₦airaland Forum

By Michael Olugbode
Suspected Boko Haram members Wednesday attacked Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State killing five policemen and detonating several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Eyewitnesses said members of the sect who invaded the town on motorcycles, also succeeded in attacking the official residenceof the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Central Primary School and Government Lodge.
It was also gathered that they destroyed themasts belonging to major telecommunications firms, MTN, Glo and Airtel.
Some of the policemen killed during the attack, were Corporal Emmanuel Kwaya, Ishaku Sam, Yahaya Mohammed and two others whose names were withheld.
It was also gathered that one of the officers sustained bullet wounds, even as the gunmen also carted away three AK 47 rifles from the station.
This development is coming barely 24 hours after a popular beer joint at Bayan Railway Quarters, few metres away from the demolished enclave of the Boko Haram leader, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, was attacked last Sunday evening and two customers shot dead.
The Kala Balge incident, it was gathered, took place at about 3.am on Tuesday when most of the residents were still asleep.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, on phone proved abortive.
In another development, there was apprehension in Maiduguri Wednesday as heavy artillery was moved within the town by the Joint Task Force (JTF) to engage the members of the Boko Haram sect in deadly battle in one of their strongholds, Bulabulin.
Bulabulin had seen many confrontations in the past as many patrol vehicles of the JTF have had many improvised explosive devices thrown at them in the area.
The movement of the heavy artillery, which include motorised machine guns, armoured personnel carriers, held up traffic for minutes.
Gunshots were heard for more than 30 minutes as there were casualties on both sides.
Confirming the confrontation in a statement,the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said based on information, a cordon and search operation was conducted at Bulabulin Ganram area of Maiduguri metropolis at about 12:30pm Wednesday.
He said during the exchange of fire, a soldierwas killed with another injured and an immigration personnel still missing in action.
Sagir said three suspected Boko Haram members were shot dead in the confrontation with 31members arrested.
He said items recovered include an AK47 rifle, a G3 rifle and some quantity of assortedmagazines and ammunition.

By Wole Ayodele
There are indications that the Taraba State Governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, would soon return to the country.
Suntai was involved in a plane crash last month and was flown to Germany for medical treatment.
Besides, two out of the three aides who were on board the ill-fated plane and were also flown to Germany for medical treatment - the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Tinu Dangana and his Chief Detail, Joel Danladi - returned to the country Wednesday night after being discharged from the German hospital.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South, who had been with Suntai since he was flown to Germany and only returned to the country last Sunday, disclosed this to newsmen Wednesday after speaking with the governor on phone.
According to him: “The governor has been speaking before I left for Nigeria but when he spoke to me yesterday, he spoke more audibly and with a discerning voice and fromall indications, he would soon be back in the country.”
Speaking further, Bwacha, who is one of Suntai’s close confidants, revealed: “His wife, the First Lady, initially spoke with me and then she handed over the phone to the governor who spoke with a discerning voice.He spoke very clearly and he was in a very high spirit.”
Giving an insight into the extent of the governor’s injury after the crash, Bwacha said he had injuries in his abdomen, a fractured hand and a swollen body which made him initially unconscious.
Dispelling rumours that Suntai had a spinal cord injury and a damaged head which has affected his brains, Bwacha retorted: “The governor is recovering very fast. His state of health has stabilised greatly before I left Germany. I am surprised to hear the rumour in Nigeria that he has a problem with his head and spinal cord. It is not true.”
Taking a swipe at those peddling such rumours, Bwacha stated “Ideally, a plane crash is not a bicycle accident; he needs timeto recover well. In fact, it is by divinity from God that he even survived the air crash. Those with evil wishes would be put to shame and would definitely not go unpunished.”
With the return of the two aides, only the Aide de Camp (ADC), Dasat Iliya, is now left with the governor in Germany and according to Bwacha, both of them would soon return to the country.
With the continued absence of Suntai from the state, the state House of Assembly had mandated the deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Garba Umar, who was sworn into office few days before the governor’s plane crash to act as governor pending the return of Suntai.
Enjoining the people of the state to cooperate with the acting governor for him to steer the ship of the state well in the absence of the governor, Bwacha noted: “Whatever confidence and loyalty the people had in Governor Suntai should be extended to the acting governor. It was Suntai that nominated him to work with himas deputy before the air crash and that is an indication of the confidence and trust he reposed in him” adding, “And so far, the people of the state are satisfied with the way he is piloting the affairs of the state.”

By HENRY UMORU, Abuja
SENATE President David Mark yesterday led the Federal Government’s delegation to the Vatican city for  the  consecration of Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan as Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

The event takes place today  at the Vatican.
According to a text message by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, the delegation left the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport yesterday at 12noon.

Also on the trip are Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief  Mike  Oghiadome; Governor Patrick  Yakowa of Kaduna State;  Steve  Oronsaye; Minister of Aviation,  Stella Oduah and  Minister of State, FCT,  Jumoke Akinjide.

Others are  a  member  House  of Representatives; the Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Board, John Kenndy Opara;  Villa Chaplain, Onwuzurumba; Mrs Adebiyi (Director of Protocol  in the  Villa); P/A to Oghiadome and Chief of Staff to Senator Mark,  Senator Anthony Manzo.

It will be recalled that the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI last month elevated Archbishop Onaiyekan as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

By Abel Abogonye, with Agency Report

About seven persons were, yesterday, reportedly killed and 14 houses burnt in the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State in renewed clashes between Koro and Eggon tribesmen.

Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Akeremale, confirmed the killing in Lafia, saying several houses were also destroyed by fire during the hostilities between the two tribes in Gwadanye area of Agyaragu. The constituency office of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Elisha Agwadu, was among those razed.

