₦airaland Forum

Nigeria seems to be on the cross road with tensions and contentions, so which way out National Conference and Sovereign National Conference http://facebook.com/gblcareers

Nigeria seems to be on the cross road with tensions and contentions, so which way out National Conference and Sovereign National Conference http://facebook.com/gblcareers

Emerging reports that the fleeing Libyan strong man Gadaffi and some of his loyal forces are in Niger has prompted the insinuation that the man may be in Nigeria already? What do you think owing to the porous nature of our boarders?

Buhari asked his supporters to defend the result of the outcome of the election at all cost and that the nation would become ungovernable if CPC loses. Could the outcome of the bombings across the country be as a result of this treat?

GSM OPERATORS IN NIGERIA & CHALLENGES OF NCC REGISTRATION
As the deadline (Sept 28, 2011) set by Nigeria Communication for GSM telephone operators to register the SIM of their users approaches, it is pertinent here to encourage these operators to intensify their campaigns in this regard owing to the immense benefits to them as operators and the nation in general.
With the recent increase in crimes perpetual by the use of GSM telephone, it becomes even more important to ensure that it becomes compulsory that every SIM be registered no matter the class/status of the individual concerned.
FINISH THIS ARTICLE http://gblcareers.com/2011/09/gsm-operators-in-nigeria-challenges-of-ncc-registration.html

TRIPOLI, Libya — Latest updates:

Rebels say they have seized state TV
Opposition claims to control 95 percent of Tripoli
Gadhafi's location unknown; two of Libyan leader's sons in hands of opposition
Rebel chief: "We want to build a state based on freedom, justice, equality and transparency"
Obama: Libya "slipping from the grasp of a tyrant"
Richard Engel of NBC News: "Tripoli is falling but hasn't fallen yet"
Libyan government tanks and snipers put up scattered, last-ditch resistance in Tripoli on Monday after rebels swept into the heart of the capital, cheered on by crowds hailing the end of Moammar Gadhafi's 42 years in power.

The 69-year-old leader, urging civilians to take up arms against rebel "rats," said in an audio broadcast that he was in the city and would be "with you until the end." But there was little sign of popular opposition to the rebel offensive.

"Gadhafi is finished. Now we are free," one rebel, named Abdullah, told a Reuters reporter over the sound of gunfire and shelling, as his group consolidated its position to the west of the city center.

Two of Gadhafi's sons were captured by the rebels but there was no sign of the dictator.

Get the latest updates from Breakingnews.com

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesMahmud Nacua, the Libyan rebels' top diplomat in London, told reporters that opposition forces controlled 95 percent of the city. Although Gadhafi's whereabouts were unknown, Nacua said "the fighters will turn over every stone to find him, to arrest him, and to put him in the court."

NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel said that while the rebels had made great advances in Tripoli, victory wasn't yet theirs.

"Tripoli is falling but hasn't completely fallen yet," he said from the capital.

Heavy fighting was reported near Gadhafi's compound on Monday morning.

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AP Your Career: Going to extremes to get noticed Gold fever spreads, spurring thefts
UGC It's A Snap! Vote for your favorite travel photo According to Al Arabiya television, another of Gadhafi's sons, al-Mutassim, is in the Bab al-Azizya compound.

'They fired randomly'
Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdel-Rahman said tanks emerged from the complex, known as Bab al-Aziziya, and began firing shortly after dawn.

Nouri Echtiwi, another rebel spokesman in Tripoli, told Reuters: "Four hours of calm followed the street celebrations. Then tanks and pick-up trucks with heavy machine guns mounted on the back came out of Bab al-Aziziya , and started firing and shelling. They fired randomly in all directions whenever they heard gunfire."

Video: Gadhafi rule crumbles as rebels surge (on this page)
Bab al-Aziziya, a sprawling compound that long served as the command center for the regime, has been heavily damaged by repeated NATO airstrikes over the past five months.

Tripoli resident Moammar al-Warfali, whose family home is next to Bab al-Aziziya, said tanks rolled out from the compound after a group of rebels tried to get in. He said there appeared to be only a few tanks belonging to the remaining Gadhafi forces that have not fled or surrendered.

But rebel chief Mustafa Abdel-Jalil was more cautious about Monday's developments.

"The real moment of victory will be when Gadhafi is captured," he said at a press conference in rebel stronghold Benghazi. "We will see many changes and the Libyan people have to realize that the next stage is not going to be easy."

Later Monday, Libya's Jamahiriyah state television channel went off the air. According to rebel spokesman, forces opposed to Gadhafi had taken control of the station's headquarters in Tripoli.

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoices"The revolutionaries stormed the television building , after killing the soldiers surrounding it. It is now under their control," the spokesman said. He was speaking after television screens airing the Jamahiriyah station went blank.

After six months of an often meandering revolt backed by NATO air power, world leaders were in no doubt that the disparate and often fractious rebel alliance was about to take control of the North African desert state and its extensive oil reserves.

Story: With Gadhafi out of power, oil prices should fall
The startling rebel breakthrough , after a long deadlock in Libya's 6-month-old civil war, was the culmination of a closely coordinated plan by rebels, NATO and anti-Gadhafi residents inside Tripoli, rebel leaders said. Rebel fighters from the west swept over 20 miles in a matter of hours Sunday, taking town after town and overwhelming a major military base as residents poured out to cheer them. At the same time, Tripoli residents secretly armed by rebels rose up.


