₦airaland Forum

Shekarau, 7 outgoing Govs in N8tr scam

….As EFCC probes Akala over N8.2bn road projects
By Toye Faleye, Lagos and Moshood Olalekan, Abuja

There are strong indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised special investigative team to collate data and materials needed for the prosecution of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and seven outgoing governors alleged to have diverted for personal use over N8trillion released for development of their respective states. Nigerian NewsDirect had reported last week exclusively arrangements being made by five outgoing Governors to secure medical papers from prominent hospitals in Lagos as a measure to flee from the country in order to avoid prosecution.
According to a senior EFCC official, the list of Governors targeted for arrest after may 29 include Govs. Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, Adebayo Alao Akala of Oyo State, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Umaru Shinkafi of Zamfara State, Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State. These governors had served their various states between 2003 to 2011 while some of them were elected in 2007.
For instance, he said that Governor Christopher Alao Akala of Oyo State is being investigated over his alleged mismanagement of N8, 250,000,000 allocated to 33 Local Governments in the State. To prevent the escape of these corrupt governors after the May 29 handover date, sources close to the Presidency hinted that the anti-graft agency has been empowered to monitor their movements and prevent them from taking any of the land borders or hospitals as a way of escape after May 29.
As a follow up to the directive of the Presidency, our investigation revealed that 15 special teams had already been sent out to various states to fast-track preparation for the arrest and prosecution of these alleged corrupt Govs. According to the source, the affected governors would be picked up immediately their immunity expires. Also on the list of those to be likely arrested soon are some commissioners in those states as well as aides to the governors alleged to have been part of siphoning public funds. The teams according to our source are to use the remaining days to gather and solicit for sufficient evidence against some state governors and their officials ahead of the May 29 handover date.
A reliable source in the commission said the teams were constituted by the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri about three weeks ago to gather sufficient evidence in some states where the EFCC has been investigating fraud allegations against some governors and their officials.
It was gathered that the EFCC operatives were dispatched to the affected states to wrap up investigations and compile case files against officials believed to have dipped their hands into state funds.
The EFCC Spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, while chatting with Nigerian NewDirect in an exclusive interview, hinted at the weekend that "Investigation is on-going and is being intensified to reach comfortable conclusion because this is a high profile case where we must be careful especially as it revolves round politicians."
Governor Akala was alleged to have mismanaged the sum of N250 million that was doled out to each Local Government in Oyo State. This amount was said to have been approved for each Local Government to enable them tar all the feeder roads in their areas.
According to a reliable source, Governor Akala had ordered the removal of N100 million from each local government, while the Permanent Secretaries, Accountant General and all Commissioners took N50 million remaining N150 million which the Governor directed the LGAs to use to tar the roads. “The roads are not tarred up till date”, he lamented.
He added that the road project is being handled by the state government through Engineer Femi Babalola, the Managing Director of JORGOR Event Centre, who is also the consultant and a close friend of the Governor.
Nigerian NewsDirect learnt that the businessman has been handling such projects for the administration of Governor Akala. Findings also revealed that he has handled several renovation and supply of medical equipment to Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Yemetu and the renovation of the state hospital at Ring Road.
EFCC, had earlier quizzed some top officals in the state, including the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adebayo Bankole; Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Muslim Oyedemi; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Agboola; the ALGON Chairman, Mr. Demola Ojo Obafemi and the Accountant-General of the state, Mrs. Florence Oke over the alleged scam.
It would be recalled that the alleged scam once polarised the State House of Assembly into factions as some of the lawmakers moved against the mismanagement of the funds while others supported the Governor. The development degenerated into fracas as thugs were invited into the House to disrupt its legislative activities. All attempts to speak to Governor Akala's aides proved abortive as his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Bayo Ojo, his Special Advisers on Political Matters, Mr Asimiyu Alarape and his Director on Public Communication, Mr Dotun Oyelade did not pick their calls or react to text messages.
Governor Akala lost his re-election bid in the last governorship poll conducted on April 26. He was defeated by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator Jimoh Ajimobi, who polled 420, 852 votes as Akala polled 387, 132 votes while Rasheed Ladoja of Accord Party (AP) polled 275, 773 votes.
http://newsdirectonline.com/newstory.php?ID=1596

if found guilty, let him face the judgement

Post-election violence
Buhari blasts Jonathan
•Says President playing politics with national tragedy
From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja
Friday, May 13, 2011


Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd), yesterday blasted President Goodluck Jonathan for allegedly playing petty politics with the unfortunate disturbances in some parts of the country.

Speaking through his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the former Head of State said “The petty politics being played by President Goodluck Jonathan with the unfortunate disturbances following the massive rigging of the April 16, presidential election, shows the tragic incompetence that is governing Nigeria at its pathetic worst.”

Buhari also said that contrary to the vile propaganda by Jonathan that the CPC was justifying the unrest, “it is clear that he is the one who cannot rise beyond base politics when statesmanship is what is required.