Motorcycle trouble
Eyewitnesses said the fight started when an Eggon boy was arrested by a vigilante group for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

Upon investigation it was discovered that other boys, who were Koro by tribe, were involved in the act but had escaped.

The Eggon boy was matched to the village chief’s house in the company of a police officer. Other Eggon people insisted that the rest of the suspects involved in the crime be arrested since the victim claimed he knew their hideouts.

The demand for the people of Angwan Yakubu to fish out the alleged culprit resulted in a fracas that led to the death of the seven persons and the burning of more than 14 houses. The crisis escalated leading to the killing of innocent people in their farms.

‘On top of the situation’
Meanwhile, Akeremale said security agencies were on top of the situation, adding that security personnel had been drafted to the troubled spot to ensure safety of lives and property.

At the time of this report, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 4, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, was on a one-day familiarisation visit to Nasarawa State.

Incidentally, Zuokumor had earlier in his address pleaded with warring factions and ethnic groups in the state to sheathe their swords and live together in peace.

He said: “I am here to strengthen peace and to boost the morale of the police officers in the state, who are charged with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order peace.”

Some of the casualties are currently receiving treatment at the specialist hospital in Lafia.

The Federal Government is on the verge of abandoning dialogue with Boko Haram because the sect has refused to ceasefire, it was learnt last night.

A senior government official who spoke under the condition of anonymity confided that that the federal government was no longer on the dialogue because the sect has not show sufficient commitment to talks.

According to the source, the killing of Gen. Mohammed Shuwa also created a major setback for the proposed dialogue.

This is coming as the United Kingdom Border Agency said that it will not grant any Nigerian asylum because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

It claimed that any Nigerian feeling unsafe in the Northern part of the country could relocate to the South or anywhere outside the trouble spots.

On the imminent breakdown of talks between the federal government and Boko Haram the source said: “From the look of things, the proposed dialogue is under threat by the refusal of the sect to ceasefire. We are not yet convinced that they wanted us to come to the peace table.

“The killing of Gen. Shuwa led to a major setback for the dialogue process. The government was sad that a harmless war hero could be killed just like that after he had fought for the unity of this country. And if you observe, there had been pockets of violence too in the North-East in recent weeks.

“The signs are not yet there that the sect is prepared for peace talks. The Boko Haram leaders have also not reached out to the government outside their official statement. Yet, the government is willing to discuss with the sect.

“We have not heard any words from Saudi Arabia to ascertain whether the sect had reached out to them to. So, no one knows where and when the talks will hold. Some of those named as peace facilitators like ex-Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, have declined the offer.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We are suspecting that the ceasefire offer may be a tactical strategy by the sect to consolidate its stronghold. We are also not taking things for granted. Although Boko Haram denied involvement in the killing of Gen Shuwa, the government is not convinced.

“That is why Nigeria is also teaming up with other ECOWAS members for Mali intervention by the UN Force.”

Aside its asylum comments, the UK Border agency also noted that corruption is still rampant in the Nigeria Police Force.

The position of the British Government is contained in the agency’s country report titled “Operational Guidance Note Nigeria.”

It advised those facing challenges in the Boko Haram enclave to either seek protection from security agencies or move out of the North.

The document, exclusively obtained by our correspondent, reads in part: “Boko Haram has said it carried out a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009. More than 640 people have died in the country so far in 2012 in attacks blamed on the group.

“It is thought that some members of Boko Haram have connections with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group already designated as a terrorist organization by the US.

“Boko Haram says it wants Islamic Shari’a Law in place across Nigeria and analysts suggest it is trying to trigger clashes between Christians and Muslims. A country of 150million people, Nigeria’s population is equally divided between Christians and Muslims.

“Some applicants may make an asylum and or human rights claim based on the grounds that they are not free to practise their religion and that they would face ill-treatment amounting to persecution. Some applicants may express fear of Shari’a Courts in Northern Nigeria to enforce Shari’a. Some applicants may also fear persecution in the hands of Boko Haram or may fear being caught up in the violence perpetrated by members of Boko Haram.

“The right to religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution and there are no reports of anyone experiencing problems with the Federal Government in practising their chosen religion.

“Claims under this category will therefore be clearly unfounded and as such should be certified. Applicants expressing fear of Hisbah groups are able to safely relocate elsewhere in Nigeria where such groups do not operate or have no influence.

“Claims made on the basis of Hisbah groups are therefore also likely to be clearly unfounded. Applicants claiming asylum in this category are likely to be refused but case owners should remember that each case should be looked at on its individual merits.”

On the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Britain revealed that it is still riddled with corruption.

The document says: “Corruption within the Nigeria Police Force is rampant. Commercial drivers pay to go through police roadblocks; suspects pay to be released from custody and detainees pay to improve the conditions of their detention. In 2008, the Presidential Committee acknowledged the severity of the problem.

“In the course of their duties, some police officers harass and intimidate members of the public. They also go further to extort money from accused persons and complainants before they serve them. Those who do not cooperate usually suffer unlawful arrest and detention.

“The police routinely solicit bribes from victims to investigate crimes and from suspects to drop investigations.”

Chuks Okocha

Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and some leading members of the party’s National Working Committee have left for Germany to visit ailing Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, along with two other governors have also visited Suntai. The three governors were chosen by the Governors' Forum for the get-well visit.

The Taraba State governor is being treated at a German hospital for serious injuries he sustained when his plane crashed at a Yola suburb on October 25. Others injured in the crash of the aircraft piloted by Suntai himself, were his Chief Security Officer (CSO) Dangana Tino; Chief Detail, Joel Danladi; and his Aide-de-camp (ADC), DSP Iliya Dasat.

Suntai is believed to be hospitalised in the northwestern German city of Hanover.

Though,Tukur, PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metu and another NWC member as well as the governors left for Germany on Thursday, they travelled separately.