Reuters TV
Men celebrate the arrival of rebel fighters in Tripoli in the streets of Misrata, Libya, on Monday. When rebels reached the gates of Tripoli, the special battalion entrusted by Gadhafi with guarding the capital promptly surrendered. The reason: Its commander, whose brother had been executed by Gadhafi years ago, was secretly loyal to the rebellion, a senior rebel official, Fathi al-Baja, told The Associated Press.

Al-Arabiya reported Monday that some snipers around Green Square — which was hastily renamed Martyrs' Square by the rebels — were surrendering to opposition forces.

Al-Jazeera quoted rebels as saying that one of Gadhafi's bodyguards had been detained while trying to escape.

Story: Can anyone unite Libya if Gadhafi falls?
However, some warned of a risk of a longer, anarchic civil war after what has been the bloodiest of the Arab Spring uprisings inspired by the overthrow of autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt.

President Barack Obama said said Libya was "slipping from the grasp of a tyrant" and urged Gadhafi to accept defeat.

'We are watching history'
South Africa denied it had sent a plane for Gadhafi or was planning to shelter a leader who has been indicted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said: "We are watching history."

But he cited the example of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and warned: "There is a risk for actions of revenge, and uncontrollable violence. These are tribal groups who are fighting against their oppressors. One knows what one is against, but it is not always equally clear what one is for and people can be for different things."

Two of Gadhafi's sons, including Seif al-Islam, who was once seen as heir apparent and a potential friend of the West, were detained. Gadhafi's eldest son Mohammed also surrendered to rebel forces.

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesCiting a source close to Gadhafi's inner circle, NBC News reported that Seif al-Islam had tried to flee Tripoli while disguised as a woman.

Gadhafi's former right-hand man, who defected last week to Italy, said the longtime leader would not go easily.

"I think it's impossible that he'll surrender," Abdel-Salam Jalloud said in an interview broadcast on Italian RAI state radio. "He doesn't have the courage, like Hitler, to kill himself."

Late on Sunday, rebels waving opposition flags and firing into the air drove into Green Square, a symbolic showcase the government had until recently used for mass demonstrations in support of Gadhafi.

"It's over, frizz-head," chanted hundreds of jubilant men and women massed in Green Square late Sunday, using a mocking nickname of the curly-haired Gadhafi.

Video: Can Libya's rebels go from fighters to governors? (on this page)
Youths burned the green, Islamic flags of the government and raised the rebel tricolor last used by the post-colonial monarchy which Gadhafi overthrew in a military coup in 1969.

Gadhafi earlier had made two audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the rebels. "I am afraid if we don't act, they will burn Tripoli," he said. "There will be no more water, food, electricity or freedom."

Story: 'Libya will go down in history as the anti-Iraq'
Gadhafi said he was breaking out weapons stores to arm civilians. His spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, predicted a violent reckoning by the rebels.

"A massacre will be committed inside Tripoli if one side wins now, because the rebels have come with such hatred, such vendetta," Ibrahim said on Sunday. "Even if the leader leaves or steps down now, there will be a massacre."

Video: Haass: This is the end of the beginning in Libya (on this page)
NATO officials said the alliance would continue its combat air patrols over Libya until all pro-Gadhafi forces surrender or return to barracks.

In Benghazi, thousands gathered in a central square. Many trampled on pictures of Gadhafi as news filtered through of rebel triumphs.

A Libyan government official told Reuters that 376 people on both sides of the conflict were killed in fighting overnight on Saturday in Tripoli, with about 1,000 others wounded.

Advertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesAdvertise | AdChoicesBrutal crackdown
The uprising against Gadhafi broke out in mid-February, inspired by successful revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

A brutal regime crackdown quickly transformed the protests into an armed rebellion. Rebels seized Libya's east, setting up an internationally recognized transitional government there, and two pockets in the west, the port city of Misrata and the Nafusa mountain range.

Get updates Follow us on Twitter
Get the latest Libya updates from @breakingnews.
Text NEWS to 67622 to receive mobile alerts Gadhafi clung to the remaining territory, and for months neither side had been able to break the other.

In early August, however, rebels launched an offensive from the Nafusa Mountains, then fought their way down to the Mediterranean coastal plain, backed by NATO airstrikes, and captured the strategic city of Zawiya.

The rebels' leadership council, based in the eastern city of Benghazi, sent out mobile text messages to Tripoli residents, proclaiming, "Long live Free Libya" and urging them to protect public property. Internet service returned to the capital for the first time in six months.

Gadhafi is the Arab world's longest-ruling, most erratic, most grimly fascinating leader — presiding over this North African desert nation with vast oil reserves and just 6 million people.

For years, he was an international pariah blamed for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jumbo jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people. After years of denial, Gadhafi's Libya acknowledged responsibility, agreed to pay up to $10 million to relatives of each victim, and the Libyan rule declared he would dismantle his weapons of mass destruction program. That eased him back into the international community.

