religion or tribe. A true soldier does not discriminate.
Now to military matters. Politicians easily blame Nigeria’s woes on military rules in the country.Would you agree with them?
You should ask Nigerians if they are better off under politicians or under the military in the level of corruption, insecurity and other aspects of governance. It is Nigerians that should answer that question. Nigerians should judge, not politicians.
As a former governor of Kaduna State (August 1985 – June 1988), can you boast of any legacy you left behind?
When you talk of legacy, what readily comes to mind is structures, infrastructure but enduring legacy is far more than that. What Nelson Mandela is being celebrated for today are not the roads or airports he built in South Africa, he is remembered for liberating South Africa from apartheid. During my administration, I was able to win the minds of the Southern Kaduna indigenes and I made sure we removed discrimination in whatever form.

What is the solution to all these?
The solution is good governance. Our politicians should be more responsible and bring down the level of corruption. No country can survive with the prevailing rot in Nigeria. It is a major cause for concern. Unfortunately, all our efforts at confronting the security challenges are breeding more insecurity in the sense that if we deploy security forces, especially at the roadblocks, they demand and accept bribes and let you go. When you look at the number of security operatives doing this, you see that it is going to be very difficult to address the security challenges.
For the northern part of the country, some people believe that building more Almajiri schools will stamp out insurgency. Do you agree?
Of course, no. It is not just enough to go to school; when you go to school, you also need to find employment. They say idle mind is the devil’s workshop – it is good to send them to school, they will be enlightened and understand the message of government. But if they cannot be gainfully employed, then what you would have succeeded in educating them in is the tricks being deployed by public servants to enrich themselves. I don’t believe that establishing Almajiri schools is the solution to our problems per se. It is a misconception of the situation in the country. Poverty is in all sections and parts of this country. While you find the Almajiris in the North, you’ll find kidnappers in the South. There are areas where there is prevalence of prostitution and other anti-social behaviours. Let us first look at poverty holistically; it is only in the North. Northern leaders keep crying (poverty) because they want more resources to accrue to the North. When you look at the Fulani herdsmen/farmers clash, I expect the northern governors to sit and look at ways of creating game reserves for the Fulani. As long as you allow them to continue to walk about indiscriminately, there will be conflicts.
Northern states governors should do what has been done before; they should provide more graving lands for herdsmen. Also, I was listening to a commissioner in Plateau State who was expressing his helplessness in providing security for the Fulani because, according to him, it was very difficult for security forces to access the places the herdsmen were. That is a very weird thinking. Security personnel should be able to penetrate all the nooks and crannies of the country. When you look at kidnappings, robberies and oil thefts, they’re all about this culture of get-rich-quick-by-all-mean, which was created by the political leaders.
Recently, the United States of America designated Boko Haram and Ansaru as terrorist groups and Federal Government welcomed it. Would it solve the problem?
I don’t know what America planned to do with that declaration. If it means supporting the Federal Government in the fight against the insurgency, of course, I will welcome the development. I know that the US has the resources and means to engage in war against insurgency. If that is the idea, then, it is a welcome development.
Many people believe that a national conference is the solution to our problems, including insecurity. What is your take on this?
With all the noise for and against the convocation of a national conference or whatever name it is called, there is a need to hold one, to satisfy the yearning of its proponents and to disabuse the minds of those that believe that the conference would lead to disintegration. I have never been a proponent of the national conference for the fact that past conferences have done nothing to ensure good governance. I have yet to see a better mode of representation than the elected members of the National Assembly. All the federating units are represented at the Assembly. If these representatives cannot do what the conference would do – to sit and discuss pressing issues like resource control, power sharing, that will amount to a constitution amendment. The constitution has a provision for how it is to be amended. This is to be done by the National Assembly that has the representatives of all the federating units.
The problem in Nigeria is that our leaders have refused to apply the good provisions of the constitution and they will turn around to blame it all on the constitution. They want to create a new constitution but unless they have the right attitude to implement the new constitution, the constitution will still fail.
I think there is the need for the general public to ensure we elect the right leadership to ensure oversight functions. We should hold our leaders to account. People stand against white elephant projects like the international airport being constructed in Kebbi State..