It was gathered that the governors on the trip included Anambra State governor, Peter Obi and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. They travelled in Amaechi's jet and they are already back in the country.

Meanwhile, ahead of the PDP National Executive Committee meeting expected to take place November ending or early December, the Tukur- led NWC has been trying to persuade the ex-officio members of NEC, the 36 states chairmen of the party, and chairman of the Federal Capital Territory chapter to support him against any untoward developments at the forthcoming meeting. The visit to the Taraba State governor, sources say, is part of the rapprochement being initiated by Tukur.

THISDAY was informed that as part of the strategy to solicit support for the NWC and Tukur, his political adviser, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, had met with the ex-officio members of NEC, otherwise called the G.84, two weeks ago.
The G.84 comprises majority of the 140 voting members of the PDP NEC.

They are influential because they are known to traditionally cast their votes en bloc. At the meeting, it was gathered that Gusau pleaded for the ex-officio members’ support for his boss at the forthcoming NEC meeting, promising that whatever shortcomings the NWC is perceived to have would be rectified soon.

The NWC has also summoned an emergency meeting of the 36 states chairmen and FCT chairman of the party in an apparent move to cement ties before the crucial NEC meeting. The emergency meeting is expected to hold Tuesday this week.

The forum of PDP state chairmen is under the chairmanship of the Benue State chairman of the party, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo. Delta State PDP chairman, Chief Nwaobosi, is the secretary.

Some NEC members, it is gathered, are not happy with the reconciliatory agenda of the NWC, which is aimed at bringing back some members that had left the party. In Plateau and Abia states, for instance, the party has voiced its objection to the planned return of some members.

NEC members also feel aggrieved at the dissolution of the Adamawa State PDP executive and suspension of the North-east chairman of the party.

All these have caused an uneasy calm in the party, which has motivated some northern states governors, led by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, to try with every available means to rally support for the NWC under Tukur
According to a source, “The northern governors were being reminded of what happened when the former national chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo from South-east was removed from office and then Deputy National Chairman Haliru Mohammed Bello from North-west was made to act, pending the national convention.

“The deputy national chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, would assume office as chairman should the NEC take any negative decision against Tukur.

“If this happens, with Sam Sam Jaja as acting national chairman, then the office of the national chairman and president of the country would be in the South-south. The chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, is also from the South-south and the national secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is from the South-west, therefore, the north would have no stronghold in the party.”

The source explained that this calculation would affect the chances of the north at the presidency by 2015, hence the need to support Tukur to enable him continue as chairman.

THISDAY gathered that the move to unite behind the national chairman was the brainchild of the governors of Gombe, Sokoto and Bauchi states.

The source said it was Yuguda and Governor Aliyu Wamako of Sokoto State who spearheaded efforts to resolve the lingering disagreement between Tukur and Nyako over control of the Adamawa State chapter of PDP in an attempt to obviate the negative implications of Tukur’s possible removal on the PDP family in the North.

A senior presidency official had used the opportunity of the public hearings on the constitution amendment to meet with members of the National Assembly last week in Kaduna, where the issue of shoring up support for Tukur was the main agenda for discussion.

Relations between the PDP national chairman and governors elected on the party’s platform had become strained following the recent dissolution of the Adamawa State PDP state executive committee by the NWC. Citing Article 31(2) of the PDP constitution, NWC had dissolved the Adamawa State executive, which was loyal to Nyako, and set up a caretaker committee, headed by Ambassador Umar Damagun, from Yobe State, to manage the affairs of the party in the state till a new executive is elected.
The move, thought to be sponsored by Tukur, followed the state PDP’s organisation of a primary election ahead of local council election, allegedly, against the advice of the NWC.

Currently, there is an interim court injunction reversing the dissolution and restraining the NWC from taking further action on the matter pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by members of the state executive of PDP.

The PDP governors, led by chairman of NGF, Amaechi, have so far failed in their attempts to broker peace between the PDP national chairman and his home state governor.

THISDAY learnt that Tukur is insisting on the withdrawal of the court case instituted by the Adamawa PDP against the party’s national leadership as a basis for any peace negotiation.

Ahead of the PDP NEC meeting, Tukur, obviously, perceives the Adamawa problem as a potential two-edged sword that may consume him.
He is holding out an olive branch to the governors, though, it is not clear whether that includes backing down on the dissolution of the Adamawa State executive of PDP, which is a key demand of the governors.

By KEHINDE OLAOSEBIKAN

Alhaji Lam Onaolapo Adesina, Oyo State Governor from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003, passed onto glory peacefully on Sunday, November 11,2012, after over 73 years of a very successful sojourn on earth. Alhaji Lam rose to the pinnacle of all his callings in life. He got to the zenith of his career as a teacher. As a social crusader, he got state recognition and was tagged ‘prisoner of war’; and politically, he did not only realize his ambition of becoming the governor of his state, he achieved the extra-ordinary by installing a governor, not while in power but eight years after he had left office. Since Sunday, torrents of tributes have been pouring in from various quarters, all extolling the virtues of Alhaji Lam Adesina .

He has been described in many superlative words, establishing the fact that Alhaji Lam was a great man. But how great really was the husband of the benign Alhaja Sarat Adeola Adesina? As his Chief Press Secretary while he served as the Governor of Oyo State, I will transmit a story of how the former governor tamed a former Military Head of State and prevented what could have led to the Nigerian second civil war. It was on October 13, 2000, when words went round that General Muhammadu Buhari was leading the Arewa team to the governor’s office to confront the state over alleged killing of Fulani herdsmen in Saki, Oke Ogun area of the state. General Buhari did actually telephone the governor that he was leading a team to his office. In less than 30 minutes after the General informed the governor of his visit, we noticed that the entire secretariat was already filled with lorry loads of our brothers from the North.