NBC News, The Associated Press, Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44224936/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/?GT1=43001

The uncertainty in Libya has hightened with the rebels taking over of part of the capital Tripoli.
The libya's strongman whereabout is unknown as one of his son is killed in the recent attach by weekend. It is becoming clear that the end of an era is now set in Libya or what do you think? GBLCAREERS

It has generated many controversies in the recent times, the issue of minimum wage across states of the federation, is it true that the Governors who promised during their election campaigns that they will implement the minimum wage now renege on their promises? Could it be true that they actually cannot pay the wage? What about their Security votes running into billions of Naira? What about their flamboyant life styles and waste of state resources on their girl friends? What about the kick backs?

Instead of addressing the unemployment in the country some of them have treat end to sack workers if they must implement the minimum wage.

I think that the best thing for any sitting Governor in Nigeria who thinks that he/she cannot pay the minimum wage at present is to resign [/b]so that those who can pay it will come on board or what [b]do you think? GBLCAREERS

JAMB Post UTME 2011 Cut Off Marks For Various Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics.
Below is a list of cut off marks for some Nigerian universities.
This list would let you know if you would be eligible to write the post UTME exams of your selected school. This list is tentative, pending the official release of the post UTME details of the various schools.
http://gblcareers.com/2011/07/jamb-post-utme-cut-off-marks-2011-for-universities-and-polytechnics.html

How we bought N4bn NECOM House –Bankole
By BISI OLALEYE
Friday, June 03, 2011


Against the controversy surrounding the sale of Nitels 37 storey building, popularly called NECOM House on Marina, Lagos, Mr. Biola Bankole, one of the directors of West African Aluminum Products Plc , the new owner of the building has said that contrary to allegations of secrecy in the deal that the house was transparently and lawfully bought.

In an exclusively interview with Daily Sun on Wednesday in Lagos, Bankole said that the sale of NECOM House actually started in March 2007 and that it was number one on the list of about 800 to 850 properties advertised for sale by the liquidator. He narrated that WAPP Plc saw the advertisement in the papers and made enquiries on who the Liquidator was, and discovered that it was Otunba Olusola Adekanola .

“We met him and we not only found out that he was the authorized liquidator to dispose of all properties advertised in the Punch and his appointment was validated by a court order. We prepared and submitted our bids and the Liquidator rightly contacted us as the highest bidder, all this was between 2007 and 2008, one year apart. Payment was made in 2007 and we perfected all title documents in 2009.

“Thereafter, we took possession of the building, the parking space and the inventory of what was in the building. We wrote a letter to Nitel that has some equipment in the building to come and pay rents to us as the new owners. That was when all these problems started. If it was controversial, where were they when the property was advertised in 2007? Where were they when we paid for the property in 2008? Where were they when we perfected our title document in 2009? And we took possession of the property, all this while no one was talking about transparency or accused us of anything, only for someone to come after four years and accuse us of buying Nitel property in secrecy,” Bankole said.

Bankole also stressed that only mischievous people would allege that the building was worth N75 billion. “We read in the papers that the value of Nitel house was supposed to be N75 billion, unfortunately I do not know where Nitel personnel or staff got that information from. You will agree with me that Nigeria has been trying to sell Nitel at different times but failed. This is because an investor would not like a situation whereby after buying someone somewhere would emerge to say that the sale was not valid enough or due diligence was not followed. I think that this is not good enough for the country’s corporate image.”

He averred that the NECOM building was well valued at N4.5 billion by a recognized and reputable chartered estate surveyor and valuer in the person of M.I Okoro and Associate, noting that WAPP has been silent because it has not done anything wrong and everything done was lawful and correct. He added that the controversy over the sale actually started when the company wrote to the occupants of the building to pay rents.
http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/june/03/national-03-06-2011-002.html

READ MORE HERE https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-681884.0.html#msg8446752

Are these appropriations justified?

Jumbo pay: Lawmakers to earn N338.6 billion
A Daily Sun special report on the irrestible pay package that makes the National Assembly so attractive that politicians are ready to kill for a seat there.
From MODESTUS CHUKWULAKA, JAMES OJO and ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
Friday, June 03, 2011

Those bickering over the jumbo pay of outgoing federal lawmakers may have to wait for the real shocker: The 469 incoming lawmakers will earn N338.6 billion in the next four years, investigations have revealed. For, Daily Sun can authoritatively report, it will cost the country at least three hundred and thirty-eight billion, six hundred and forty-five million eight hundred and forty-five thousand, five hundred and ten naira N338,645,845,510bn in taxpayers’ money to keep the 469 members of the incoming seventh National Assembly in office for the next four years.

The amount which covers salaries and sundry allowances to be earned by the lawmakers does not, however, factor in the deferential pays and other perquisites that go to the principal officers of the two chambers of the federal legislature. It does not also include expenses incurred on duty tours and estacode. It is also silent on the unverifiable lump sums that come from ‘oversight functions’ and ‘lobbying’.

Instructively, however, only a meager N18.245 billion is the actual salary projected to be paid the legislators over the period. The rest of the jumbo pay would come in the form of the quarterly allowances the two chambers of the legislature approved for themselves last year. They christened it, “running cost/quarterly allowance.” The breakdown of the allowance which comes down to N42 million and N45 million for every Rep and Senator respectively would see the members of the Green Chamber earning an additional N168 million every year, a figure that translates to N672 million for the four years such a lawmaker would stay in office.
For the Red Chamber, it comes to N720 million per Senator.