“Beyond the twisted logic of the official bulletin of the ruling party, pretending to be news medium, there is nowhere anybody associated with us in any form has provided justification for the crisis in the manner a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor has done.“The only sour truth we have pointed out is that those who willfully violated the right of the people to freely choose their leaders are vicariously liable for the outrage of the mob.

“While we want justice for the people who lost their lives, we need to alert the whole world that the handling of this issue by President Jonathan is the worst form of mischief dance on the graves of the dead,” Buhari said. Buhari explained: “It is galling that a President who has not shaken off the allegation that he distributed dollars within Nigeria, will value a slain Corper who would have been a breadwinner for life for his family at a token of 5 million naira.“The motive behind this gesture could at best only be a photo-op with the families and not genuine concerns for the dead.

“The Federal Government by law, has no powers to investigate any disturbances outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi vs Babangida.“The 22-man panel set up by the President, is therefore a hollow ritual meant to just-play politics with a serious national tragedy.

“Ironically, Justice Samson Uwaifo, who has been made the Deputy chairman of this illegal panel, was on the Supreme Court panel that gave that decision. He presently chairs a lawful Truth Commission in Osun State as only states have such powers. Most of the terms of reference of this illegal panel are criminal investigations that cannot be tribunalized. The burning of houses is arson, while the killing of people is culpable homicide, which competent government should be filing charges against the suspects arrested, rather than embarking on a wild goose chase.”

He further said: “We have not forgotten that seven months after the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the October 1, bombing in Abuja during which one family lost four children, the President, who absolved the Niger Delta terror-gang from culpability in a crime it owned up to, is yet to bring the culprits to book.“Were the Government to be genuine over its intention of even compensating those who lost their property, all it would have needed was advertising in newspapers for such victims to come forward with a verification panel to assess their claims and value genuine losses.”

“It has now been forced to eat its words and those of its many accomplices that the elections were free and fair with a self-shot at foot that six million under-age voters, voted for the CPC. This has further strengthened our position that the elections were not credible.“If indeed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not the CPC allowed six million unqualified voters in one election, the electoral body has serious questions to answer and all elections conducted based on such a fraudulent N87 billion voters register should be nullified.”

Politicians, contractors besiege Okorocha’s country home
on MAY 11, 2011 · in NIGERIA IN TRANSITION

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Ogboko, the country home of Imo State governor-elect, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, has become a political pilgrimage centre of sort since he was announced winner of the gubernatorial election last weekend.

Vanguard investigations revealed that scores of politicians and contractors have been visiting Ogboko on courtesy calls to congratulate Okorocha.

It was also gathered that a good number of those who had been milling around Ogboko are supposed chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who would not want to completely lose out in the emerging political structutre.

Vanguard equally gathered that the leadership of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Imo State has already paid a courtesy visit to Ogboko in Ideato South Local Council Area.

Led by Mrs. Rubby Emele and Chief Enyinnaya Onuegbu, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, ALGON said it deemed it necessary to demonstrate loyalty and support to the incoming state administration which it will undoubt.

ELECTION VIOLENCE PANEL: You don’t have powers to probe violence – Buhari
on MAY 13, 2011 · in NEWS

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

LAGOS — PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, picked holes in President Goodluck Jonathan’s raising of a 22-man panel to probe the post-presidential polls mayhem that claimed many lives and property in some northern parts of the country.

Buhari who described it as illegal and a wild goose chase, also criticised the doling of N5million each to families of the 10 youth corps members killed in the violence.

The CPC presidential candidate, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said: “The Federal Government, by law, has no powers to investigate any disturbances outside the Federal Capital Territory as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Fawehinmi vs Babangida. The 22-man panel set up by the President is, therefore, a hollow ritual meant to just play politics with a serious national tragedy.


Muhammadu Buhari
“Justice Samson Uwaifo, who has been made the Deputy Chair of this illegal panel was on the Supreme Court panel that gave that decision. He presently chairs a lawful Truth Commission in Osun State as only states have such powers.”

Poor performance at the polls

Buhari spoke as founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, berated him over alleged “drumbeats of war” after performing poorly at the polls.

Fasehun said: “The sectarian pattern of General Buhari’s performance in the last elections in which he won only in North-East and North-West states, coupled with the tribal explosions that took place thereafter, should underscore to all and sundry the kind of image that he has cut for himself. Rather than projecting the qualities of a national leader,

General Buhari cuts the image of a tribal warlord; and he is very dangerous for the unity and future of this country.”

In the statement entitled: “On President Jonathan’s cheap politicisation of post-election violence,” Odumakin said the CPC did not justify the killings, adding: “The only sour truth we have pointed out is that those who wilfully violate the right of the people to freely choose their leaders are vicariously liable for the outrage of the mob. While we want justice for the people who lost their lives, we need to alert the whole world that the handling of this issue by President Jonathan is the worst form of mischief dance on the graves of the dead.”