This created some tension but we kept our calm. At about 2pm, General Buhari arrived in a long convoy at the Governor’s office in company with the former Governor of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa, Alhaji Aliko Muhammed, Alhaji Abdulrazak , Alhaji Hassan and some others. They all wore long faces. In fact, the anger and venom in them was very palpable as all pleasantries extended to them were largely shunned. “This is trouble”, was the expression on the faces of all of us in the Governor’s office. Shortly afterwards, the Director of State Security Service (SSS) and Commissioner of Police arrived. But their presence did not change anything particular on the fears that had gripped majority of us.

The two security chiefs did not come with troops; they came almost alone. The meeting was called to order after Alhaji Lam serenely walked into the Executive Chambers in his well-embroidered multi-colour lace. Introductions over, General Buhari spoke of his mission to the governor’s office. Emitting fire, the General accused the governor and the government of Oyo State of complicity in the killings of over 68 Fulani people in Oke Ogun area and perversion of justice. His words: “Your Excellency, our arrival here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoples… the Fulani herdsmen and merchants are today being harassed, attacked and killed like in any war in Saki.

In May, 2000, 68 bodies of Fulani herdsmen were recovered and buried under the supervision and protection from a team of Mobile Police from Oyo State Command. “ That some arrests were made by the State Police Command in the massacre with their immediate release without court trial was said to be ordered by Oyo State authorities and they were so released to their amazements. Then, consequently, the mass release of the arrested suspects gave the clear impression that the authority was backing and protecting them to continue the unjust and illegal killings of Fulani herdsmen…” According to the General, they wanted immediate stoppage of the killings, justice and compensation for the mass killing of the Fulani.

As weighty and indicting the General’s allegations were against the governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina remained unperturbed as he only fired back with his own well- coordinated arsenal in form of robust explanations and engagements. Alahji Adesina identified all the points raised by the General and simply asked the heads of the organizations directly involved to respond to the allegations. First to speak was the Commissioner of Police who debunked all the claims made by the General. Instead of the allegation by the General that the natives killed the Fulani, the Police commissioner said pointedly that the opposite was the case. “ The killings of the natives by the Fulani were duly reported to the police and of course, we could not make arrests because as soon as they kill, they migrate to other areas.

Who are you going to arrest? So that is the problem”. On the contrary, on the killings of the Fulani which he said, was as result of “piled up anger”, the commissioner disclosed that arrests had been made and the suspects still in police custody. Next was the Director of Security Service who equally tore all of General Buhari’s claims to shreds. “The natives don’t have problem with the Fulani who are residents but those who come in. They don’t care for anybody. They just go ahead and when they graze farms, whoever cares to challenge them runs into trouble. You said 68 people were killed, and people driven away. I am not saying there were no killings but it cannot be more than five.

The petition was on the harsh side; there was nothing like that.” Not done yet, Governor Adesina called in his Deputy, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun; and his SSG, Chief Michael Koleoso, both from Oke Ogun and the Chairman of the local government of one of the affected areas, Mr Ademola Alalade. They stated the true position of things in the area, corroborating the submissions of the security chiefs. At this point, all the tension and apprehensions evaporated. Trust Lam any day! He must rub it in. He spoke for about 20 minutes and the Generals were at the edges of their seats for the entire period.

They were like chickens that have just been thoroughly beaten by the rain. Lam Adesina said: “ Before I thank you for this visit, you have come to tell me something, I also want to tell you something and that is to make an appeal. General Buhari is a former Head of State, Brigadier Marwa governed Lagos for some time and with credibility…. So, you are national leaders of this country. Even though by accident of birth, you are from the North, so you can be born anywhere, may be next time when I am coming to the world I will be born in the North or the South South. My appeal will be that effort must be made to unite this country and that will be to the best interest of all Nigerians.

I am appealing to the Arewa Consultative Forum under which auspices our distinguished Nigerians are here. In recent times, they have been sending wrong signals to a number of us who believe in the unity and peace of Nigeria. You have been too critical of the efforts of the federal government. I am saying this because Nigeria at this point cannot afford to break and the words you northern leaders utter are very weighty. In the South here, we normally analyze them critically.” On all the allegations, Alhaji Lam Adesina said: “From what they have written in the petition, this government is completely blameless because we don’t interfere either with the judiciary or with the police functions.

I always converse peaceful co-existence, living in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. We are all Nigerians and that is what we have been preaching all along and we shall continue to be Nigerians , no matter the present or immediate problems which will be solved by the grace of Allah. I want to say also that we really have to appeal to our people, the itinerant Bororo people that they should be less aggressive. It is not good, it is not right; coming from somewhere, then, you just pass through farm lands cultivated may be with the person’s life savings and then overnight, everything is gone. That is not right, even Allah does not approve of that. We even wonder when they talk about this people carrying dangerous weapons

. I ask, do they really believe in Allah? When you just take life like that and go away! Are we not forbidden not to take human life? So, I think General Buhari, General Marwa, you have to educate them…. “It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Presidential Lodge, we have made some arrangements for refreshments so that before you go, we can refresh together.” General Buhari and his team did not wait for any refreshments. ADIEU! GREAT LAM! •Agba Akin Kehinde Olaosebikan was Chief Press Secretary to Alhaji Lam Adesina (1999 – 2003).

Tonight, the winner of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) 9: The Gatekeepers’ Fortune, will emerge. The job of the three gatekeepers – Dominic Mudabai, Michael Nwachukwu and Christopher Okagbue – has been concluded. Of the 12 contestants that started the race, four are left. They are: Nuhu Zigwayi, Paschal Eronmose, Adah James and Onyinye Udodi. In this report, WALE ALABI chronicles the journey to their finale.