In this interview, a former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar, comments on burning national issues and tells the untold story of the June 12 election annulment, in this interview withGODWIN OFULUE
 Whatdo you think is the cause of the Boko Haram insurgency?
In discussing Boko Haram, I will talk of the general insecurity in the country. Everything is happening in other countries and Nigeria is facing its security challenges; Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping, robbery, oil theft, Niger Delta militancy, phenomenal piracy on our seas and youth restiveness. And a new development, which we are not paying attention to is the Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes that are engulfing the northern part of Nigeria. Cattle stealing has led to many deaths in that part of the country. These are the major security issues affecting the country; they are responsible for the seeming inability to deal decisively with the challenges. It is difficult to know how to solve a problem if one doesn’t know the cause.
In the case of Boko Haram, for example, it is very difficult to understand the inspiration of their dastardly acts. What could have made a person approach some people to engage in the killing of innocent school kids? Why are innocent people being slaughtered? Where is the religious justification for throwing bombs at churches and mosques; killing and maiming worshippers? Such acts are senselessness and irrational. There are some supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan who believe that the Boko Haram insurgency is the creation of some northern politicians, claiming that they threatened to make the country ungovernable for the President; that it’s the punishment for his failure to abide by the Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning agreement, which denied the North the presidency. There was war during his (Jonathan) completion of late President Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure and you’ll agree that this war still persists, with the heavy impact of the insurgency of the socio-economic life, particularly in the north-eastern part of Nigeria where there has been a state of emergency in the past six months.
There are some northern politicians who benefit from the insurgency that has taken the live of a respected elder like Gen. Shuwa; almost led to the assassination of Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano. Also, there are some northern politicians who claim that Boko Haram is non-existent; that if anything, the Jonathan administration can be using security agents to tackle them so that he can continue to rule beyond 2015. With all these senseless killings, it is difficult to achieve a unity of purpose in the fight against the insurgency.
When you take the issue of the Niger Delta militancy, the struggle started with the agitation for clean environment and equitable distribution of petroleum resources. But it was hijacked by criminal elements, whose major motive was personal enrichment; oil bunkering, pipeline bursting, which led to further degradation of the environment. The Niger Delta youths also moved into piracy and oil theft. One can generalise by saying that our security challenges are as a result of corruption at the centre. For example, most of the Boko Haram members are youths that could have been valuable to the country; they have nothing to aspire to and nothing to lose. As James Baldwin rightly observed, the most dangerous person is he who has nothing to lose. When we say there is so much deprivation, anger, insecurity, and we find them very strange, the Boko Haram members are used to it. It is a way of life to them, which they want to fight. When we look at the Niger Delta militants, they were chaps that were unemployed and they watched helplessly how their oil resources were being cornered by irresponsible, greedy, reckless and immodest elites. When they (militants) saw the kind of structures in Abuja, they envied the elites who had such structures and resorted to self help through militancy, oil theft and so on. Of course, in our kind of democracy, about 70 per cent of our oil revenue is devoted to recurrent expenditure; it is devoted to indolent public servants, 85 per cent of which is for salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly. You remember that (the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria) Lamido Sanusi had to confront the lawmakers.

The supplementary election taking place in Anambra State today will be held in 210 polling units. They include 160 polling units in Idemili North, 17 in Onitsha South, four in Oyi, six in Anambra West, one in Aguata, three in Ayamelum and one in Anambra East.
The other polling units are one in Anaocha, two in Awka North, one in Awka South, two in Ekwusigo, one in Idemili South, three in Ihiala, two in Nnewi South and four in Orumba North.
APGA candidate, Obiano was leading at the conclusion of the voting penultimate Saturday and Sunday with 174,710 votes against the 94,956 votes garnered by PDP’s Nwoye, 92,300 scored by APC’s Ngige and 37,446 scored by Labour’s Ubah.
File: Corper Shobowale Ibironke, Presiding officer, Awka South ward 001 counting result before party agents and voters after voting.
But, major candidates in the election have threatened not to participate in the exercise. They are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige and Labour Party candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah.
Report the election
Are you in the 210 polling units where election is ongoing? What is happening in your polling unit and in your area?
You can send your materials with your name,polling centre, ward and town to ;
Email: citizenreport@v anguardngr.com;
Tweet : @vanguardngrnews, #electionvanguard
SMS only :07061078412, 08134742454
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/anambra-supplementary-election-happening-area/

naptu2: They will not go on strike, they will mutiny.

Think about it this way. You have guns, bombs and tanks. You have power. You can actually change the government and get away with it. Why will you stop at a strike?

Won't you take your guns into town, block traffic, etc, like the soldiers in Ilorin did?