Incidentally, what would reflect on the pay slips of the lawmakers would be the statutory salary which when added together, comes to a not-too-paltry N18.245 billion for the two chambers in four years. Of this amount, N4, 881, 394, 960 will be spent on the 109 Senators while the remaining N13, 364, 450, 550 will be spent on the maintenance of the 360 members of the House of Representatives.

In line with the remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders approved by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) from July 2009, a Senator earns an annual emolument of N8, 206, 920 while a member of the House of Representatives takes home N6, 352, 680 per annum.
The cumulative emolument of a Senator for the four years will, therefore, come to N32, 827, 680. In addition, each of the 109 Senators is expected to pocket another N11, 145, 200 in allowances described by the RMAFC as non-regular, and are collected one off as the case may be, at the beginning of the tenure.

The total annual emoluments comprise the basic salary which is N2, 026, 400 for a Senator and N1,985, 212.50 for a Rep, plus a number of regular allowances for vehicle maintenance and fueling, personal assistant, house maintenance, domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, constituency, newspapers and periodicals.
The non-regular allowances include accommodation (N3, 039, 600 for each Senator); furniture allowance (also N3, 039, 600); and vehicle loan (N5, 066, 000). Besides, each Senator is entitled to an annual leave allowance of N202, 640 or N810, 560 in four years.

In effect therefore, it will take N44, 783, 440 to maintain a Senator in the next four years or N4, 881, 394, 960 to maintain the entire 109 members of the Red Chamber as the Senate is referred to. In the House of Representatives, a member who is entitled to N6,352, 680 in annual emolument will earn N25, 410, 720 in four years, plus non-regular allowances totalling N10, 918, 668.75 as well as four years leave grants of N794, 085. What this means is that each Rep will earn N37, 123, 473.75 in the next four years.

The non-regular allowances of the members of the House of Representatives include an accommodation allowance of N2, 977, 818.75; a furniture allowance of another N2, 977, 818.75; and a vehicle allowance of N4, 963, 031.25. At the rate of N198, 521.25 per annum, the leave allowances of each member of the House in four years will come to N794, 085. Added together, therefore, a Rep is expected to earn N37, 123, 473.75. In other words, the 360 members of the Green Chamber will take away N13, 364, 450, 550 from the national coffers in the next four years.

Besides, allowances have also been made for the severance gratuity of each lawmaker after a successful tenure. Each Senator and Rep will smile home with 300 per cent of his annual basic salary as severance benefit.
For instance, the Senate President will earn N7, 452, 727.50; his Deputy and other Senators will get N6,927, 500.25 and 6,079, 200 respectively. In the House of Representatives the severance gratuity as approved by the commission include N7, 431, 330 for the Speaker, N6,861,102.75 for the Deputy, and N5,955, 637.50 for the rest of the members.

There is also an annual leave allowance of N202, 640 (which comes to N810, 560 in the four years).
It is usually to this statutory salaries from the Revenue mobilization and allocation commission that the lawmakers readily refer enquiries about their pay package. It is on this ground that the Senators will tell whoever cares to listen that no Senator earns more than one million naira per month, and they are always armed with their pay slips to confirm it. But that usually is not the whole truth.
http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/june/03/national-03-06-2011-001.html

The newly sworn -in governor of Imo state has declared a free education in the state, however what is not clear is whether it is at all levels of education i.e primary, secondary and tertiary.

No more shortcuts
•Jonathan redefines the rules for a new Nigeria
, Says it’s time for action
•Declares fresh war against corruption PG 7
, 32 heads of state grace inauguration
From JULIANA TAIWO, Abuja


President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took the oath of office at exactly 12:55p.m. as the occupier of Aso Rock presidential villa for the next four years following his victory at the April presidential polls.
He called on both the leadership and the followership to strive to convert the vast human and natural resources into the force that will lead to a greater Nigeria.

The President added: “The Nigeria of our dreams must be built on hard work and not on shortcuts.”
Vice President, Namadi Sambo, had earlier at 12.50pm took his own oath of office as administered to both of them by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

The colourful ceremony, spiced with military parades, callisthenics by 1, 050 students from both primary and secondary schools, aerial displays by the Nigerian Airforce, and the traditional 21-gun salute, was witnessed by no less than 15 foreign heads of states and their spouses as well as numerous representatives of foreign leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.

Jonathan, in an address read at about 1.39 pm, declared that with the mandate given to him by the electorate during the last presidential polls he would not let the people down. According to him, “with the mandate freely given to me, I want to assure that I will not disappoint our dear people.”
While calling on his opponents during the presidential election to join him in the onerous task ahead, he said the journey of transforming Nigeria had commenced

The president said: “Era of transforming the nation has began in earnest, now is the time for action and we are now charting a path of sustained growth.” The president added: “This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity. Cynicism and skepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of. This is our hour.”
The president, in emphasising the need for a strong united nation, stated that the standard of living of an average Nigerian either in the South or the North was due for an upward leap.

He also pledged to vigorously pursue the renewed war against corruption in the nation’s polity, adding: “The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our commonwealth.”
On economy, Jonathan emphasised that he will create more jobs especially for the youth with a view to growing the nation’s economy.