Buhari alleged that the motive behind the giving of N5 million each to families of the victim was not out of “genuine concerns for the dead” but a “a photo-opportunity with the families,” adding: “Were the government to be genuine over its intention of even compensating those who lost their property, all it would have needed was advertising in newspapers for such victims to come forward with a verification panel to assess their claims and value genuine losses.”

He said the activities of the panel would not stand legally because “most of the terms of reference of this illegal panel are criminal investigations that cannot be tribunalised. The burning of houses is arson while the killing of people is culpable homicide; a competent government should be filing charges against the suspects arrested rather than embarking on a wild goose chase.”

Intense pressure on OPC, others

However, warning Buhari against heating up the polity, Fasehun said it took a great deal of maturity for southern leaders and organisations like the OPC to resist the intense pressure brought upon them to answer the violence in the North with collateral reprisals in the South.

He said: “Such leaders and organisations also held back out of consideration for President Goodluck Jonathan and their love for democracy. If killings take place in future, it may be difficult to control the backlash of emotions.”

Saddened by the killing of corps members during the mayhem, Fasehun canvassed amendment of the NYSC law to make participants serve in their regions of origin. He also sought N20 million compensation of corps members that die in service.

Country no longer at war

Fasehun noted: “General Yakubu Gowon’s regime established the National Youth Service Corps in 1973 as a post-civil war formula to “keep Nigeria one.” Now that this country is no longer at war, do we still need the NYSC 38 years after? Every year the country loses young, bright Nigerians in the NYSC to sectarian crisis mostly in the North.

Against this background, Nigerians expect that the first assignment of the incoming National Assembly will be to consider a Bill to modify or repeal the NYSC Act. Thus the Legislature must, as a matter of urgent public concern, hold a public sitting, where Nigerians will express their views on the desirability, modification or outright abolition of the operations and the latitude of the NYSC.

“While awaiting this essential legislative intervention, we demand immediate modifications in the scheme. If the NYSC must be retained, authorities should, as a matter of national emergency, put in place a system whereby fresh graduates will serve only within their regions of origin or indigeneship. Yoruba people should serve only in South-West states, while Igbo youths serve in South-East, Ibibio in South-South, Fulfude in North-East, and so on. It is unlikely that dog will eat dog; and a zone will not likely kill its own children in case of any crisis.

Also, the government must immediately institute a compensation and insurance package funded by both the NYSC and host states. The family of any youth corps member who dies in the course of serving his fatherland should receive a minimum compensation of N20 million.”

Nigeria this evening defeated Ghana in the final of WAFU CUP by 2:1 in a tense soaked match with the winning goal coming at the tail end of the match.

N10bn loan controversy : Reps move against Bankole
• Angry members threaten to break into chamber
From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Thursday, May 12, 2011

Less than seven days to the expiration of his tenure, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the head of Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Angry members yesterday demanded for explanations on allegations that he allegedly borrowed N10billion from a bank without the knowledge of principal officers and the House.
Bankole was not around yesterday, but it took serious lobby and lots of persuasion for a motion calling for his immediate suspension to be stood down for discussion at today’s session unfailingly.

Mr Dino Melaye had invoked Order 5 of the Rules of the House that his privileges had been injured by the refusal of the Speaker to implement the decision of the House that all the 11 recalled members should be paid their entitlements and the order of the Speaker to lock the doors of the chamber against members yesterday.

In an emotion- laden voice, Melaye said that investigations by the recalled members showed that the bank account of the House was in the red as a result of a loan allegedly obtained by the Speaker, but which other principal officers denied knowledge of. He told his colleagues that with the financial position of the House, it was certain that their quarterly and severance allowances were under serious threat of non- payment.

Indications that all was not well with the House surfaced last Wednesday when the House could not sit and an adjournment was pronounced on the corridor of the Lower Chamber against parliamentary traditions.
The crisis reached a crescendo yesterday when the door of the chamber was locked against members also allegedly on the Speaker’s order. It took the arrival of the Deputy Speaker, Bayero Nafada, before the door was opened for members who had been loitering around the lobby to enter.
Reliable sources said that Nafada rushed in to take charge when information reached him that angry members were ready to force open, the doors leading to the chamber and commence procedures to sack the entire leadership.

There was palpable tension when Nafada breezed into the National Assembly at about 2.35pm and straight, he went into his office and called a meeting of the members, who were present.
Chairman of Rules and Business, Ita Enang, who was on ground to placate members, heaved a sigh of relief when the Deputy Speaker appeared and went into a closed-door meeting with him.
They were joined by Halims Agoda, Leo Ogor, Ismaila Kawu, Aminu Tambuwal, Friday Itula, Melaye, West Idahosa, Independence Ogunewe, Anas Adamu, Festus Adegoke and others members who strolled in and were directed to the Deputy Speaker’s office by security agents, who positioned themselves near the entrance of the chamber.

