₦airaland Forum

ziga:
I advise that you take your own advice. The 15 million people talk doesn't hold water.

But go see if MMIA caters adequately for the few people that pass through it daily.

And please do not reply that he should upgrade the FG owned international airport.

It is you that is even deviating from the truth here. Does Lagosians really need a N73.3billion airport at this moment? U should have provided answer for this question first before advancing. You need to see the real Lagos, and not well decorated area of it. Watch the BBC documentary again, and you will see some part of Lagos, and not the Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and the rest that you use to portray Lagos.

doyin13:
I was just about to say too. . . . The bridge is already taking shape

If the roads are good, and every other infrastructure is in place, we might say this man is bereft of ideas, so lets allow him, but Lagos is still far off expectation, so why another airport? Besides, how many people can afford air transportation in Lagos? All these talks about Lagos being 15million plus, does not hold water, as a very minute population can afford air transportation. If he is short of ideas, he should watch the BBC documentary about Lagos again. He will definitely know what to do. The fact that, it is PPP does not mean anything. PPP can provide houses. PPP can provide electricity. PPP can make the rail come back to live etc.

There is no point crying over spilt milk, Ibori has escaped for good. Who is next? Because I know, all anti-Jonathan must be dealt with, whether corrupt or not. Take for example, the corruption charges against PDP Chairman existed since 2001, and Obasanjo did nothing about that, since the man was singing OBJ's song well. Now that they know he committed himself by zoning Presidency to the north, those charges are now brought out, why now?

I think this man is beginning to lose focus. Why not channel the N73billion into the provision of power and repair of so many bad roads in Lagos? This is misplacement of priorities. His policies these days are elitist in nature, and they are not too favourable. I he continues this way, AC might lose this election.

Fashola Shops For N73.3b For Airport
April 28, 2010 15:38 (1 hour ago), 337 views
By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Governor Babatunde Fashola is shopping for N73.3 billion to build the proposed Lagos International Airport and the proposed Lekki-Ikoyi bridge.

The first phase of the airport, to be built in Lekki will cost N43.3 billion while the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge will gulp N30 billion. The two projects, P.M.NEWS gathered, will be undertaken under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative of the Lagos State Government.

The governor is already scouting for investors for the projects, which are meant to make Lagos world class attraction and a haven for tourism.

Director-General, Lagos State PPP Office, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi disclosed that the airport would be provided with modern architectural design and ”is expected to render services to approximately five million passengers per annum.”

On the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge, the PPP boss said the bridge will link Lekki Phase One to Ikoyi across the lagoon and will decongest traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.


http://thepmnews.com/2010/04/28/fashola-shops-for-n733b-for-airport

Monkey no fine, but him Mama like am. That is the situation here!.

jumobi1:
I give up. The man is dead. they are just rich enough to keep him on life support.

What if he finally recovers?

jimmysho:
no where to hide boy. Charles tailor did and we all know the rest of the story

Ibori's case is more than that of Charles Taylor, but he is well covered than Charles Taylor.

Who is fooling who?

Ibori’s Escape: Govt Shuts Terminals For Private Jets
April 27, 2010 17:05 (4 hours ago), 1,401 views
By Simeon Ateba & Paul Dada

There are indications that the Federal Government has shut down the private jet terminal of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

This action follows reports that some aviation workers assisted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, to escape from the country.

Ibori is being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N44 billion fraud.

Though a source close to a private jet owner told P.M.NEWS that they no longer operate from the private jet terminal, P.M.NEWS observed that some private jets were still operating from NAFIS hangar located between MMA 2 and Arik Air office. Others were seen operating at the Concorde area of the General Aviation Terminal.

•Ibori

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which regulates the operations of the private jets has denied that some of their staff helped Ibori to escape from Lagos.

Mr. Sam Adurogboye, the Media Assistant to the Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, said: “I believe that those who have such information that some of our staff assisted anybody to escape know what to do.”

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also said that it was not aware of any movement of a private jet at the Lagos Airport.

FAAN GM, Mr. Akin Olukunle said, “we are not aware of anything like that. And it is not possible because our operations are regulated. There is no way the regulators would have given anybody licence to engage in an international flight through GAT. The terminal operates only local flights. From our record there is nothing like that.

“All movements of private jets are carefully documented. From our record there is nothing to show that James Ibori landed or took off from the Lagos airport even if he was declared wanted by the EFCC.”