He further assured that; “together we will unite our nation, improve the living standards of all our people, whether in the North or in the South, in the East or in the West.”
Jonathan, while assuring that he would push programmes and policies that would benefit both local and foreign businesses, however, insisted, “we must emphasize mutual benefits and win-win relationships. The overall ongoing reforms in the banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector of the economy.”

The president also stated that over the next four years, attention wouldl be focused on rebuilding “our infrastructure, create greater access to quality education and improved healthcare delivery.”
He also said special attention would be paid to the agricultural sector to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people.

President Jonathan, who thanked all Nigerians for the support they have enjoyed, particularly thanked his wife Patience, for not just being strong pillar of support but also for galvanising and mobilising Nigerian women for the cause of democracy. In the same vein, “I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother and my late father. I cannot thank them enough.”
http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/30/national-30-05-2011-001.html

Integrity and merit should be their watch-word

This one is not Jonathan issue ooooooooooh

Horror in Ibadan
• Nursing mother, 25 others, 27 vehicles burnt in fire incident
From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan.
Saturday, May 28, 2011

It was an ugly sight at Aduloju community along Iwo-Road, Ojoo expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday, as a nursing mother and 25 other people were burnt beyond recognition following a fatal motor accident involving a tanker fully loaded with petroleum product.

Also, at least 27 vehicles and equipment worth several millions of naira were burnt during the ugly incident described by many as the worst in recent times in the state.
The inferno, which spread up to about 100 metres, also affected about eight buildings including a church around the area.

The unfortunate incident, Saturday Sun learnt, occurred around 10:30 am when the tanker driver, in an effort to avoid a collision with an 18-seater bus, ran into a pole beside the road, thereby pouring its content which eventually led to an eruption of serious inferno.
It was further gathered that all the 18 passengers as well as eight other people, who were roadside mechanics, were also burnt to death.

A nursing mother, who was said to be selling engine oil by the road, was among those who lost their lives, while trying to save her baby who was already trapped in the raging fire.
“It was in an attempt to safe her baby from the fire that she died,” an eyewitness who was at the scene of the fire told Saturday Sun.
According to the eyewitness, several people, many of who were roadside mechanics, were seriously injured and are receiving treatment in different hospitals across the state.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) as well as men of the Nigeria Police had difficult time controlling the traffic as many motorists were trapped for several hours at the highway.
The incident, which occurred in front of a popular filling station, attracted many sympathizers, but, according to the witness, they all watched helplessly as the victims, the 26 vehicles packed within the mechanic village as well as a stationed lorry were being burnt.
A very terrible damage had been done before the officials of Oyo State Fire Service could get to the scene of the incident.
Many of the residents were already caught in fears of the fire spreading to other houses and shops.

The sympathizers, who could not, control their emotion, wept uncontrollably while also blaming the incident on the increasing number of petroleum trucks plying the road. They urged the government to rescue them from the frequent loss of lives and property at Iwo-Road /Ojoo expressway and the neighbouring communities by outlawing haulage trucks from the expressway.
Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Godwin Ogagaoghene who described the incident as very unfortunate but said his men were already in control.

http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/28/national-28-05-2011-01.htm

With the inauguration of the next elected officers both at federal and state levels remaining 2days from today, what are the agendas' for the elected officials?

House Speaker: 280 Reps insist on shunning zoning
On May 27, 2011 · In News

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor
LAGOS — THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have tough nut to crack in getting members of the House of Representatives to go along with its contentious zoning formula.

The House Project Initiative, an amalgam of 280 returning and fresh members-elect to the House of Representatives, which says it is desirous of allowing competence, credibility and expenses, rather than zoning be the guiding principles in choosing the new leadership of the House, yesterday reiterated its resolve not to be driven off its noble cause by those it described as scare-mongers who resort to name-calling, distortions of facts, threats and outright falsehood.

The PDP has zoned the speakership to the South-West geo-political, which performed poorly in the last general elections in terms of returning PDP legislators and governors. The South-East, which performed better had clamoured for the House speakership or Senate Presidency but was allotted Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). President Goodluck Jonathan at a meeting of party leaders stressed the need for the party faithful to uphold the zoning formula.

But the group said: “Although we decided at the beginning not to respond to the distraction tactics of hecklers who are determined to enthrone mediocrity in the House, we wish to clear some grey areas occasioned by some of these false reports”, the group said.

In a statement endorsed by Hon. Emmanuel Jime, one of the leading lights of the group, the members decried the deliberate use of misleading headlines to deceive the public regarding the mood in the House of Representatives. “What we have currently is a mass movement which draws support from across geo-political, ethnic and party lines,” Jime said.

“The truth”, he said is that very many well meaning Nigerians support the move by the House of Representatives to freely choose its leadership, not just to ensure stability in the system, but also to deepen democracy through a practical application of the principles of separation of powers.

On fears being expressed in some quarters to the effect that new members-elect may be sidelined in the running of the House, Hon. Jime stated that the House of Representative had always believed in harnessing the manifold potentials of all its members, especially as the Nigerian Constitution clearly spells out in section 50(1) that “there shall be a speaker and deputy of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves.”