At exactly 2.45pm, the Sergeant-at-Arms, Col Emeka Okere [retd], led security agents to open the chamber door for the staff to take positions. When it was 3.25pm, four men of the Sergeant-at- Arms led the deputy speaker and the mace into the chamber for the plenary to begin, but had to wait for the circulation of the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day. More staff of the Sergeant- at -Arms were posted inside the chamber to guard the mace from being removed by unauthorised persons.
Moving his motion amidst tension, Melaye asked that the refusal of the House to pay the entitlements of the 11 recalled members, the unlawful adjournment of last week and the closure of the chamber should be investigated as a responsible House.

“It is obvious that there is no money to run this House. There is leadership failure if we can adjourn the House against the rules of the House. “For somebody to order the lock of this chamber without prior notice is against Rule 4 [2], what happened is a breach of rule, there is need to investigate the finance of the House and I, therefore, move a motion that the Speaker, Hon Dimeji Bankole, be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.” The call for Bankole’s suspension was received with mixed reactions, but the Deputy Speaker took advantage of the confusion to tender unreserved apology to members over the issues raised by Melaye.

“I want to apologise for the issues raised by Melaye. I take responsibilities for the abrupt adjournment. I now directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Sani Omolori, who is the accounting officer, to ensure that all outstanding allowances of the recalled members as decided upon by the resolutions of the House be implemented latest by tomorrow.” Nadafa declined calls to let the matter be discussed behind closed doors and promised agitated members that the leadership will pay all their entitlements before the close of the session.

Former House Leader and now Senator-elect, Abdul Ningi, supported the argument put forward by Melaye, describing them as fundamental and weighty. Also Friday Itula added his voice that because of the weight of the allegations leveled against the Speaker, he should be compelled tell members his own side of the story.

Senate presidency: 75 senators endorse Mark
, Move to bar Goje, Saraki, others
From AMOS DUNIA, Abuja
Thursday, May 12, 2011

Ahead of the inauguration of the 7th Senate next month and the race for the office of the Senate President, about 75 in-coming Senators both old and new rose from a crucial meeting in Abuja on Wednesday evening declaring support for the candidacy of Senator David Mark.

The group of Senators being coordinated by returnee Senators Zainab Kure, Smart Adeyemi, Ayogu Eze, Ahmed Lawan and Uzamere accordingly advised other possible contestants for the office to drop their ambition for the sake of the unity of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, which, they noted, has so far in the last four years enjoyed the peace needed for legislative duties.
The Senators stressed that even though it is a simple majority that is required for the election of the Senate President, it decided to go the extra mile ahead of the inauguration of the 7th Senate to gather more than two-thirds votes for Senator Mark.

One of the key supporters of the Senator Mark Senate Presidency, Senator Smart Adeyemi told Daily Sun in a telephone chat that the support base of Senator Mark that culminated into the meeting cut across party lines and geo-political zones of the country. Senator Adeyemi further said that with the meeting of 75 in-coming Senators that were all fully in support of Senator Mark without any dissent, it is evident that the coast has become clearer on who the next president of the Senate is already.

Speaking in the same vein, Senator Ahmed Lawan (ANPP Yobe), said that it was time the Senate took the bull by the horn to determine its destiny by choosing a leader legislators knew too well and desire, adding that with the mass support Senator Mark enjoyed amongst Senators, it would be unwise if the ruling PDP make the mistake of zoning the position outside the North Central zone. He stressed that “doing so will be counter-productive and I do not think that the PDP would want to swim against the tide.”
Senator Lawan said that the all-embracing choice of Senator Mark is a clear indication that the next Senate would surely be one body as election would not in any way polarize it into division of loyalists of a group or an individual.

Meanwhile, the Senate has began the process of amending some sections of its standing rules to stop new Senators from aspiring for the position of principal officers. If the proposed amendment scales through passage next Tuesday when it resumes from adjournment, the new Rules would ensure that only ranking Senators would henceforth vie for the Senate principal positions particularly those of presiding officers.
The amendment is expected to stall the alleged ambition of Governors Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and all other Senators-elect.

Similarly, the business of the Senate is being made to be in perpetuity as a way of ensuring that Bills and other legislative businesses of the Senate shall continue irrespective of the end of a session.
With the amendment, all passed but not harmonized and pending Bills such as the Petroleum Industry Bills (PIB) and Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill which are still pending at the end of a session of the Senate shall be resumed and proceeded with in a manner as if no adjournment of the Senate had taken place.
While moving the motion for the amendment to the Senate Standing Orders 2007, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin urged Senators to consider and approve the amendments to the Standing Order by inserting a new rule 3(2) to replace rule 97(1)(f) on ranking,

The proposed amendment to the Senate Rules with specific reference to the nomination and election of President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate as well as appointment of Principal Officers, other officers of the Senate and or parliamentary delegation shall be based sorely only ranking of Senators.
Part of the proposed amendment states; “(b) In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times re-elected, (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives, (iii) Senators who have been members of a State House of Assembly or any other Legislative House; (iv) Senators elected as Senators for the first time.”