Who emerges the ultimate champion? This will be known tonight, hopefully by 10 o’clock. But the crown for Ultimate Woman has been picked by Onyinye Udodi. Before then, it was a straight contest between Uzor and Onyinye, who were the only remaining female contenders in the competition. The last female contestant standing has a lot of goodies waiting for her. She is entitled to a million naira cash prize, irrespective of her prize winnings, even if she emerges winner of the competition. There is also the pride of the bragging rights to the Ultimate Woman moniker.

Other female contestants that have been evicted from the competition are: Kofya Brown, Ayo Ojueromi, Bornford Patience and Priscillia Ezeh. Keen watchers of the show would have predicted that Bornford Patience, despite her small frame, was the favourite for the GUS last female standing prize. She possessed strength and mental alertness. She, however, ran out of steam when it mattered most, thus leading to her eviction.

However, Uzor crashed out of GUS 9 because of disobedience; thereby giving Onyinye an easy claim to the throne. Uzor was sent packing for relieving herself from the burden of the Stump of Shame: she removed it from her leg twice. It is forbidden for contestants to remove the Stump of Shame unless directed to do so by Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor man; and this must be at the task location.

The Stump of Shame, as the name connotes, is a heavy stump of wood, which those who perform woefully in tasks are expected to wear around their right leg. It was, however, a running battle between the two over who would emerge as last female contestant standing.

Uzor and Onyinye are not new to being in the limelight. Uzor is a 27 year old actress who stars in Tinsel, About to wed and a long list of TV soaps. On the other hand, 23 year old Onyinye who hails from Anambra State is a model and a one-time Face of Anambra State. Her sister, Chimaobi Udodi was a contestant in GUS 8: The Contest of Champions.

Onyinye placed fourth in the first gatekeepers’ task while Uzor was sixth, in the same challenge. In the following day challenge, which was group based, Onyinye was part of the losing group while Uzor was part of the winning team. In the climb and dunk competition, in which contestants were expected to climb up a tree and dunk oranges in a basket, Onyinye outshone Uzor. While Onyinye put in eight oranges out of 10, Uzor could only dunk five oranges.

Uzor’s weakness was clearly manifested in the Raise Your Flag challenge; when she was paired alongside Nuhu Zigwayi. The game involved the contestants going through an obstacle course, fetching braces in the process then fixing it on the skeletal frame of a ladder which they then climb on to raise a flag. Nuhu kept on dragging Uzor and at a point in time, she was shown falling. Onyinye and her partner, Paschal Eronmose won the challenge.

Onyinye was also part of the winning team in the Ladder of pain task. She inspired Paschal to victory in a game which tested the strength and endurance of contenders. Uzor on the other hand was part of the losing team. Her partner, Nuhu, was the first to give up in the game. Even though Gatekeeper Chris Okagbue was present, Nuhu and Uzor narrowly missed eviction. Meanwhile, Onyinye and Paschal were handed a calabash by the Council of Elders for their victory. According to the elders, the content of the calabash will aid the two contenders in their search.

Uzor soon showed that what she lacked in brawn, she more than made up for by using her brains. She had the honour of emerging as the first female Head Warrior after winning the Archer’s Quest. Not only did she hit bull’s eye on her first attempt, she also solved her riddle in record time. Though Onyinye solved the same puzzle, she finished fourth.

Uzor upstaged Onyinye in the Episode 12 challenge. Onyinye emerged last. She, however, bounced back in Episode 13 when she emerged second in the Memory Recall challenge. This was despite a 10 second delay she had to suffer due to her poor performance a day earlier. Uzor finished fifth.

In the Gauntlet challenge, Uzor was part of the winning team while Onyinye was part of the losing team. Onyinye performed better than Uzor once again in the Puzzle of Doom. Onyinye emerged fourth while Uzor placed sixth. In the Pot of Life challenge, where contenders were required to smash the pots of other contenders, thus marking their end in the games; Uzo placed sixth while Onyinye emerged second.

By Episode 19, the warriors had been down to seven. The Giant Crossworld puzzle required that three players should form two teams while the rejected contestant would serve both teams as a transporter. While Onyinye was picked in one of the teams, Uzor was not picked by any. She had to play the role of transporter. Onyinye’s team eventually won.

In the challenge of the 20th episode, Onyinye finished second, while Uzor finished third. For the challenge of the 21st episode, they were grouped into two teams comprising three members each. Onyinye’s team also won the competition.

However, in games in which both female contenders were grouped in the same team, their side lost. The games were the Tug of War, Mudgby and Human Raft.

Speaking after her eviction, Uzor said: “My experience in the jungle was tough. I have to say it was really, really, really tough. Yes, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but nobody said it was going to be this difficult. I probably gave up a thousand times everyday. I was like, I think I’ve tried. I can’t kill myself. I think I’ve pushed myself beyond limits. Judging myself, I would say I did 120 per cent. I tried. I could not do any of those things before. I’m sure nobody would expect that I would come this far on the quest. Because most of the times, I didn’t seem like the strong contender, who you know, could beat them to it. I’m sure some people would say yes, she got lucky. It’s more than luck, I have grace, so amazing on my life.”

She added: “Everything is for real o, nothing is staged on Gulder Ultimate Search. It’s been amazing. I’m grateful to God, my family, Gulder, Nigerian Breweries and everybody who has been involved in this in one way or another.”

Speaking on her emergence as last female contestant standing, Onyinye said: “ It feels wonderful being the only girl in the gang. It makes me feel like I’ve finally made it through, that I’m not like the other girls, or a weakling or something.  It means a lot to me.”

The grand finale will be shown tonight on Africa Independent Television, African Magic World (DSTV), Real Star (Star Times), Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) and ITV, Benin at 10pm.