Ibori, since he left office as governor three years ago, has been in the eye of the storm with the huge weight of allegations of corruption levelled against him. But the former Delta State governor did not see any reason to flee until now.

However, the EFCC had to issue a fresh statement signed by Femi Babafemi, its Head of Media and Publicity, that Ibori was wanted in connection with investigations into allegation of official corruption and money laundering. Subsequently, a court warrant was issued for his arrest.

The EFCC was acting on a petition sent to it by a group of Delta State leaders and elders headed by Chief Edwin Clark, a former Minister of Information.

The petition claimed that Ibori used 800 million units of shares belonging to Delta State in Oceanic Bank Plc to secure a N44 billion private loan from Intercontinental Bank Plc while he was still governor.

He is also being alleged to have used the 800 million units of shares to acquire Ascot Oil, and American Oil service company whose headquarters is in Port Harcourt.

The petitioners said not less than 520 million out of the 800 million units of shares were sold under questionable circumstances.

But Ibori, rather than make himself available for investigations by the EFCC, is believed to have been hiding.

His media assistant Tony Eluemunor, however, denied that Ibori was invited by the EFCC.

http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

Let us not be deceived any longer, both the IG's office and EFCC knows how Ibori escaped. They wrote the script out for him.

Let us not be deceived any longer, both the IG's office, and EFCC, both knows how Ibori escaped. They wrote the script out for him.

EFCC officials played part in Ibori’s escape – Aide •No, there’s no mole in EFCC - Spokesman

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Written by Idowu Samuel
THE purported manhunt for former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may not produce result if the undercover roles of his moles within the commission are anything to go by.

Nigerian Tribune was informed by Ibori’s close aides that the EFCC officials played a part in his non-appearance before the commission and his reported escape from the country.
This is coming as an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Kayode Ajulo, said Ibori’s escape was suspicious, as he urged Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to query the police authorities for failing to arrest him.

The lawyer expressed dismay that the police authorities gave Nigerian an impression that Ibori was invincible and untouchable, given their failure to obey a presidential order to effect the arrest of the former governor.

Ajulo said the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ogbonna Onovo, should start by querying the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Mr Udom Ekpoudom, who was detailed to effect the arrest of the former governor.

He said it was wrong for Ekpoudom to tell Nigerians that he was to negotiate with Ibori on his arrest, adding that his reported order withdrawing the police guards attached to the former governor was meant to provide an escape route for him.

“It is on record that Ekpoudom is a good friend of Ibori, a reason which makes us to wonder whether the police was, indeed, sincere about carrying out the presidential order on his arrest or they were all out to protect the interest of a man whom many believed is the friend of top shots within the police,” he said.

Ajulo said what the police could do to protect their image was to arrest Ibori and hand him over to the EFCC, failing which Nigerians would conclude that the ex-governor was smarter than the police, the EFCC and the government of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the EFCC, reacting to the allegation, said it had no mole within its rank working for anyone, adding that it had intensified efforts to effect the arrest of Ibori.
The commission’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said much as the anti-graft agency was set to get the former governor to answer the allegations levelled against him, the police, he added, had the mandate to also get him in line with an existing order.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/4546-efcc-officials-played-part-in-iboris-escape-aideno-theres-no-mole-in-efcc-spokesman

It is better, Jonathan does not contest,

2011 Presidency: Don’t run, David-West warns Jonathan
…Says Isoun’s recipe irresponsible, dishonourable
From YINKA FABOWALE, Ibadan
Tuesday, April 27, 2010


Former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, has warned Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, against yielding to the temptation to contest next year’s presidential election.
“It will be irresponsible, hypocritical, dishonourable and dangerous for the country, if he carried his current flirting with the idea this far,” David-West noted.

The professor of Virology bared his mind in an interview with Daily Sun, in which he condemned a former Minister of Science and Technology, Turner Isoun, for calling on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to jettison its zoning arrangement which prescribed that the presidency should alternate between the north and the south.

Under the arrangement which saw Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner, occupying the saddle for eight years (1999-2007), the turn of the north is expected to last till 2015.

The party’s National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, had reiterated that the 2011 presidential contest was exclusively for northern politicians.
But, the Acting President, it is believed, is being goaded to run, with people already drumming up support for him. Apart from campaign posters surfacing in public places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, championing this cause, notable Nigerians, including former governor of defunct Western State, Brigadier David Jemibewon, had openly declared that there was nothing constitutionally barring the Acting President from also throwing his hat in the ring in 2011.