Similarly, Section 97(f) of the Senate Rules which is being proposed for deletion also states; “provided that nominations of Senators to serve as Principal Officers and Chairmen of Standing Committees or any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators in which member(s) previously elected into the Senate are granted precedence.” In the same vein, the business of the Senate is expected to continue from one session to another as contained in Rule 111 of the Senate Rules in such a way that legislative business of the Senate shall not close.

The proposed rules further states; “In same manner if there is a Bill pending before the Senate, it shall be as if the adjournment of the Senate had taken place and all papers refereed to Committees and not reported upon at the close of session of the Senate and shall be returned to the office of the Clerk of the Senate and retained until the next session of the Senate when they shall be returned to the several committees to which they had previously been referred.”

The amendment expected to be approved next week Tuesday is to foreclose the rule that any bill or any other business of the Senate that was not concluded shall start de novo (afresh).

god will surely save this country

MAKURDI – A Nigerian Air Force Fighter Jet F-7Ni at the early hours of Wednesday, crashed at Mbaniongu Mbazaam, near Yandev in Gboko local government area of Benue State.

The ill fated jet crash landed near the Yandev Community Secondary School, at kilometer 4, Buruku road, but no casualties were recorded in the accident.

In a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer of the Tactical Air Command of the force in Makurdi, Wing Commander Adebayo Makun, the two pilots on board the aircraft successfully ejected from the craft.

According to Makun, a search and rescue team from the 305 Flying Training School has successfully rescued the two pilots back to base.

He said, “A NAF search and rescue helicopter from the 305 Flying Training School Enugu has already sighted and recovered the pilots to NAF medical hospital in Makurdi for medical attention”.

File photo: A Nigerian Airforce plane.

The Command’s spokesman further disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff has already ordered an investigative team to visit the site of the crash to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

“An investigative team ordered by the CAS is already at the crash site to ascertain the cause of the crash”, he said.

Meanwhile, the news of the air mishap had initially thrown the entire state into shock as the rumour mills had it that top Nigerian politicians who were on their way to Ushongo to commensurate with the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu on the death of his wife were involved in the air disaster.

It would be recalled that in September 17th, 2006, an 18 seater Dornier Airforce plane belonging to the Nigeria Air Force also crashed in Oko village in Vandeikya local government area of Benue State, killing 15 top military officers in that flight while three survived the crash.

In another statement , signed by Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Director of Airforce Public Relations, in Abuja; it confirmed the crash and also said that no deaths were recorded as the two pilots on board the aircraft successfully ejected.

The statement reads, “A Nigerian Air Force F7-Ni aircraft, on a routine training exercise crashed this morning at Mbaniongu Mbazaam near Yandev Community Secondary School, Kilometer 4 Buruku Road Yandev, Benue State”.

“The two pilots on board the aircraft successfully ejected from the aircraft. A Nigerian Air Force Search and Rescue helicopter from 305 Flying Training School Enugu has already sighted and flown the pilots to the Nigerian Air Force Medical Hospital, Makurdi for medical assessment”.

“A preliminary investigation into the crash has been ordered by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal MD Umar to ascertain the cause of the accident”.

One of Osama’s sons, Omar, 30, has reacted to the killing of his father, Osama bin Laden, saying his father was not killed by the US, in the Navy Seals raid in Pakistan.

This is the first time any member of Osama’s immediate family will respond to the death of their father.

In a statement, Omar said the US violated international law by the alleged killing of OBL in his home.

Omar bin Laden

Below is the statement:

Statement from the family of Sheikh Osama bin Laden

I Omar Ossama Binladin and my brothers the lawful children and heirs of the Ossama Binladin (OBL) have noted wide coverage of the news of the death of our father, but we are not convinced on the available evidence in the absence of dead body, photographs, and video evidence that our natural father is dead. Therefore, with this press statement, we seek such conclusive evidence to believe the stories published in relation to 2 May 2011 operation Geronimo as declared by the President of United States Barrack Hussein Obama in his speech that he authorized the said operation and killing of OBL and later confirmed his death.

If OBL has been killed in that operation as President of United States has claimed then we are just in questioning as per media reports that why an unarmed man was not arrested and tried in a court of law so that truth is revealed to the people of the world. If he has been summarily executed then, we question the propriety of such assassination where not only international law has been blatantly violated but USA has set a very different example whereby right to have a fair trial, and presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of law has been sacrificed on which western society is built and is standing when a trial of OBL was possible for any wrongdoing as that of Iraqi President Sadam Hussein and Serbian President Slobodan Miloševic’. We maintain that arbitrary killing is not a solution to political problems and crime’s adjudication as Justice must be seen to be done.

It is also unworthy of the special forces to shoot unarmed female family members of Binladen killing a female and that of one of his son.

Most importantly, when it is a common knowledge that OBL’s family is residing at one place outside KSA, why they were not contacted to receive his dead body. His sudden and un witnessed burial at sea has deprived the family of performing religious rights of a Muslim man.