Seven persons were reportedly injured as some Action Congress of Nigeria members in Ekiti State and supporters of former Governor Ayo Fayose clashed in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

Our correspondent gathered that fight broke out between them over the pasting of posters at Irona area of Ado-Ekiti. Fayose’s supporters are of the Peoples Democratic Party.

It was learnt that supporters of the ex-governor, who celebrated 52nd birthday, were going round the town pasting his political posters when they were stopped by a man.

The man, whose name could not be ascertained, was said to have also prevented the ex-governor’s supporters from pasting posters on an uncompleted building next to his house which he claimed was his father’s house.

However, a supporter of Fayose, who identified himself as Ariyo, said they moved away from the area when they were stopped from pasting their posters but some youths, who were armed with weapons, attacked and injured three of them.

But a source, who identified himself as Taye, told our correspondent that Fayose’s supporters insisted on pasting posters on the houses which were owned by ACN members.

He claimed that the PDP supporters attacked the man and other members of the ACN in the area.

The Director-General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, in his reaction to the clash, blamed the attack on the ruling party, saying it was not tolerant of the opposition.

However, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, blamed Fayose for the crisis.

He sad the ex-governor had been going round fomenting trouble in the state but added that the case had been reported to security agencies.

According to him, there is an existing law in the state which forbids illegal and indiscriminate pasting of posters.

He said anybody who wanted to paste posters needed to respect the signage law, get the approval of the agency and pay the stipulated amount before going ahead to do so.


http://www.punchng.com/news/seven-injured-in-ekiti-acn-pdp-clash/

IT is a great idea to restore civil rule in Mali. Promoters of the idea must fund it as well as send their own troops to Mali. It is no time to shift the burden to Nigeria as has been the case in the past 20 years.

Nigeria has no obligations to bear the burden of another intervention. Nigerian troops fought in Somalia, providing cover for escaping US troops in 1993. Records of that operation are replete with the success of the Americans in Somalia – Nigeria did not get any credits. Another 140 Nigerian troops are currently in Somalia to stabilise a country without a central government since President Siad Barre fled to exile in Nigeria in 1991.

Since 1989, Nigeria has funded military missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, hosted thousands of refugees from both countries, lost its troops who fought until elected governments were restored in both countries.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Tom Ikimi in 1998 put Nigeria’s expenditure in the wars at $9 billion, a big waste, at a time her economy was haemorrhaging. Credits for ending the strife in Sierra Leone and Liberia do not mention Nigeria.

Missions in Darfur, Sudan cost us lives as well as resources that could have been used in battling the internal security challenges we face.

An intervention in Mali should be out of the question for Nigeria. The coup plotters in Mali teamed up with Tuareg nomads to save their country from Amadou Toumani Toure, a paratrooper, who came to power in 1991 through a coup. Those who say Toure’s was a democratic government are giving democracy new meaning.

A decision on Mali would be tough and Nigeria’s tough decision is to keep its troops out of Mali. The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, does not support coups. Will ECOWAS not be supporting the junta if it joins it to rescue northern Mali?

The other claim is that it is a war against terrorist and criminal groups in northern Mali. Again, Nigeria has to weigh its own local situation. The global community can muster the resources to fight terrorist groups, our concerns should be dealing with our internal security issues for which we get little assistance. Our ailing economy dictates so.

Mali is a testy case. Former Libyan rebels have joined the separatists. Algeria supports them.  Mali needs no military intervention. The global community should sanction supporters of the separatists and ask Mali to return to civil rule.

Any support for the junta in Mali, whatever the reasons, will set dangerous precedent in dealing with prospective coup plotters and Nigeria should not risk lives of its troops in unappreciated interventions.

OBVIOUSLY unsatisfied with the state of the Nigerian electricity transmission system, the Presidency on Wednesday gave the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) marching orders to ensure that government's target of having 5000MWs of electricity is evacuated in the national grid.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has been at the top of criticisms trailing the sector for its inability to maintain an effective and efficient transmission network, leading to high transmission losses. Poor transmission and distribution networks have generally characterized.

TCN has also been directed to conclude talks on integrating some of the recently completed NIPP plants into the spinning reserve and frequency control program to shore up the daily reserve especially as the profile of available but undelivered power is rising.

In apparent response to the challenges facing the transmission network, the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) on Wednesday met with the top management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria where they were charged to leave up to their statutory responsibilities. Officials of Manitoba we not at that meeting.

Chairman of the PTFP, Beks Dagogo-Jack, said at the meeting in Abuja that TCN must rise to the occasion and check the frequency of power grid collapses.

He called on TCN to ensure that the December 2012 target of 5,000 megawatts of grid-delivered power is achieved.

The meeting dealt extensively with the likely immediate and remote causes of the collapses and identified a few remedy plans with short to long term delivery times.

Two major causes for the system collapses were identified as generation-side triggers especially during periods of very low power availability and transmission-side triggers with the latter contributing over 60% of the trigger incidents.

The issue of overgrown vegetation interacting with high and low voltage power lines which worsens during the wet season and through logging activities was also blamed for some of losses by the management of TCN.

Chief Executive of TCN, Mr. Olusola Akinniranye said: "The second factor is the unreliability of the protection and relay systems which should (if properly serviced) anticipate, isolate and limit the impact of a single system fault from snow-balling into a grid collapse. This combines with the lack of an effective Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system designed to provide grid intelligence and assist with managing the power grid. The absence of SCADA weakens the system’s integrity.

"The third major reason for the recurrent systems collapses is grossly insufficient spinning reserve cum frequency control and system black start capability – integral elements to sustaining power supply. The fourth significant cause of collapses is isolated cases of vandalism at live power facilities. These perpetrators compromise the power lines by bridging targeted segments of the power grid to cause forced outages in order for them to steal installed power facilities quickly before the stolen segment can be traced and restored."