Jonathan, himself, has not helped suspicion that he might be interested in the race. When asked directly by Cable News Network’s (CNN) Christine Amanpour whether he would stand for election next year during his recent visit to the United States, he danced around the question which observers perceived to be an evasive response.
In his reaction, Prof. David-West said it would be dishonourable for Jonathan to seek to subvert the party’s rules which he was quite aware of and never complained against, at the 11th hour.

He said the Acting President’s evasiveness in the Amanpour interview “exposed him as having a secret agenda to contest in 2011,” pointing out that much as Jonathan had the constitutional right, his current body language was irresponsible and nauseating.
“It was the party’s machinery that invoked the doctrine of necessity and made him Acting President, quite contrary to the constitution, without prejudice to the political impasse on the national scene.
“Now, Jonathan can’t eat his cake and have it. He can’t turn round now to flout the party’s rules. For that alone PDP should suspend him”, the ex-minister said.

He accused Isoun of hypocrisy and self-serving tendencies in suggesting that the zoning of the presidency be discarded just because he found it convenient for his kinsman (Jonathan).
His words: “When PDP approved alternating the presidency between the north and south, he didn’t say anything. He was in the cabinet of Obasanjo. But now, because the Acting President is flirting with the idea; he now wakes up from his slumber.
“He quotes the constitution that it does not bar Jonathan. I agree with him, because I was one of those who drafted the 1979 constitution after which the 1999 constitution was modelled. But, what Isoun and his type are missing is this fundamental issue.

“In spite of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, PDP, as a party, for very justifiable reasons, decided to alternate the presidency between north and south, so every member of the party is bound by it. Jonathan himself never complained about it. Every responsible member of the party is bound by the party’s modus operandi. You cannot wake up at the 11th hour and say it does not suit you.
He said Isoun and Jonathan’s attitude reflected the syndrome among African leaders of abusing office and throwing overboard all reverent values, all in order to retain power, a trend, he observed, that had always pushed the nation backward.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2010/apr/27/newsbreak-27-04-2010-001.htm

Hardtalk:
“But I think he will need the grace of God to escape going to court because the CP is very embarrassed and angry,” he said.

Why is he embarrassed? He should not, for patronising touts. Besides, the car should be impounded for carrying fake MOT certificate.

Police arrest man for issuing fake MOT to Lagos CP
By Sesan Olufowobi, Published: Tuesday, 27 Apr 2010


View All (0) Comment(s)

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo

The police in Lagos State have arrested a 35-year-old man, Kayode Emmanuel, for allegedly issuing a fake Certificate of Road Worthiness for a car belonging to the state police commissioner, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo.

The suspect, who was picked up at his residence on Oba Ogo Street, Ijedodo, Ikotun, on the outskirts of Lagos on Saturday morning, was said to have issued the certificate on July 7, 2009 and it was supposed to last for a year.

Trouble, however, started when some officials from the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Office on routine inspection stopped the car at the weekend and demanded the particulars of the car, a grey Audi 80, with the registration number, GU 303 AAA, from the driver.

It was learnt that the driver, who was a relation of Akpoyibo and the one who procured the document, told the men that the CP was the owner of the car.

Our correspondent gathered that the VI officials insisted on checking the particulars of the car and later discovered that the road worthiness certificate was fake.

The matter got more confusing when the man whose signature was on the certificate appeared on the scene and rejected the signature as his own.

The enraged CP was said to have ordered a manhunt for Emmanuel, who processed the vehicle documents.

A police source at the Ipaja police division said that Emmanuel was cooperating with the police.

“But I think he will need the grace of God to escape going to court because the CP is very embarrassed and angry,” he said.

Police spokesman in the state, Mr. Frank Mba, a superintendent of police, on Monday said he had not been received the information. “But I will check and get back to you,” he said.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100427112423

Hmmm!.

What kind of country is this? Common computerised notice board cannot be afforded by airport management, yet, people are jubilating International status!. Anyway, I am not surprised. Our own definition of International airport is removing the black board or paper, and now fixing another one with graphics design. As for the runway, it is another way of embezzling money. Soon, a probe panel will be set to investigate the over-bloated cost of changing their so-called status.

Unconfirmed reports have it that, Ibori escaped through the creeks into Ghana, where he is expected to connect flight to Asia. EFCC, who is next in your selective list?