Finally, now that the operation is concluded we wish the Government of Pakistan to release and hand over all minors of the family and all the family members are reunited at one place and are repatriated to their country of origin, especially female members of the family to avoid further oppression and we seek international support to that effect.

Without agreeing to the ways of OBL as to how he professed, believed and operated, We Omar Ossama Binladin, and my brothers, the lawful children of the Ossama Binladin (OBL) herewith demand an inquiry under UNO to reach to the accuracy of the facts as stated by United States into the fundamental question as to why our father was not arrested and tried but summarily executed without a court of law. We are putting these questions to the United Nations, OIC, President of United States that a necessary evidence is presented to the family in private and or public to make us believe what they claim, and all the remaining family members are repatriated and united after necessary initial investigation.

In making this statement, we want to remind the world that Omar Ossam Binladin, the fourth-born son of our father, always disagreed with our father regarding any violence and always sent messages to our father, that he must change his ways and that no civilians should be attacked under any circumstances. Despite the difficulty of publicly disagreeing with our father, he never hesitated to condemn any violent attacks made by anyone, and expressed sorrow for the victims of any and all attacks. As he condemned our father, we now condemn the president of the United States for ordering the execution of unarmed men and women.

Failure to answer these questions will force us to go to International forum for justice such as International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice and UN must take notice of the violation of international law and assist us to have answers for which we are lawful in seeking them. A panel of eminent British and international lawyers is being constituted and a necessary action may be taken if no answers are furnished within 30 days of this statement.

Personally, i think the Igbos have clearly shown deep belief in the Project called Nigeria.
From research and observation, it is only an Igbo man that can go wholeheartedly to
Maiduguri, Kano, Sokoto, Ibadan, Oshogbo Bayelsa, Portharcourt and invest massively
without looking back.

Personal opinion, though.





Yes, your personal opinion is noted, more points from fellow nairalanders
Please state your reasons and points

If you say IBOS(What are your Reasons?

How we caged OBJ –Osoba
•Says ex-president should learn to shut his mouth
By Femi Adeoti and Alvan Ewuzie
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

More Stories on This Section
Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ogun state and former governor of the state Aremo Segun Osoba says the 2011 elections have exposed the previous malpractices of the Peoples Democratic Party and effectively caged former President Olusegun Obasanjo who allegedly played active roles in the misdemeanor.

Speaking to Daily Sun in his Ikoyi residence shortly before traveling out of the country Osoba said the South West has returned to what he described as ‘progressive politics’ and that Obasanjo’s ‘fraudulent political activities are being exposed’. He said his party worked so hard and ensured that the former president lost both in his polling booth and his village. He said a comparative analysis of results of the presidential election in 2003 and 2011 will expose the irregularities perpetrated by the PDP in 2003 with the alleged participation of president Obasanjo.[see the figures below]
‘Obasanjo has been put in an iron cage…he should now learn to keep his mouth shut. No more grandstanding’ Osoba told Daily Sun, insisting that his set of governors in the south west were rigged out of office by the PDP machinery. Excerpts of the interview:

Can you give a general appraisal of the 2011 elections?
I can only talk for Ogun State where it became clear to me that in a well organized, free and fair election, the progressive forces are still politically in control of the South West. The South West is one zone where I can vouch that the 2011 elections were free and fair. Some of the figures from many parts of the country do not make me feel comfortable that elections in some of those places were free and fair because the figures are so large and unimaginable. It was surprising that they could count such figures within so short a time and announce the results the same day.
What do you say about the emergence of CAN as the main opposition in the country?

I have always told the whole world that we are the main progressive party in the country. But because the retrogressive forces conducted the 2003 and 2007 elections in such a fraudulent manner people did not realize that we progressives are so strong in this country. That is what the last election has shown. It should not actually be a surprise to people. It is just that we had been denied our right through massive rigging in the past. I am confident that when the 2015 election is held and there would have been improvement in the modified open-secret ballot system which we have been advocating, we will be the leading party in this country.
How has Ogun State fared since you left office and what are the prospects for the state under the in-coming administration.

Eight years after I left office, I went round on a tour of the entire state during the last campaigns and I got the shocker of my life in that the level of rot I found in all aspects. I was very disappointed. For example, all the neighbouring areas of the state with Lagos State where there had been upsurge of population from resulting in movement from Lagos, I found in total decay in infrastructural facilities. All the way from Julius Berger to Ojodu, to Alagbole, Agbado do not have water supply. There are no roads. The road I did along Toyin 11 years ago is still the only passable road other than the ones the Lagos State Government did. Both sides of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Berger have had an upsurge in population, including the journalists’ village in Arepo. Al those areas, Ibafo, Magboro, Mowe and the entire Ofada area is in more serious infrastructural neglect. A Chinese company built the only primary school in Magboro. That shows you the level of neglect the people of Ogun have suffered under the PDP.