To buttress this point, Jime named several first _ term legislators of the current assembly who were named as committee heads, in spite of the presence of older and more experienced colleagues and stated that the situation would not be any different this time around.

His words: “In the life of the outgoing 6th Assembly, we have first timers who were saddled with managing the affairs of several House Committees; they include: Hons. Ndudi Elumelu (Power), Aminu Shagati (steel Development), Eziuche Ubani (Climate Change), Dino Melaye (Information), Nnenna Ukeje (Donor Agencies) Seriake Dickson (Justice), Chukwuka Onyema (Works), amongst others.”

The House Project Initiative contended that the Transformation Agenda of the current administration must begin and be in sync with the desire of the incoming House of Representatives to elect its leadership devoid of external influences.

It urged all the 280 members of the 7th Assembly, who have so far identified with the project to remain steadfast and not be intimidated by threats of suspension, expulsion and other high – handed tactics of coercion.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/house-speaker-280-reps-insist-on-shunning-zoning/

OK, Thanks.
Are Fulani's aggressive in nature?

Well, there are many things in nature which we cannot wish away even as we grow to adulthood as an individual or a nation. So is the retired general a Hausa Man or Fulani by birth? Please inform me.

let the truth prevail.

Gen Buhari
I don't think u live in this our planet, how can u say that Buhari has public opinion poll going for him than GEJ when every available media both local and international confirmed through their public polls that GEJ is leading b4 the elections which later manifested in the result of the polls.

residential election trial: Buhari has no case -Jonathan
From GODWIN TSA Abuja
Wednesday, May 18, 2011


President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday began his defence in the petition filed by the Congress of Progress Change (CPC) challenging his election victory insisting that General Muhammadu Buhari has no case.
The president who spoke through his lawyer after the court session said he was not afraid of the legal battle.
This was even as CPC kick-started its petition on a shaky note as it withdrew its earlier application requesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow it inspect electoral documents.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami who is heading other justices of the Court of Appeal consequently struck out the application.
As a replacement, however, the CPC filed a new application, which largely contained the same prayers like the one that was withdrawn.

Counsel to the party, James Ocholi (SAN) at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal informed the court that he would like to withdraw the earlier application on technical ground and substitute it with a fresh one filed on May 16, adding that he was not aware of the directive of the court that the respondents should be put on notice.

Counsel to INEC, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) did not object to the application.
Counsel to President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) leading a team of 25 lawyers including nine Senior Advocates did not also oppose the application but prayed the court to allow the petitioner to effect the service of the motion on the counsel.
In a similar way, counsel to PDP, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN) did not also oppose the withdrawal of the petitioner’s earlier application.

After hearing all parties in the appeal, the chairman of the panel, Justice Salami later struck out the application dated May 6, 2011 and therefore adjourned till May 23 to hear the fresh application filed on May 16.
He further ordered that all respondents should be put on notice and that service should hence forth be through counsel to counsel to avoid cases of delay services.
Other members of the panel are, Justices M.L Garba, M.A Owoade, I.I Agbube and Obande Ogbuinya.
While speaking with journalists after the sitting, Ocholi stated that the fresh application is premised on 15 grounds adding that it is seeking the leave of the panel to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to bring some vital documents that will maintain the main appeal.

Olanipekun while also addressing journalists stated that they are not afraid of the request of the petitioner and that they are not going to depend on any abstract adding that what the petitioner is asking for is abstract.
He added that they have good grounds to defend their clients stating that they are not afraid even if all the ballot papers would have to be tested.
In the petition, the CPC is asking the tribunal to nullify the election of President Goodluck Jonathan on the grounds of substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

In the petition anchored on two grounds filed by Ebun Shotunde (SAN), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Alasa Ismail, the CPC is further asking the tribunal to set aside the presidential election of April 16, 2011 and organise a fresh election between the CPC and the PDP.
The CPC also wants the tribunal to hold that Jonathan and Sambo of the PDP were not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
The CPC stated that it shall prove at the hearing that there is substantial variation in the voters’ register used by the INEC for the conduct of the presidential and governorship elections respectively and to that extent INEC and its chairman, Attahiru Jega unlawfully manipulated the register to the advantage of Jonathan and Sambo.

It also said that in effect, INEC used different voters’ register containing different number of voters for different election held in Nigeria.
The petitioner also alleged that the ballot papers were made for the polling units at polling stations other than the original places they are made for.
They held too that there is under usage of ballot papers at polling station there are meant for and mass movement thereof to different polling unit in facilitation of ballot stuffing in favour of the PDP.

There is significant number of ballot papers missing in some polling units that were never accounted for that affected the result of presidential election.
The petition therefore asked the tribunal to declare that Jonathan and Sambo were not duely elected in respect of Kaduna, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Kwara, Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo Anambra, Benue, Lagos, Plateau states and the FCT.
The tribunal should also declare that Jonathan did not fulfil the requirement of section 134 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
CPC also wants the tribunal to hold that Jonathan did not score the highest votes cast, did not meet the one-quarter mandatory votes cast in addition to scoring two-third votes cast in all the states of the federation and the FCT.