Even me, I am confused. Who am I to believe; COMPASS or TELL Newspapers?

Obj’s secret plot: Wants El-Rufai to run as Jonathan’s deputy in 2011
From NOSIKE OGBUENYI, Abuja
Monday, March 29, 2010


…Ribadu to return as special adviser on anti-graft to Ag. President
The pendulum at the Aso Rock seat of power has continued to swing with the latest indication that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan may after all contest the 2011 presidential election with a former minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai as his running mate.


Olusegun Obasanjo




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Daily Sun learnt that the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket is being perfected as the main political option, while the earlier idea of Jonathan contesting the election as the running mate to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has been relegated as plan B.

By ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest calculation, this would mean two of his protégés being in power at the same time. El-Rufai was one of the hawks in the eight years of his presidency and a fanatical supporter of his failed third term gambit. Jonathan, on the other hand, was imposed single-handed on the ticket of Yar’Adua who himself was imposed by Obasanjo.

Very dependable sources also revealed plans by Jonathan’s power brokers to bring in the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as special adviser on anti-corruption to the Acting President, in which case the Farida Waziri-led EFCC would be left as an empty shell, while most of her schedules will be treated in the adviser’s office.

The Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket, according to our source, was mooted when it was discovered that some younger political elements were deeply skeptical of a return to the presidency by Babangida 17 years after leaving the ultimate office in a not-too-tidy fashion. Among such younger elements who are not favourably disposed to the former military ruler’s return to Aso Rock are majority of the governors belonging to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a preponderance of their fellow party men and women in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Such politicians had increasingly begun to perceive the IBB option as “ another journey back to Egypt.”

El-Rufai as minister of FCT was an influential member of Obasanjo’s kitchen cabinet particularly during the last term of his two-term presidency. He was also a member of the federal government economic team during the period. Now, as Obasanjo plots El-Rufai’s return to power as Vice President under Jonathan presidency, some northern politicians are said to be very angry and are therefore, perfecting their counter plot to ensure that the option does not materialize.

This group of northern politicians is insisting on the North producing the presidential candidate of PDP for the 2011 election. Already, several meetings have been held by the northern forces in their bid to checkmate the Acting President and stop him from contesting the next election. Their argument is that under the PDP zoning arrangement, the presidency would remain in northern hands for a total of eight years, 2007 to 2015, to equal the number of years the South, through former president Obasanjo, held the office between 1999 and 2007. The group has also resolved to mobilize and fight against any northerner who accepts the running mate slot under a southern presidential candidate in the PDP. El-Rufai, himself, in several interviews, has been advocating a southern presidency in 2011 without stating that his interest has been factored in the whole game plan.

But the argument of those proposing the Jonathan/El-Rufai pairing is that the idea behind the North-South power rotation presupposes a kind of relay race in which a presidential standard bearer runs in one election or possibly two consecutive ones and then hand over the relay baton to another standard bearer from the opposite section of the country. They reason that it was not envisaged that two different standard bearers from one section would hand over the power baton to themselves via election without passing through a candidate from the other section. In other words, the target of the power oscillation between the two regions is via election passing through one person only to the other person from the opposite section of the country.

Besides the above game plan which implies that the next presidential candidate of the PDP after President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua should come from the South, those pushing the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket are counting on the attraction of the pairing. While the Acting President is seemingly docile, the former FCT minister is abrasive and strong-willed. Besides, the latter is seen by some Nigerians as a no-nonsense goal getter who could be used to counter the likely opposition candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari with serious-looking Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon ruled Nigeria with iron fist between January 1984 and August 1985. The draconian regime did a lot to instill discipline and moral etiquettes in the psyche of Nigerians. The packagers of Jonathan/El-Rufai formation believe it would be the closest democratic variant of the Buhari/Idiagbon example.

The same group strategizing for the Jonathan/El-Rufai ticket is said to be plotting the return of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as special adviser on anti-corruption to Jonathan. Part of their strategies is to destabilize the EFCC as presently constituted. That will pave way for the return to the EFCC of Ribadu’s loyalists.