What prospects does the state now have under ACN
Serious challenges. I have told our governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that I don’t envy him because he is going to meet mountains of challenges and problems that are very daunting. Salaries have not been paid up till date, even WAEC fees have not been paid up to date. Meanwhile, out-goingovernor Gbenga Daniel is setting booby traps for Amosun. He has accepted to pay minimum wage, which he has not paid. This a deliberate act to frustrate Amosun. He has been employing workers on a large scale. He is doing all these deliberately to embarrass the in-coming government. He has been selling assets of the government to his cronies. I did not do anything of the sort. I did not even buy a single car. The only person who bought a car from the government was my deputy, Gbenga Kaka, who went to meet Daniel and Daniel sold it to him at the market rate. Now he is selling hundreds of vehicles belonging to the state government

There was a time Daniel said that most of the people in those areas you mentioned earlier work in Lagos and pay their taxes there.
I heard that story and I was scandalized that a governor would deny Nigerians, even non Nigerians living within his territory their rights in terms of facilities. It is terribly insensitive and smacks of lack of compassion for fellow human beings. I would never have said such a thing. I knew that the sudden development of Ibafo area was coming and that was why I electrified Ibafo during my time as governor. We electrified the place. All the way from the Redeemed Camp to Ibafo. Today, all that area has become a brand new mega city but it is unplanned and lacks any modicum of infrastructure in terms of roads and schools. It makes me weep for Ogun State.

There is a trend now in the South West whereby political leaders and elders like you are bringing members of their families, their wives and children into political offices, this was something Chief Obafemi Awolowo did not do?
Papa Awolowo did it. We are Awoists to the core and we are following in his footsteps in every respect. In 1979, Papa Awolowo was the presidential candidate, his son Wole, contested to represent Apapa in Lagos State House of Assembly and won. He was returned in 1983. So we are doing nothing new to our Papa’s philosophy, ideology and ways of life.

Are you satisfied now that former president Olusegun Obasanjo has been effectively tamed in Ogun State?
He has not only been tamed in Ogun State, he has been caged in the entire country. The 2011 elections have put him where he belongs. It has put him in an iron cage where he cannot escape. He should now go and live the rest of his life in peace and learn to keep his mouth shut. No more grand standing and I have my reasons for saying so.

What are your reasons?
I pity him that in his lifetime his fraudulent political activities are being exposed. I will give you an example. I have with me here the results of his fraudulent election results in 2003 and the voters’ register currently in Ogun State. When you compare the two figures you will laugh off your head at the fraud perpetrated in 2003 under Obasanjo’s watch.

In Ikenne Local Government area, for instance, total number of votes scored by Obasanjo in the presidential election in 2003 was 60,445. Obviously these are figures he wrote for himself because the total number of registered voters in 2011 in the same Ikenne, eight years after, was 42,192. It means that half of Ikenne people died. Was there a Tsunami there or what,[general laughter]?

Obasanjo claimed to have scored 99 percent of the votes in Ogun State and that came to 1.93 million. Eight years after, the total number of registered voters in the state was almost the same thing. We are not talking about those who actually came out to vote.
Let me give you another example, with the result from Remo North Local Government. In 2003, he wrote for himself 65,736 votes, but the total number of registered voters in 2011, eight years after, was 36,754. So half of the people there died. So what you are seeing today is exposure of total fraud. It is an example of how we have been shortchanged. It also proves what we had always said that we were rigged out in 2003 by Obasanjo. These are figures that cannot be controverted.

There are fears that godfathers will not allow Ibikunle Amosun to be his own man and govern the state?
If you look at my antecedents, I successfully ran three major newspapers in this country. In The Herald, I handed over to a new chief executive, I never looked back. In Sketch, I handed over to my very close friend, the late Peter Ajayi, I never looked back. Yemi Ogunbiyi is still alive, I handed over to him in Daily Times and I did not look back. It is going to be the same thing.

I led the campaign in Ogun State and I am happy to say that while I was doing grassroots campaign, ward to ward, local government to local government, we did so well that we delivered Ogun State even beyond our expectation. It was such that Obasanjo lost at his own polling booth, he also lost at his village in Ibogun. That will show you how effective our campaign was.

I am also highly impressed that we did not have any external funding of any sort. Our members tasked themselves and contributed their own little quota, including Fola Adeola who was our vice presidential candidate. Our members made sacrifices, for example, our agents at the polling centres were paid only N2000 per person. Yet, they did not fall into the temptation of those carrying big money, namely the PDP and PPN. They did not compromise, all members of the ACN sacrificed and worked hard for succcess.
If there is going to be any godfather, it will be the party policies and programmes which Governor Ibikunle Amosun must implement. There is no external godfather that pumped money into the party in Ogun State. I, as the leader of the party in the state will not interfere because all my life I have never looked back to interfere with those I handed over to in the past.