•That it may be determined that the result declared by Jega on April 18, 2011 by which Jonathan was returned as elected president is wrongful, invalid and unlawful.
• That the election held on April 16, 2011 did not produce a winner as contemplated by the provision of the 1999 Constitution.

The tribunal should therefore direct Jega to arrange another election between the petitioner and the PDP in conformity with the provision of section 134(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
But two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Professor Itse Sagay and Yusuf Ali have expressed divergent views on the issue.
According to Sagay: “I am very surprised that the CPC filed a petition on Sunday because it is one of the days under our law in which a case cannot be filed, the party should have filed it on Friday as it run a danger of technical difficulty because the other side may say the time had lapsed for them to file the petition.”
In his own comment, Ali said: “Because of the time limitations on all these tribunals, the registry is kept open seven days a week. It is open on days when courts don’t normally sit.

“I cannot give a legal opinion on whether the petition will face a technical difficulty. I have just said the fact that the registry is kept open.”
The national chairman of the CPC, Chief Tony Momoh who accompanied their lawyer, Alasa Ismail to file the petition, said the results announced to the world were manipulated, where the election took place, between the polling units and the collation centres.
In a statement signed by Momoh, he said “We are even encouraged that the PDP has packaged a legal team to question the scores credited to our candidate in his areas of strength. This is acceptance that the elections were flawed.
“The outcome of the case will no doubt enrich our electoral case law, especially in the area of forensic examination of finger prints on the ballot papers.”Presidential election: CPC begins petition on a shaky note

residential election trial: Buhari has no case -Jonathan
From GODWIN TSA Abuja
Wednesday, May 18, 2011


President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday began his defence in the petition filed by the Congress of Progress Change (CPC) challenging his election victory insisting that General Muhammadu Buhari has no case.
The president who spoke through his lawyer after the court session said he was not afraid of the legal battle.
This was even as CPC kick-started its petition on a shaky note as it withdrew its earlier application requesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow it inspect electoral documents.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami who is heading other justices of the Court of Appeal consequently struck out the application.
As a replacement, however, the CPC filed a new application, which largely contained the same prayers like the one that was withdrawn.

Counsel to the party, James Ocholi (SAN) at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal informed the court that he would like to withdraw the earlier application on technical ground and substitute it with a fresh one filed on May 16, adding that he was not aware of the directive of the court that the respondents should be put on notice.

Counsel to INEC, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) did not object to the application.
Counsel to President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) leading a team of 25 lawyers including nine Senior Advocates did not also oppose the application but prayed the court to allow the petitioner to effect the service of the motion on the counsel.
In a similar way, counsel to PDP, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN) did not also oppose the withdrawal of the petitioner’s earlier application.

After hearing all parties in the appeal, the chairman of the panel, Justice Salami later struck out the application dated May 6, 2011 and therefore adjourned till May 23 to hear the fresh application filed on May 16.
He further ordered that all respondents should be put on notice and that service should hence forth be through counsel to counsel to avoid cases of delay services.
Other members of the panel are, Justices M.L Garba, M.A Owoade, I.I Agbube and Obande Ogbuinya.
While speaking with journalists after the sitting, Ocholi stated that the fresh application is premised on 15 grounds adding that it is seeking the leave of the panel to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to bring some vital documents that will maintain the main appeal.

Olanipekun while also addressing journalists stated that they are not afraid of the request of the petitioner and that they are not going to depend on any abstract adding that what the petitioner is asking for is abstract.
He added that they have good grounds to defend their clients stating that they are not afraid even if all the ballot papers would have to be tested.
In the petition, the CPC is asking the tribunal to nullify the election of President Goodluck Jonathan on the grounds of substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

In the petition anchored on two grounds filed by Ebun Shotunde (SAN), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Alasa Ismail, the CPC is further asking the tribunal to set aside the presidential election of April 16, 2011 and organise a fresh election between the CPC and the PDP.
The CPC also wants the tribunal to hold that Jonathan and Sambo of the PDP were not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
The CPC stated that it shall prove at the hearing that there is substantial variation in the voters’ register used by the INEC for the conduct of the presidential and governorship elections respectively and to that extent INEC and its chairman, Attahiru Jega unlawfully manipulated the register to the advantage of Jonathan and Sambo.

It also said that in effect, INEC used different voters’ register containing different number of voters for different election held in Nigeria.
The petitioner also alleged that the ballot papers were made for the polling units at polling stations other than the original places they are made for.
They held too that there is under usage of ballot papers at polling station there are meant for and mass movement thereof to different polling unit in facilitation of ballot stuffing in favour of the PDP.

There is significant number of ballot papers missing in some polling units that were never accounted for that affected the result of presidential election.
The petition therefore asked the tribunal to declare that Jonathan and Sambo were not duely elected in respect of Kaduna, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Kwara, Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo Anambra, Benue, Lagos, Plateau states and the FCT.
The tribunal should also declare that Jonathan did not fulfil the requirement of section 134 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
CPC also wants the tribunal to hold that Jonathan did not score the highest votes cast, did not meet the one-quarter mandatory votes cast in addition to scoring two-third votes cast in all the states of the federation and the FCT.

•That it may be determined that the result declared by Jega on April 18, 2011 by which Jonathan was returned as elected president is wrongful, invalid and unlawful.
• That the election held on April 16, 2011 did not produce a winner as contemplated by the provision of the 1999 Constitution.

