₦airaland Forum

Trailblazer1:
You are simply a reflection of our morally bankrupt society

Trailblazer1:
Imagine Africans vying and winning elections in the UK without the queen threatening them with lagoon and the British calling them strangers?
My advice to the parliamentarian-elects:
Don't model any Nigerian politician especially Obasanjo and Tinubu

The National Examinations (NEC) Committee of WAEC on Thursday said that it had cancelled results of candidates involved in examination malpractices at the 2014 examinations. Mr Damianus Ojijeogu of the Public Affairs Department in WAEC disclosed this in a statement in Lagos. He said that the decision was taken at the 59th meeting of the committee.

waec cardOjijeogu said that the communiqué of the meeting was signed by an officer at the Public Affairs Department of WAEC, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu. It said the committee reviewed a report on irregularity and special and clemency cases arising from the conduct of the May/June 2014 West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) at the meeting.

The statement said that the communiqué also said that the committee considered a report on the conduct of the November/December 2014 WASSCE, including irregularity cases arising from the conduct of the examination. It said that there were proven cases of malpractices by some candidates.

“In the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice, the committee, after diligent deliberations, approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice.

“This action is as prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the council’s examinations. “It approved that the entire results of such candidates involved in proven cases be cancelled. “The communiqué also recommended that the subjects’ results of those involved in proven cases of malpractice be similarly cancelled.

“ In addition, some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examinations for a certain number of years,” it said. The statement said that the decisions of the committee would be implemented without delay, while the affected candidates would be duly informed by the council. It, however, said that the results of candidates exonerated by the committee would be released.

According to the communiqué, the committee’s sanctions will also be imposed on all the ad-hoc examination staff that condoned the malpractice. “The committee has directed all the ad-hoc examination functionaries, who were indicted of involvement or condoning malpractice during the conduct of the examination, be reported to appropriate state Ministries of Education.

“The ad-hoc examination functionaries, who participated during the November/December 2014 WASSCE, would also be reported to relevant bodies for disciplinary action. “This will be in addition to the sanctions imposed on them by the council. “The committee, as in previous meetings, strongly expressed concern at the alarming incidence of malpractice in examinations and urged stakeholders to join hands in curbing the menace,” it said.

According to the communiqué, identified weaknesses of candidates are mentioned in the reports including poor mathematical skills and Geography 3. It also identified other weaknesses ranging from poor handwriting, omission of units in their final answers to numerical problems in Physics 2 and inability to spell technical terms correctly as observed in Biology 3 and Health, among others.

The communiqué suggested the need for students to learn the basic principles and concepts in the various subjects and apply them in solving everyday problems as some of the remedies. It urged the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to urgently facilitate the recognition of the newly introduced trade subjects.

According to the communiqué, these subjects should be added to the list of acceptable subjects for admission into universities. It said that the committee had, before their deliberations, unanimously elected Mrs Fatima Abdulrahaman to act as the chairman. Abdulrahaman is the National President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

On January 19, Nigerians woke up to a shocking newspaper advert. Splashed across the front pages of two national dailies, The Sun and The Punch, were texts and images suggesting that Muhammadu Buhari, then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress will die in office if elected president.

Although Mr. Buhari, 72, went ahead to win the election, the advert, sponsored by Ayo Fayose, the controversial governor of Ekiti State, is widely regarded as one of the lowest moments in the run-up to the recently concluded general election.

Hate speeches and campaigns were a major feature of the 2015 election, but the morbid advert sparked outrage across Nigeria with many individuals and groups condemning the governor’s action.

Even the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation distanced itself from the governor stating that the advert did not represent the campaign or Mr. Jonathan’s position.

On Thursday, Adamu Mu’azu, PDP’s National Chairman, attributed the party’s dismal performance at the polls partly to the hate campaigns by its members.

The newspapers which published the advert also came under intense criticism from Nigerians who questioned their judgment and professionalism.

But speaking during this year’s World Press Freedom Day in Lagos, Femi Adesina, The Sun’s Editor-in-Chief, attributed the publication of the morbid advert to the influence of media owners.

An ‘outrageous’ advert

It was the first attempt by any of the newspapers that ran the advert four months ago to provide a justification for their action.

“The Sun and The Punch that ran the infamous Ayo Fayose hate advert, what motivated the newspapers?” said Mr. Adesina, who was recently re-elected President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. “Was it just mere pecuniary gains? I cannot speak for The Punch, but I know why The Sun ran it. Money was secondary consideration. It was a decision I took consciously as Managing Director and Editor in Chief.”

The advert, which had the pictures of Murtala Muhammed, Sani Abacha, and Umaru Yar’Adua – past Nigerian presidents who died in office – was accompanied by excerpts from the Bible book of Deuteronomy 30 verse 19.

“Nigerians be warned! Nigeria…I have set before thee Life and death. Therefore, choose life that both thee and thy seed may live,” it said, suggesting that Mr. Buhari represents death while his rival, President Goodluck Jonathan represents life.

The advert went ahead to put a huge question mark over the picture of Mr. Buhari, which was placed beside the pictures of the late leaders.