The Ribadu come-back plan also entails the lobbying of some judges who are expected to be sympathetic to him to give favourable verdicts in the two cases affecting him. His ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Bureau and his controversial dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force. However, the plot to bring Ribadu back as the EFCC boss is said to have divided the Obasanjo camp with some in favour and others against. While those in support of him see him as the right person to add needed impetus to the EFCC, others express fears that he might be used by politicians to settle scores.


http://odili.net/news/source/2010/mar/29/501.html

otitokoro1:
This Yaradua thing reminds me of "Ali and the Angel" story in those days Englisg text book,
Only the saints can seee yaradu now,

I have seen him oooo
What about you?

I just wished Yar'adua can just recover overnight, so that, this movie can have part 2. Already, Jonathan wants this movie to end in Part 1, that is why he is running after Ibori, Ogbulafor, Bankole, and destroy the stronghold of AC in Lagos.

In de, a country full of drama.

irohadis:
Apart from the feeling I get that this story is dubious, who is Obasanjo to tell any one to abide by an agreement - albeit a flawed one? Is he not the same person that wanted to change the constitution to run for a third term?

OBJ is turning himself into a political gods in the land. He and IBB will be shamed in this country one day.

Whether it is true or false, let Jonathan stepdown, else, he will heat up the polity. PDP has made up their mind, and nothing will change it even as it favours the north.

The real Nollywood is Nigeria as a nation, and not one industry. In Nigeria, different actors and actresses are abound. Turai, Turai, Turai, I know you have something up your sleeves!. We are waiting.

All the supporters of Jonathan, should better watch it, because we are moving back to the era of dictatorial government, led by OBJ. Time and events will tell.

Acting President An Emerging Dictator – COSEG

By Harris-Okon Emmanuel (Warri), Felix Igbekoyi (Asaba) and Akinwumi King (Lagos),


The Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups (COSEG) says Acting President Goodluck Jonathan may turn the country into a lawless society by encouraging the disobedience of court orders.

The COSEG said some of the actions taken by Jonathan so far cast him in the mould of an emerging dictator.
A statement it issued after an emergency meeting on Thursday pointed out that going after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, and former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, at the same time shows the government as vindictive and dictatorial.

Speciifically on the Ibori issue, the group, which met in Lagos, said: “In view of the present scenario with the ruling of the Asaba Federal High Court, which asked that the status quo be maintained, (Jonathan) ought to have called the EFCC and all other security agencies to order.”
The statement, signed by the Coordinating Council Secretary, Rasaq Olokoba, said Jonathan’s silence in the face of the violation of the court order by the security agencies smacks of hypocrisy and disregard of the rule of law.
It implored Nigerians and the civil society to rise up against the return of the “misrule and flagrant disobedience of court orders” in the eight years of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidency.

Ibori himself argued that media reports about the plethora of EFCC’s investigations of the Delta State Government has proved that it has nothing against him.
He recalled that the EFCC proclaimed in December 2007 when it arraigned him at the Kaduna Federal High Court that it had completed all investigations against him before taking the matter to court.

A statement Ibori issued through his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, said: “It is telling that three years after he was arraigned, the EFCC is still on a fishing expedition in Asaba, questioning and re-questioning government officials, arresting and re-arresting civil servants, in an unending attempt to get something, just anything against me, not only over matters that have been investigated before, but charges that have been tried in court and thrown energetically out of the window.

“The EFCC appealed against the Federal High Court judgment, an appeal still on-going at the Benin circuit of the Court of Appeal.”
This time, he added, the EFCC, against the norms of investigation all over the world, has refused to pin point the charges they are allegedly investigating.
According to him, worst of all, the Federal Government has shown lack of regard for the rule of law by flouting a ruling of the Asaba Federal High Court that the EFCC, the police, and State Security Service (SSS) should maintain the “status quo” by not attempting to arrest him.
Ibori said if the current onslaught against him is because of Edwin Clark’s petition over Ascot Company (Wilbros) purchase and Delta State Government shares in Oceanic Bank, then the matters are not new at all.
The shares are intact and proceeds from 40 per cent of those sold were paid into Delta State Government accounts, he maintained.

“These same old matters were investigated in September last year and nothing untoward was found. So far, I have remained the most investigated former Governor in Nigeria, yet, they are still after me not because of an anti-corruption crusade but just to shut me out of politics, even though I am not contesting for anything.”

Ibori reiterated that he advised the residents of Oghara to shun violence and to go about their normal duties, and not to give Clark “and those he works for” the chance they are looking for to commit genocide against them as part of “a clear and present ethnic cleansing agenda against the Urhobo.”
But he warned that if violence is visited on Urhobo land, “it might present an opportunity to misguided elements to take actions that will affect the fragile peace that Warri has enjoyed for a while now; the peace I spent a better part of my days at Government House Asaba to cultivate.”