The tribunal should therefore direct Jega to arrange another election between the petitioner and the PDP in conformity with the provision of section 134(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
But two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Professor Itse Sagay and Yusuf Ali have expressed divergent views on the issue.
According to Sagay: “I am very surprised that the CPC filed a petition on Sunday because it is one of the days under our law in which a case cannot be filed, the party should have filed it on Friday as it run a danger of technical difficulty because the other side may say the time had lapsed for them to file the petition.”
In his own comment, Ali said: “Because of the time limitations on all these tribunals, the registry is kept open seven days a week. It is open on days when courts don’t normally sit.

“I cannot give a legal opinion on whether the petition will face a technical difficulty. I have just said the fact that the registry is kept open.”
The national chairman of the CPC, Chief Tony Momoh who accompanied their lawyer, Alasa Ismail to file the petition, said the results announced to the world were manipulated, where the election took place, between the polling units and the collation centres.
In a statement signed by Momoh, he said “We are even encouraged that the PDP has packaged a legal team to question the scores credited to our candidate in his areas of strength. This is acceptance that the elections were flawed.
“The outcome of the case will no doubt enrich our electoral case law, especially in the area of forensic examination of finger prints on the ballot papers.”Presidential election: CPC begins petition on a shaky note


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/18/national-18-05-2011-01.htm

The International Criminal Court, ICC, Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has confirmed he had requested an arrest warrant for the embattled Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif and brother-in-law for crimes against humanity

At an ICC press conference, at The Hague , Netherlands, Luis Moreno-Ocampo said, the evidence shows Muammar Gaddafi personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians.

Ochampo said Gaddafi attacked civilians in their homes, used heavy weaponry on funeral processions, placed snipers to kill those leaving mosques.

According to Ocampo, “Gaddafi’s second-eldest son, Said el-Islam, is a de facto prime minister. And Abdullah Senussi is his right hand man, executioner.


*Gaddafi
“The office has asked for arrest warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, Saif el-Islam and Abdullah Senussi.

”The office was able to gather direct evidence about orders issued by Muammar Gaddafi himself.

“ We will now continue to investigate allegations of rape, killing of sub-Saharan Africans considered as mercenaries, and war crimes.”

Time will tell in all this saga

our country is in a mess

Reps to reject zoning candidate for speaker
From JAMES OJO, Abuja.
Monday, May 16, 2011

A deft moves to reject imposition of candidate for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives through the zoning formula of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] may have altered the political equation in the emergence of a new speaker.
Old members in the House pushing for a break from the zoning arrangement met thrice last week to search for an acceptable candidate out side the South West geo-political zone which returned only three members at the close of the National Assembly election.

Daily Sun gathered that the cognate members at one of the meetings held in NICON Luxury Hotel set up a search group made up of two members each from the six geo-political zones.
A member of the group from the South –South Zone hinted that the group of returnee members was not comfortable with the personality that the zoning formula will likely produce among those qualified for the race.

“This is why we decided to throw open the contest for the Speaker that the new House deserves, we don’t want a speaker that will not be able to hold the House together.
“You will agree with me that many things are wrong with us, which is why the image of the House is at the lowest ebb, we need somebody with courage, charisma and the ability to mobilize members to change the image of the House.”

On which zone the next speaker will come from, the member, who held one of the A-List committees in the outgoing House said that the group was not looking at zones, but merit and the ability to deliver. Another member of the group whose returning battle has shifted to the Election Tribunal said that members are looking at the side of the Deputy Whip, Aminu Tambuwal to lead the next House. According to him, the choice of Tambuwal has received support, not only from returning members, former members of the House who were bitter about the situations in the House are equally molilizing support to see the emergence of somebody with a mission to redeem the image of the House.

“I can tell you that some old members were in Abuja to encourage us and galvanize support for Tambuwal. We now have contact group and they would meet with newly elect members on the need to support Tambuwal.” On Saturday, a pressure group made up of newly elected members of the House denied adopting any cognate member jostling for the plum position. Coordinator of the 7th National Assembly Group, Dr Abdul Jubrin said at a meeting of the group attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo and one of the gladiators in the race for the Speakership, Ajibola Muraina that the group has not endorsed any of the aspirants.

Instead, he said that the group will vet the resume of all the aspirants and also engage them on their vision and plans to lead the House.“It is better to make this clarification in the presence of the pressmen so that the public will know that our group has not adopted anybody for the position of the Speaker.“We will look at the credentials of anybody who wants to lead the House and do proper screening; it is after that that we will make our position known.”

He explained that the group was formed as a platform for newly elected members to interact before entering the chamber, adding that it was a wrong impression for anybody to conclude that the group was been sponsored to achieve a particular goal.“We are coming out of a rigorous election from different backgrounds and we felt that it will not be proper for us to just meet on the floor on the day of our inauguration

Ajibola is among the three returnee members from Oyo state aiming to replace Dimeji Bankole, the others are Mulikat Adeola Akande and Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun. He has been adopted by the South West caucus in a letter authored by the national Vice chairman, Tajudeen Oladipo to the acting national chairman, Dr Haliru Bello at the weekend.
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/16/national-16-05-2011-001.html