The advert asked its readers: “Will you allow history to repeat itself? Enough of State burials.”
It then attempted to spur ethnic controversy by saying, “Northern presidency should wait till 2019.”
At the time, Mr. Fayose had defended his decision to place the advert, saying it was all about politics.
“The governor is a Nigerian,” his spokesperson, Lere Olyainka, told PREMIUM TIMES. “He has expressed his opinion. Other people are also free to express theirs
“It is politics. You market your own product and you also try to pull the opposing product down. That is how it is done. It is politics. Let everybody play his own game. What I don’t support in politics is violence.”

The defence

Mr. Fayose’s excuse did little to assuage public anger, with political analysts describing the advert as one of the lowest moments in the run-up to the 2015 general election.

Mr. Adesina defended his organisation, stating that what the public saw on the newspapers’ covers on January 19 was a “heavily watered down” version of the advert.

“That hate advert, two newspapers published it, The Sun and The Punch,” Mr. Adesina began, speaking on the topic ‘Influence of Media Owners on Fair and Balanced Reporting and Commentaries in 2015 Election.’

“Now you can ask me: why did we publish? That advert came on a Sunday, January 18th, and we published it on January 19th. The advert that was eventually published had been watered down considerably. I came back from church, I opened my system and when I saw it I screamed.

“It had been sent to me from the office to clear for publication. When I saw it I screamed. I then called Bolaji Tunji, our Executive Director, Special Services, ‘Can we publish this and Nigeria will not burn?’ Then we began to discuss and we began to tone it down. We removed so many things from that advert. And what eventually appeared on January 19th was the toned-down version.

“So if we had published the original…. So it was the toned-down version that I approved that they eventually sent to The Punch that appeared the next day.”

Mr. Adesina said that he is widely regarded as an “APC man” although he does not belong to the party, and that rejecting the advert would have meant trouble from Orji Uzor Kalu, the newspaper’s proprietor and a founding member of the PDP.

“Now but if you ask me, why did I approve that advert?” he said. “I knew that the toned-down version was still bad enough. But don’t forget the ownership of my newspaper. A PDP chieftain owns the newspaper.

“If I had rejected that advert, they would have told my publisher that this APC man has denied your paper revenue. He has rejected this advert because he doesn’t like Jonathan.

“So, after we watered it down, we decided to take it. Punch also took it. But we know the uproar that still came after it. But I tell you, if you see the original of that advert, you would still then have to commend the media.

“So ownership will always matter where press freedom is concerned. There is no freedom without boundaries and the owners will always constitute the boundary.”


‘Hateful campaigns’

According to the Electoral Act 2010, Section 95 (1), ‘A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.’

Section 95 (2) states that ‘Abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.’

In her presentation, Abigail Ogwezzy-Idisika of the University of Lagos stated that the 2015 presidential campaigns were much about hate speeches and devoid of concrete agenda beyond the promises of water, roads, free education and security.

“On ethical grounds, it is the responsibility of media organisations to reject any material intended for publication or airing by parties, candidates and other interests that contains hateful or inciting words and messages; refrain from publishing or airing abusive editorial comments or opinions that denigrate individuals or groups,” said Mrs. Ogwezzy-Idisika, the Head of Mass Communication Department at the university.

“Journalists being the holders of public trust, parties and their supporters should be ethical, discreet and more edifying. Parties and candidates should be tolerant of opposing political views as guaranteed by the constitution and be issue-based in their political campaigns.”

Prophet Destiny Onwudinjo of Heaven Divine Ministry, Shasha, a suburb of Lagos in western Nigeria, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine for absconding from court to evade trial.

Presiding Magistrate P.E. Nwaka of Ejigbo Court handed the sentence to Onwudinjo after he pleaded guilty to attempt to escape after he was brought to court for trial.

Prophet Onwudinjo caused a stir at the court recently when he suddenly jumped from the dock and ran out of the court where he was facing criminal charge of fraud and assault.

The prosecutor, Mr Femi Adeleye, and some of the court officials ran after him and re-arrested him along the street of Lagos.

His action disrupted the court’s proceedings as the litigants rushed out of the court due to the rowdiness that ensued.

Prophet Onwudinjo was facing trial in the court after he was arrested by the police at Shasha Division for brutalizing a commercial motorcycle rider called Chika Izuogu for refusing to pay him N120,000 for deliverance prayer.

The incident happened at Olukosi Street, Shasha, Lagos where both of them reside.

According to Izuogu, Onwudinjo told him that he had a revelation from God that he needed to embark on seven days deliverance prayer so that his condition would improve for the better.

He said the Enugu State-born Onwudinjo explained to him that the money he asked him to pay covered the fasting and other spiritual materials he would use for the deliverance.

To convince Izuogu that the prayer will work after seven days, he told him that he will receive a divine blessing from God as an unknown person will give him N3 million he would use to start a new life and become rich.

Abia State-born Izuogu who seemed to be convinced told Onwudinjo that he would do the fasting by himself because he had no such amount to give him.

This caused a disagreement between them and in the process, Onwudinjo allegedly beat up Izuogu and injured him in the process.