By Babajide Komolafe & Rosemary Onuoha

LAGOS – Nigerian banks under the auspices of the bankers committee will soon commence a bio-metric data capture for all customers in the banking sector.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday at the ongoing seminar for finance journalists in Dutse, Jigawa state capital.

According to Ibrahim, the banks are in arrangement to have such a system that will capture the data of all bank customers in the country.

He  said the national data system had not been forthcoming and that  banks have decided not to continue to wait for the purported national data  system by the National Identity Management, but to go ahead with their own data.

He said the banks are considering going into partnership with Pension Fund Operators, PFAs, because they have a similar system in the pension sector.

The banks, according to him, were advised to partner with the PFAs so as not to waste resources and because it will help the banking system.

Ibrahim said that an initiative to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria is the cashless policy designed to bring low-cost, secure and convenient financial services to urban, semi-urban and rural areas across the country.

THE ripple in the polity is heightening by the day as a result of the latest parley offer by the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic group.

The sect is allegedly set to ceasefire and dialogue with the Federal Government in far away Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The group said it preferred the dialogue to hold there and not in Nigeria.

According to One Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, who claimed to be a leader of the group said “five of our members (Boko Haram) have been mandated by our leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, to handle the dialogue with some prominent people in the country including the former military leader, General Mohammadu Buhari”.

It also picked Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Mrs Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband, Alkali Wakil and former Yobe State Governor, Senator Abba Bukar Ibrahim as mediators.

Boko Haram had overtime, spurned invitations to negotiate with government officials by dismissing government’s claims of opening communication channels with it and described its supposed representatives in the purported negotiation as “fake negotiators who are pretending that they are in talks with the Federal Government on our behalf. These people are collecting large sums of money from the government under false pretence”.

Butressing this position is the Civil Rights Congress’ National President, Shehu Sani, who organised an earlier ill-fated contact with the group, as he said, “No credible talks are going on. If there is going to be any genuine talks, there should be confirmation from the leadership of the group and not the government”.

On the one hand, the Congress for Progressive Change had already said that Buhari, the national leader of the party, had nothing to do with members. On the other , Ibrahim, one of the six mediators named, representing Yobe Central in the Senate, had been outspoken on issues of marginalisation of the North-East, claiming that the neglect had resulted in the heightened insecurity in the region.

Just a few days ago, he denied predicting a situation “bigger than Boko Haram” after newspapers quoted him as justifying the sect’s insurgency, for the perceived marginalisation.

While some people believe that the offer should be embraced – to bring about the much desired peace – others are of the opinion that it will rather be a wrong move on the part of the government, to descend so low to the whim and caprices of a nefarious group for accepting to host the parley in a foreign land.

To the protagonists, including the Northern Governors’ Forum, which comprises the 19 northern governors believe that the deployment of dialogue rather than the continued use of force, would help find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity of lives and property in the country.

SIMILARLY, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said: “The Senate will support any measure that will bring peace to all parts of Nigeria”.

Supporters of the latest peace initiative believe there is nothing wrong in having dialogue with the sect.

It is argued that dialogue is an essential tool for crisis resolution and peace-making by the warring parties as this will enable the government know the real grievances of the sect, the reasons behind their actions and what can be done to appease the group and elicit from them, possible solutions.

The sect’s spokesperson stated that this time around, government must show sincerity in handling the situation as well as indicate its willingness to compensate the group, so as to resettle many of their members and their families killed and those displaced.

To the antagonist of the parley, the conditions for ceasefire offered by the fundamentalists are unrealistic and they should instead surrender unconditionally since the issue involved is a purely domestic affair that should be handled in the country and not in the Saudi Arabia, as proposed by the sect.

Nigerians believe that acceding to Boko Haram may have further underscored the confusion in high places and timidity of the government, forcing the President to lay a dangerous precedent by holding dialogue with people who act like terrorists in all ramifications.

They have variously cautioned the government against conferring unearned status and inadvertently validating the claims by the sect through dialogue.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had vehemently opposed the conditions given for the ceasefire, particularly, that which seeks the dialogue in Saudi Arabia.

CAN is of the view that the sect should not be dreaded to the extent of giving in to their demands.

Many people also feel that the proposed dialogue with Boko Haram is suspicious and questionable, going by the previous stance by government that it will not dialogue with any faceless group.

Despite the misgivings, the Federal Government had already indicated its desire to commence discussing with Boko Haram as well as considering compensating members of the violent Islamic sect, especially, those alleged to have suffered from the violence and “were seen to have been killed unjustly”.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier in the year said he will not meet the demands of Boko Haram, demanding that he embraced the Islamic faith and become?

Additionally, the government is to pay compensation, otherwise known as Diyya, to halt further threats and attacks by the sect, which put the compensation to the family of the 24 deceased members at N2m each. In otherwords, for the 24 families, the Diyya to be paid equals to N48m. The sect is also pressing for the release of those unjustly detained and the renovation of allegedly destroyed mosques by government security forces. And who pays the victims of the monumental tragedies?

The sect was said to have identified such dead members whom  it claimed were killed unjustly, including its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, killed in 2010 in Maiduguri, after he had been reportedly captured alive by soldiers, then handed over to the police, under whose custody, he later died mysteriously.

Boko Haram has never hidden its desperation in advancing the course of its brand of Islam in the country through violence and the use of force by engaging in acts of unbridled terrorism and wanton destruction of lives and property, which Islamic scholars have said to be antithetical to the tenets of the religion.

In 1995, the group was said to be operating under the name Shabaab, Muslim Youth Organisation with Mallam Lawal as its leader. When Lawal left to continue his education, Yusuf took over its affairs, which allegedly opened the group to political influence and popularity.