He urged Deltans not to do anything that will disturb the peace in the state, without which there can be no development.
However, in Delta State, Commissioners and legislators and residents of Oghara are relocating their families elsewhere, in fear of the directive from Aso Rock that former Governor James Ibori be fished out, dead or alive, particularly as Joint Task Force (JTF) troops have deployed in the town.
A Commissioner (name withheld) said the relocation is to escape what happened in Gbaramatu and Odi, where the JTF bombarded the residents.

He disclosed that in a matter of days Oghara may become a graveyard except with the confidence being displayed by youths.
The plea by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for Oghara youths and women to vacate entries to the town have fallen on deaf ears, he said.
Associates of Ibori have beefed up security around their persons and homes to ward off suspicious movements. Oghara youths interrogate motorists and commuters in the locality.

“I have contacted a friend in the JTF who only managed to say, ‘but you know your man (Ibori) dared us,” the Commissioner recounted.
However, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oghara vowed that youths would resist infiltration into the community.

“Let us see how (the security agencies) will come in. We are aware that they have planted detectives among us but we know ourselves. We are going to defend our leader, benefactor and true son with every arsenal at our disposal. We are not intimidated that they are mobilising to come either through water or air,” he added.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oghara threatened that apart from the action of youths, the elders and leaders of the PDP may punish the party in the 2011 election if Ibori, one of its financiers, is humiliated.
He wondered why the PDP leadership has maintained sealed lips on the matter, saying, “A river that forgets its source is bound to dry up. The fight against Ibori is tantamount to fighting the party.”

A lecturer at Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara confirmed that his family has relocated to Asaba.
Said he: “There is tension everywhere. People can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear that the community may be bombarded overnight. The presence of security agents, both conventional and non-conventional, has aggravated the fears.

“People now relocate to Sapele, Warri, and Benin in Edo State. Since I have nobody in those places, I have to run to Asaba as academic work is no longer conducive.”
A driver with Bob-Izua Motors disclosed that the increased passenger traffic on the Benin-Oghara-Sapele-Warri Road has also raised fare from N300 to N500.
The Oghara Elite Forum accused Abuja of singling out Ibori for prosecution over alleged graft, and described his travails as a political vendetta Jonathan.
“Enough is enough,’’ it said.

Ibori: Residents flee Oghara, as militants prepare for showdown
FRIDAY, 23 APRIL 2010 00:00 NIGERIAN COMPASS


SCARED by the activities of security forces hunting former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, in his hometown, and the militants shielding him, residents were seen fleeing the area yesterday because of what they called “the fear of the unknown”.

Since Ibori’s dramatic escape on Tuesday, as the Federal Government sent policemen to arrest him, men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) drafted to his hometown in Oghara, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, have been combing everywhere in search of the former governor, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged misappropriation of N44 billion.

Some commissioners, legislators and residents were seen trooping out of the town yesterday.

One of them, who pleaded for anonymity, said those who were fleeing feared that there could be a repeat of what happened in Gbaramatu axis of the state, when the JTF and militants clashed in May, last year, and the incident at Odi, Bayelsa State.

The commissioner told the Nigerian Compass in Asaba, the Delta State capital: “I have contacted a friend among the JTF who only managed to say: ‘But you know your man (Ibori) dared us now.’ I interpreted it to mean a confirmation of the directive.”

He also revealed that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has been on his kneels, pleading with him to prevail on Oghara youths to vacate Ibori’s house, especially all the entrances leading to the town.

A lecturer at the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, who simply identified himself as Austin and has just moved his family and belongings to Asaba, confirmed that there is fear and apprehension within the locality.

“There is tension everywhere. People can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear that the community may be bombarded overnight. The presence of security agents both conventional and non-conventional has aggravated the fears. People now relocate to Sapele, Warri and Benin, Edo State. Since I have nobody in those places, I have to run to Asaba as academic work is no longer conducive.”

A driver with a popular transport company in Edo State, Bob-Izua Motors, who plies Benin-Oghara-Sapele-Warri, said that the road had been so busy just as the business had become lucrative as he now plies Benin-Oghara route several times in a day, because of the fleeing residents.

According to him, the transport fare that was N300 some weeks ago has increased to N500, and loads are charged separately.