I hope you know that, in the armed forces, a mere strike is = mutiny, so why will you stop at a strike?

you did not get my point, you know we are in a democratic country, so we assume that the military cannot take over for now, now we assume that Jonathan just all of a sudden decides not to pay the military (based on assumption) don't you think they would go on strike Note- we are just assuming, because you know in a democratic nation the military can never take over, e.g Usa

The Human Rights Watch has said that the Boko Haram sect now uses children as young as 12 years old in its attacks.
The group said in a statement released in Abuja on Friday that even though the sect has abducted scores of women and girls in the last four years, Nigerian security forces too have not been able to account for hundreds of young detainees.
This HRW’s comment is a result of a nine-day visit to Kano and Maiduguri in November 2013.
The group said, “The rise of an anti-Boko Haram ground allied with the Nigerian security forces – the so-called civilian joint task force – has added a worrisome dimension to the violence.
“Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 60 victims and witnesses, as well as medical personnel, members of local rights groups, civilian joint task force commanders and government officials.
“The commanders of the civilian joint task force said they had rescued 26 abducted women and girls from a Boko Haram stronghold in Maiduguri and later in Sambisa forest. Some of the women and girls were pregnant. Others had babies.
“Some witnesses said they saw children in the ranks of Boko Haram during attacks.
Human Rights Watch also observed children who appeared to be aged 15-17 manning checkpoints for the civilian joint task force in Maiduguri.”
The group said for a sect claiming to be religious, the Boko Haram tactics “are the most profane acts we can imagine.”
The group said it witnessed arbitrary detention by security forces during its visit.
It said arrests took place in markets, mosques and other locations where young men were known to gather.
“Family members and witnesses described how often after Boko Haram attacks, members of the security forces indiscriminately rounded up and arrested boys and young men in the vicinity,” HRW said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/b-haram-recruits-children-for-attacks-hrw/

A story on the dearth of good furniture in Ikeja Grammar School, Lagos, published bySaturday PUNCHlast Saturday drew a wrong chord with the Lagos State Government.
Last Monday, it suspended the school principal for allowing this writer to gain access to the school premises and take photographs of classes where pupils sat on windows and concrete blocks while learning.
Even though it was reported in the story titled, “Lagos school where pupils learn sitting on windows, concrete blocks” that the principal was not around when this journalist visited the school,Saturday PUNCHlearnt that her superiors have decided to hang the blame of the scandal on her.
Efforts to speak to the principal as the news of her suspension broke on Monday, were unsuccessful as she was nowhere to be found in the school. Teachers are not allowed to speak with the press in the state.
But an irked teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the principal was removed from her position as a punishment on Monday.
The teacher said, “This is more serious than you think; you have put this school in trouble. The education ‘oga’ (commissioner) and other state officials summoned the principal on Monday and she has been removed from her position.
“She was asked to start reporting to the office of the permanent secretary of the ministry of education as from Tuesday.”
Our correspondent, who paid an undercover visit to the school on Monday, noticed that the issue had put all the teachers in the school on edge as many of them were seen holding copies of the published report.
It was also learnt that the state government’s education top officials had gone a step further by querying a teacher who was teaching a class when photographs of an array of broken furniture the pupils sat on were taken.
Our source within the school said another teacher, a head of department, is also facing the ministry’s ‘fire’ in connection to the said publication. The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, had last week Friday admitted that her ministry was aware of the issue of the bad furniture in the school.
“Thank you for your observation; we are not unaware. As I write, chairs are being supplied and before too long, it will go round the schools,” a text message from her said on Friday. But by Monday when this correspondent visited the school, no new chairs had been supplied.
This correspondent got in touch with the Lagos State Chairman of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, Mr. Babatunde Philips, to find out if the state of furniture in secondary schools in the state had been a subject of discussion in the conference’s deliberations in the past.
But Phillips said he could not comment on the issue at the time.
“I heard about the suspension of the principal (of Ikeja Grammar School). It makes me very sad that she had to be suspended. But we are planning to make our findings about the issue. I cannot say anything about the issue right now,” he said.
The state government’s action after last Saturday’s publication seems to have become a trend in the way it handles issues relating to its responsibilities.
In August 2013, afterSaturday PUNCHpublished a report on the state of an orphanage located beside a house owned by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Orelope Adejoke-Adefulire, operated by Mrs. Rose Nwachukwu, the state government closed down the orphanage and arrested the woman even though experts said officials should have monitored the orphanage’s activities in the first place.
When a text message was sent to Oladunjoye on Thursday on the report that the principal was suspended, Oladunjoye replied simply, “Which report is that please? I know a report is already in the public domain.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/lagos-suspends-principal-of-school-where-pupils-sit-on-windows/

naptu2: The police force went on strike in the early 2000s (when Musiliu Smith was Inspector General). They demanded for prompt payment of their Lodging Allowance. They refused to turn up for work and some junior officers interrupted transmission on police radio. Some of the leaders of the protest were later arrested.