Yusuf officially founded the group in 2002 in the city of Maiduguri, with the aim of establishing a Shari’a government in Borno State under former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

The centre had ulterior political goals and soon it was also working as a recruiting ground for future Jihads to fight the state. The group includes members who come from neighbouring Chad and Niger and were known to speak only Arabic.

While some apologists of the group have continually attributed Boko Haram’s mindless acts of terrorism to poverty, unemployment and bad governance, the group itself has held fast to its stated mission of foisting its variant of the Islamic mode of governance on the northern parts of the country, making it complex and difficult to truly understand its philosophy.

Mr.  ADEWALE KUPOLUYI, wrote from Federal University of Agric., Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday in Abuja told former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme that he was already close to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said this while congratulating the former vice-president on his 80th birthday.

By becoming an octogenarian, Obasanjo said Ekwueme should know he was becoming an old man.

Friends and well-wishers had elaborately marked Ekwueme’s birthday in Abuja and other major cities in the country.

Obasanjo spoke at the conference on Party Politics in Nigeria and Lobbying, the Lobbyist and the Legislature, organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies.

Before Obasanjo spoke, Senate President, David Mark; his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, and the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, had congratulated Ekwueme on attaining 80.

Obasanjo, who shared one of the sessions of the conference, later told Ekwueme that attaining 80 was a sign that he (Ekwueme) was moving to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said, “The only octogenarian on the high table, and I don’t think there is even another person on the other side of the table, even in the hall (that is up to 80 years).

“My brother and friend, and I think the Senate President regards you as a true democrat; I will join the others in congratulating you on your recent crossing of the bar.

“But let me just warn you that crossing the bar or becoming 80 something, you are getting nearer the departure lounge.

“I will get into the car park with you, but I won’t go into the departure lounge with you.”

His comments elicited laughter from the audience, including Ekwueme, who in a hushed tone, spoke with Obasanjo.

No one, however, heard what Ekwueme told the former president.

But Obasanjo replied him in pidgin, “As we come, na so we go go,” which literally means that those who came to the world first would be the first to die.

While Obasanjo was born on March 5, 1937, Ekwueme was born on October 21, 1932.

The Presidency on Monday confirmed that it had commenced dialogue with the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. It however said that the dialogue was not the type envisaged by Nigerians.

“I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians,” the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, told our correspondent in Abuja.

Abati added, “I know that some Nigerians are expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there indicating that the Federal Government is holding dialogue with the group there.

“That is not the kind of talks we are talking about here. The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government.”

Boko Haram which has been prosecuting a bombing campaign against the Nigerian state recently gave conditions for ceasefire and talks with the government.

The sect, among others asked for compensation for its killed members; that its demolished mosque be rebuilt; that its members in custody be released; and that the dialogue venue should be in Saudi Arabia.

It spoke through Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the second-in-command to its leader, Abubakar Shekau.

 Abdulaziz named a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Shettima Monguno; a former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Ibrahim; Ambassador Gaji Galtimari; and Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband, Alkali as “trusted” Nigerians it would be ready to negotiate with.

Buhari has since rejected the offer.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH checks have revealed that the Federal Government is at the crossroads on how to hold a successful dialogue with the sect which is said to have been factionalised. But it was learnt that the President had ruled out dialogue with Boko Haram in Saudi Arabia.

A top security source told our correspondent that, “While it is true that the government is reaching out to the sect, the fact that there are various factions of the group is bringing confusion.

“There is concern that the dialogue may not yield the desired result. Even now, attacks are going on in spite of the peace moves by the group.”

BY PETER EGWUATU

The Naira, yesterday, fell for a second day as oil companies were said to have refrained from selling dollars in the market.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), upped foreign exchange at the first of its bi-weekly WDAS to $150 million. Like the last auction where the CBN sold all $50 million on offer, the entire $150 million on offer was sold yesterday as the Naira depreciated marginally by 0.01% to close at N155.75/US$ at the official window.

Foreign exchange sales by the CBN had declined substantially at recent auctions riding on dollar sales by oil majors in the autonomous market. The impact of the thinning dollar supply also reflected in the interbank market with the Naira dropping further by 34 kobo to close at N157.84 per dollar.

Jide Solanke, an analyst at First Securities Discount House Limited has said: Expected dollar sales from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has not come through. The Central Bank has not been selling much.”

Oil-producing companies, which sell dollars to meet domestic expenses, are the second-biggest source of foreign currency after the Central Bank which sells dollars on Mondays and Wednesdays to keep the naira within a 3 per cent band around 155 per dollar.

Furthermore, trading in the T-Bills market was dominated by soft-selling with yields inching higher across most tenors reflecting tighter liquidity after last week’s  Open Market Operation (OMO) auctions totaling N200 billion.

The market remains cautious as traders await October Inflation data. “We anticipate an uptick in headline inflation to 11.9 per cent Year on Year ( YoY) from 11.3 per cent  YoY in September, reflecting higher food inflation. Market will likely trade sideways with possible soft selling till the data is published on Friday. We note there are expected T-Bill maturities of NGN87 billion in the course of week which should bolster market liquidity in the absence of further tightening” Vetiva Capital Management stated.

SunTzu: I was told it will take about 8hrs by bus straiht to camp from lagos on crosscountry

Yes just take bus frm lagos to abuja
Stop at mararaba and take a bus to keffi is just N200 tell d driver to stop u at nysc camp

is really a nice place and peaceful

i stay in keffi were d camp is located ask me any questns u have i wil b pleased to answa and direct u

D person with dis post must be stupid. Arewa has better educated pple than d so called biafras that only knw how to sell spare parts in d market.

Hw many minutes remain

God help us

aboki is always aboki

Thank God naija is changing

Aboki is up again lets watch and see wat he wil do

I love season firms so much lik prison break and 24. I had bata slept al day than watchin naija firm

Good topic keep it up

Thanks,but i applied and d message was nt send

thanks