Izuogu said he held him and raised an alarm which attracted neighbours who contacted the police that arrested the prophet.

After investigation, Onwudinjo was charged to court with assault and attempt to obtain money under false pretence.

It was while in court that he bolted and was re-arrested.

When he was re-arraigned, the presiding Magistrate, Mr Peter. E. Nwaka ordered him to be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri.

The court also directed the prosecutor to prepare another contempt charge against him for escaping from the court.

When the prosecutor arraigned him, he pleaded guilty of trying to escape from court and assaulting Izuogu before the court.

He was subsequently sentenced accordingly.

A MAN who sparked an international manhunt when he fled the UK after murdering a Croydon DJ has been sentenced to life in prison.

Jeffrey Okafor, 24, fled to Nigeria for five years after stabbing Norbury student Carl Beatson-Asiedu in a street attack in 2009.


He was found guilty of murdering Carl - a DJ known as Charmz - and sentenced to serve a minimum of 17 years in prison last Friday following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

Carl, a student at De Montfort University, had performed a DJ set at the Club Life nightclub in Goding Street, Kennington on August 1.

Afterward he and his friends were walking along Goding Street to their car when they were approached by a group of men.

Jurors were told there had been a minor dispute between the groups in the past.

On this occasion an argument broke out between one of the men and one of Carl's friends. During the altercation Carl became separated from his group and was fatally stabbed by Okafor.

He collapsed in the street and was found lying in the road by other friends who were driving past. They placed him in their car and drove in the direction of a hospital.

Police later came across the car and discovered Carl in the back. London Ambulance Service and the air ambulance were called but, despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Within an hour Okafor, of no fixed address, called his girlfriend and told her he had been involved in the attack, stating "there had been a madness".

He later told her he had stabbed "Charmz" in the stomach. He gave her a pair of gloves he had worn that evening and asked her to look after them. Days later he also asked her to dispose of his distinctive T-shirt. When police traced the girl she gave them the gloves and they were found to have Carl's DNA on them.

Detectives went to Okafor's home in Dulwich on August 13, 2009, but he escaped out of a back window and into a neighbour's garden, returning when police had left.

Okafor then went to the bank and withdrew all his money before travelling to Barking where he checked into a hotel for three days.

On August 17 he was caught on CCTV with his brother Junior at Heathrow Airport. They swapped clothing and Jeffrey left the UK on a flight to Lagos, Nigeria, using Junior's passport.

There he began a new life but, in the lead up to the fifth anniversary of Carl's murder, police announced of £10,000 reward in an attempt to trace him.

This led to new leads and, with the help of Nigerian authorities and the British High Commission, Okafor was arrested in Warri, Delta State, by Nigerian police officers on September 23, 2014.

During his five years on the run, officers discovered he led a relatively comfortable life, studying at university and joining the National Youth Service Corps.

He was extradited back to the UK on November 6, 2014 where he was arrested and charged with murder.

Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth said: "In the five years Jeffrey Okafor was on the run he was living a life that Carl should be living but he was never afforded the opportunity to finish university.

"Carl's death has had a profound effect on his family and they have waited a very long time to see justice served. I can only commend them for their steadfastness and patience and I hope that seeing their son's killer finally behind bars brings some form of comfort to them."

A talented young man with so much to live for

CARL Beatson-Asiedu was an ambitious and talented young man whose death "created an enormous void" in his family's life, his father has said.

In a victim impact statement, John Beatson-Asiedu, said his son was a precocious musician and sportsman, who had completed a BTEC in media studies before securing a place at De Montfort University in Leicester to study media production.

He formed a DJ group called Kid 'n' Play and performed under the stage name 'Charmz', a moniker he acquired, his father said, "because of his charming, joyful and friendly nature".

He said: "Carl was a very ambitious individual who made every effort to be the best at all he did. He used the phrase 'I came, I saw, I conquered' whenever he successfully achieved a goal he had set for himself.

"Carl's tragic and untimely death on 1 August 2009 has created an enormous void in all our lives and is an unbelievable loss to his family, friends, loved ones and fans who followed his music career and his love for humanity.

"Carl was precious, loving, charming and was always smiling. After Carl's death we received letters from all the organisations he worked with, the university and college he attended and over 10,000 people who joined a tribute group on the social networking site Facebook, there were hundreds of messages that showed Carl was truly loved and admired; he touched so many lives in such a short life time."

Equalizer:
Buhari the talkative..

barcanista:
#BabaOneChance should stop convulsing over PDP and focus on the task ahead of him. He should realise that PDP/I will not accept any shortchange from him, neither will PDP/I accept excuses.

pasol4real:
Why are u apc shit ppl afraid ,cos u no ur criminal jagaban rigged the election .Jimi go n posses ur possesion.


Apc ema ku te ba gbo kpe Jimi lo win.

rottennaija:
I thought this man congratulated the winner... Now he is inspecting materials?


Mr Agbaje, who wished the governor-elect well, said he
looked forward to seeing a better Lagos under Ambode.
“ I just made a phone call to congratulate Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode, the governorship candidate of the
All Progressives Congress,” Agbaje said

www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/agbaje-congratulates-ambode/