It is believed that the strike was one of the reasons why President Obasanjo eventually sacked Mr Smith.

ok i did not know about that, but what will happen if the army, airforce and navy decides to go on strike for 2 days?

Am just wondering because have only seen ASUU, medical doctors and others going on strike, but am yet to see the police force, army, airforce and navy going on strike.
so what will happen in nigeria if the security forces decides to go on strike

The Senate Committee on Aviation on Wednesday formally invited the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, to appear before it on Thursday, December 5, by noon.
A letter of invitation signed by the Clerk of the committee, Mr. Victor Aborisade, and obtained by our correspondent explained that Oduah and the chief executive officers of agencies under her ministry would brief members at the Senate New wing.
The Chairman, Aviation Committee in the Senate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, could not be reached for comments but a member of the committee, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to our correspondent that the minister would appear next week Thursday.
The source said, “The matter has not been swept under the carpet. The minister will definitely be here next week Thursday. She has been duly invited alongside heads of agencies under her supervision.”
The Senate had two weeks ago, rescinded its resolution to summon Oduah, to brief its members on the state of the aviation sector.
The senators consequently resolved that Oduah and the chief executive officers of agencies under her ministry should now appear before the committee on aviation over the issue.
The Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma – Egba, who moved the motion, said the action was based on the Senate standing order 53 (6) which empowered it to reverse its decision.
He also added that the decision to invite Oduah was taken at the executive committee meeting of the Senate last week.
Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who seconded the motion, confirmed that “indeed, at the executive session last week, the senators were unanimous in the decision that the resolution should be rescinded and that the minister should rather face the aviation committee.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/oduah-to-appear-before-senate-committee-dec-5/

The police in Lagos have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Biola Gbadamosi, for allegedly murdering her husband, Jamiu, in the Ikorodu area of the state.
According to the police, the suspect, who is a nursing mother, stabbed her husband with a knife during an argument over rice.
PUNCH Metrolearnt that the suspect and her husband, who is a Vehicle Inspection Officer, had a history of domestic violence prior to the incident.
Biola, who spoke to our correspondent while fighting back tears, said she had no intention of killing her husband, adding that she only stabbed him once on the thigh.
She said, “Jamiu and I dated for four years, but when I got pregnant this year, we did introduction and I started living with him in Idi Iroko, Ikorodu. However, when I was three months pregnant, he started beating me.
“Most times, he takes alcoholic drink and he comes back home drunk and starts beating me for flimsy reasons. He even had a kidney ailment.
“One day, he came home drunk, accused me of infidelity and started beating me. He said he had been told that I was going to poison his food, but I continued to endure. I, however, reported the beatings to his mother and siblings.”
The suspect said after being delivered of a baby in August, she usually went to her family’s house in Somolu from where she would take her baby for post-natal.
She said on September 7, 2013, she returned home with her baby only to have a fight with her husband hours later.
She said, “While I was about leaving my parents’ home, my husband called to say that he was broke and I should make money available for the weekend. When I got home, I started cooking fried rice but my husband, who was drunk, said he did not like it. I jokingly called him a bush man and an argument ensued.
“While we were arguing, a neighbour, who sells drinks, came into our flat to collect money that we owed her. I was grating carrots with a knife when my husband slapped me and said I must leave his house that night.
“I used the knife I was holding to strike him on the thigh and he started bleeding profusely. The neigbours and I took him to a hospital. At the hospital, I was told that my husband’s injury was not deep, so neighbours said I should take my baby home.”
The suspect toldPUNCH Metrothat the next morning; the landlord informed her that her husband died at midnight.
“The matter was reported at the Owutu Police Division and I was arrested,” she said.
The suspect, who claimed to be an Ordinary National Diploma degree holder from Ibadan Polytechnic, insisted that her husband’s killing was not deliberate.
While pleading with the police to show her mercy, she said, “My little baby, Oluwaseyifunmi, is with my husband’s family and I fear that my child will never get to know me if I am sent to prison. My breasts are still filled with milk and no baby to suckle them.”
When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident, the landlord, Theophilus Kalejaiye, said the couple had a history of violence.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for further investigation.
http://www.punchng.com/metro/nursing-mother-stabs-husband-to-death/