Meanwhile, EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, yesterday met with State Security Service (SSS) agents in Abuja, to plan the next move on Ibori.

After the meeting, Mrs. Waziri announced that the EFCC has also declared Ibori’s finance commissioner, Love Ijakobor and the Managing Director of a construction company, ASCOT, Mr. Henry Imasara wanted.

A former chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oghara branch, however, vowed yesterday that the youths would resist any infiltration of the community.

He said “Let us see how they (the security agents) will come in. We are aware that they have planted some detectives among us, but we know ourselves. We are going to defend our leader, benefactor and true son with every arsenal at our disposal. We have been told that they are mobilizing to come either through water or air.”

Similarly, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oghara threatened that apart from the action of the youths, the elders and leaders of the party may decide to punish the party in the forth-coming election, if one of its financiers is humiliated unduly.

He lamented that the PDP is biting the finger that fed it. He added: “A river that forgets its source is bound to dry up. The fight against Ibori is tantamount to fighting the party.”

Motorists were, yesterday, having a tough time on the roads that have been blocked with logs by militants.

Friends and associates of the former governor have allegedly beefed up security around their persons and their houses to ward off suspicious movements, just as some people were said to have started taking advantage of the situation to harass motorists and commuters in the town.

“The whereabouts of our son is a mystery to us and the entire community is outraged, if you want to go and arrest a person, you do that without any person knowing. How did the youths know that they were coming? Definitely that information was leaked such that the Oghara youths can come out to defend their son. And they can say that Oghara people have gone mad,” Chief Tony Omena, the President General of Oghara Elite Forum told the Nigerian Compass.

Omena, accused the EFCC of carrying out a ‘war’ on Ibori, adding that the people should not be sacrificed as “it was done in Odi, Bayelsa State”.

He stressed that due process and the rule of law must be adhered to, as he urged the EFCC to diligently prosecute the case against Ibori at the Edo State Appeal Court.

Hon. Ben Ibakpa, Deputy Majority Leader, Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Ethiope-West Constituency (Ibori’s constituency), also condemned the action of the EFCC, pointing out that the anti-graft agency is determined to “persecute and not prosecute Ibori”.

When asked whether he has seen Ibori, Hon Ibakpa said: “Well, I saw him before the whole thing took a new turn, but for sometime now we have not seen him. They withdrew the security men guarding him. As we are talking to you, we are seriously looking for him. His phones are not going. We cannot reach him in any way. We are looking up to the EFCC to tell us where they are keeping Ibori. But I must confess there is tension everywhere.”

Niger Delta activist, Chief Bello Oboko, also said that the corruption fight had been counter productive to the peace process.

Oboko added that in as much as he would not support corruption in high places, the principle of non-violence philosophy should be applied by the anti-graft agency in the fight against corruption in the country.

According to him it is an affront to peace in the Niger Delta region for the EFCC boss, “to state equivocally in the media that we will get Ibori”.

More support came for Ibori yesterday as 23 Presidents-General of the 23 Urhobo kingdoms in Delta condemned what they called: “Heckling, witch-hunting and gangster methods used EFCC.”

They labeled as “faceless” those who challenged a publication of the Urhobo Royal Fathers in a national Daily, warning that such affront against the gods of the land would spare no rebel against Urhobo traditional rulers.

In a communiqué read on behalf of the Presidents-General by Chief Joe Omene, the Ejorofo of Mosogar kingdom in Mosogar, Ethiope West L.G.A , the body noted with “sadness the recent vilification and wicked attempt to malign our illustrious son and national political leader Chief James Ibori by EFCC”.

It, however, commended the Urhobo Traditional Rulers for their bold and courageous stand against the EFCC.

The apex group of Urhobo leaders also condemned statements attributed to “Ibori enemies that using the power of the office of the Acting President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces Dr. Jonathan to hound Chief Ibori out of Nigeria”.

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46664:ibori-residents-flee-oghara-as-militants-prepare-for-showdown-&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794

I would have advised the government to allow the situation remain, as further man hunt will lead to bloodbath and might increase tension in the Niger Delta area. Do not undermine the power of the boys.

Sun of god:
Re-inforcements will be called for,

I'm sure everybody is re-grouping.

Where are those brutal soldiers when you need them?

My Guy, heavy Soldiers will not resolve what happened today. Those boys were ready to die. You need to see their numbers, and how ready they were. Even SSS and all their latest weapons could not break their ranks.