There are indications that the Federal Government will stop kerosene subsidy in 2014 bringing to an end a scheme that has been widely criticised as corrupt and controversial.
Our correspondent learnt on Wednesday that no provision was made for kerosene subsidy in the N4.77tn 2014 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ministry of Finance sources, who gave the hint, said the budget proposal did not make any provision for kerosene subsidy.
The Federal Government spent N634bn to subsidise the retail price of kerosene in the past three years.
The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Mr. Dakuku Peterside, who recently condemned this as wasteful spending, also said N110bn was spent on kerosene subsidy in 2010, N324bn in 2011 and N200bn in 2012, which came up to N634bn in the three years.
He said, “In the year 2010, we spent N110,068,533,988 to subsidise kerosene. This is not the cost of kerosene but the cost of subsidising the product alone. In 2011, it got worse and the government spent N324,089,961,319 on kerosene subsidy. Although we have yet to reconcile this, we spent N200bn in subsidising kerosene in 2012.
“So, in three years, we have spent N634bn subsidising kerosene. This is one third of what we spend in a year on capital budget.”
Despite the huge spending on Kerosene subsidy, the masses could not, until recently, buy the product at the regulated price of N40.90k per litre.
They had settled for alternative sources of energy such as firewood, charcoal, sawdust, electricity and gas.
However, this has recently changed as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, through the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, has been selling kerosene at N50 per litre.
Commenting on this, the President, Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, Mr. Dayo Adeshina, said it would be a welcome idea if kerosene subsidy could be stopped by the government.
He said, “Government needs to take a conscious decision to drive a mass shift from kerosene to LPG as it was done in Indonesia. The Indonesian government took a conscious decision to stop kerosene subsidy, which was gulping $9bn a year. They found that they would only need to invest $2bn in cylinder and cooking stoves to save $7bn.
“We need to get to that level when we will consciously shift from kerosene to LPG and that can only happen with the right government policy.”
Adeshina argued that the N634bn spent on kerosene subsidy had little impact on the masses, saying it enriched only a few people.
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/fg-to-stop-kerosene-subsidy-in-2014/

The Senate Committee on Aviation on Wednesday formally invited the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, to appear before it on Thursday December 5, by noon.
A letter of invitation, signed by the Clerk of the committee, Mr. Victor Aborisade, and obtained by our correspondent, explained that Oduah and Chief Executive Officers of the agencies under her ministry would brief members at the Senate New wing.
The Chairman of the aviation committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, could not be reached for comments but a member of the committee, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to our correspondent that the minister would personally appear next week Thursday.
The source said, “The matter has not been swept under the carpet. The minister will definitely be here next week Thursday. She has been duly invited alongside heads of agencies under her supervison”
http://www.punchng.com/news/at-last-senate-aviation-committee-summons-oduah/

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme on Wednesday queried the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory for allegedly spending N500m to rehabilitate some buildings at the National Youth Service Corps camp in Abuja.

The committee also faulted the approval of N140m by the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, for the repairs of new buses donated to the SURE – P beneficiaries in Abuja in April 2012.

The committee also raised eyebrow over the payment of N1bn to the Abuja Investment Company when the agency was supposed to be an income-generating establishment.

Chairman, Senate ad-hoc Committee on SURE – P, Senator Abdul Ningi, therefore asked the FCT management to forward details of allocation, receipts and payment made with the SURE-P funds which acrued to it since 2012.

Members of the senate committee wondered why a whopping N500m should be spent to rehabilitate the NYSC camp in Abuja when the agency was being well funded by the Federal Government.

The Minister was specifically asked to justify the approval of N140m to refurbish new buses bought in 2012 by the Federal Government less than one year after the new buses were purchased.

The minister promised to forward statement of accounts and backlog of current account balance.

On the N1bn paid to Abuja Investment Company, he said the firm was registered under the Company and Allied Matter Act, hence the ministry went through the company to procure vehicles under the mass transit scheme.
http://www.punchng.com/news/senate-queries-fct-ministry-over-n500m-nysc-camp/