What went wrong with the alliance with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)?
It was basically distrust. (General Mohammadu) Buhari (retd), was not sure that he would get the ticket if both parties fused into one. That was the bottom line. If we had merged and he came to run on the platform of our party it would have been a different story today. What he suffered in the ANPP where he was tossed around and he eventually formed his own party may have influenced his distrust. But the party he formed which was CPC did not have any serious structure. It had mass following but tested politicians were not in the party. He became a lone ranger as leader and campaign leader for the party.

That was too much for one man to carry.
Some people said that it was the division in the PDP in Ogun State which gave birth to PPN that gave your party an opportunity to win in the state, is it true?
I have given them a challenge that they should quickly settle their quarrel, combine their votes, choose Isiaka or Olurin as their candidate. If the totality of their votes put together is more than our own, then I will immediately concede victory to them. Ebenezer Babatope who is not an indigene of Ogun State has been shooting his mouth with such comments. But he is not being scientific. We scored 377,487 votes, PDP scored 188,698 PPN scored 138,057 votes. If you add their votes, it still does not beat our votes. So what are they talking about? In fact, if they had remained in PDP we would beaten them even better because the vehemence of the people would have shown more. They are lucky that the first election of April 2 was cancelled. Their defeat would have been more devastating.

yes, poll is needed and people should be objective

U.S. releases bin Laden video
By Our reporter
Sunday, May 08, 2011
• Osama Laden
Photo: Sun News Publishing

More Stories on This Section

Newly released videos show Osama bin Laden watching himself on television and rehearsing for terrorist videos, revealing that even from the walled confines of his Pakistani hideout, he remained a media maestro who was eager to craft his own image for the cameras.

The videos, released by U.S. intelligence officials Saturday, were offered as further proof that Navy SEALs killed the world’s most wanted terrorist this week. But they also served to show bin Laden as vain, someone obsessed with his portrayal by the world’s media.

One of the movies shows bin Laden, his unkempt beard streaked in gray, sitting on the floor, wrapped in a brown blanket and holding a remote control. He flipped back and forth between what appears to be live news coverage of himself. The old, small television was perched on top of a desk with a large tangle of electrical wires running to a nearby control box.

In another, he has apparently dyed and neatly trimmed his beard for the filming of a propaganda video. The video, which the U.S. released without sound, was titled “”Message to the American People” and was believed to be filed sometime last fall, a senior intelligence official said during a briefing for reporters, on condition that his name not be used.

The videos were seized from bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Officials said the clips shown to reporters were just part of the largest collection of senior terrorist materials ever collected. The evidence seized during the raid also includes phone numbers and documents that officials hope will help break the back of the organization behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Intelligence officials have known that bin Laden and al-Qaeda monitored the news. But for years, when it was assumed that he was living in Pakistan’s rugged, mountainous tribal region, some believed he might not be able to get real-time news. After the CIA discovered bin Laden’s suburban compound, they realized that a satellite dish provided a television feed to bin Laden’s compound. The video also reveals that bin Laden had a computer in his home, though officials say there were no Internet or phone lines running from the house.

Bin Laden and four others were killed in a daring pre-dawn raid Monday after U.S. helicopters lowered a team of SEALs behind the compound’s high walls. The terrorist leader’s death leaves al-Qaeda with an uncertain future and represents America’s most successful counterterrorism mission.

In answering this question,take a look at each tribe's inter marriage system with other tribes,their business investment outside their domain/tribe,their accommodation and hospitality to people outside their tribe etc
Please be objective with your reasons.

Nigeria will be liberated from the hands of those that have held it down for too long

Most times Buhari use to talk from both sides of his mouth, he said election result he will accept in good fate now he insist on going to court, what tangible achievement did he made during his military era except that the engine house of his government Idiagbon introduced WAI which was very popular then, Buhari's coming back to even contest is an afront to the psyche of Nigerians.

What type of business are u talking about? Ok if it is a business, can't they invest the money so realized to help the poor and widow among their members, instead of buying of[b] JET[/b] or is that not an investment as encouraged by CHRIST himself=LAYING UP OF TREASURE IN HEAVEN.

When the 2011 election commenced, many skeptics hardly believed Jonathan nor Jega on their promises of credible, free and fair elections.

But as history has it today, it's a twin success for both Jega and Jonathan and Nigeria can raise her head high among the committee of democratic nations.

What is really in a name? is just coincidence? that[b] J & J[/b] has performed creditably? I think they deserve all the acculates(Accolades ) given to them so far both Locally and Internationally, SURELY WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A WAY. Kudos J& J

The People's choice indeed.
And again Jonathan and Jega has written their names with a golden pen otherwise if it were during OBJ Regime the story would have been different.

I think the antecedents of Buhari and CPC should be examined

source is vanguard newspapers
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/buhari%E2%80%99s-cpc-sues-jega-inec/

[size=13pt]Buhari’s CPC sues Jega, INEC[/size]
on MAY 7, 2011 · in HEADLINES
By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor, Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday launched a legal battle over last month’s presidential election with indication that it intends to rely heavily on evidence provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The CPC whose candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, came second in the election approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to compel INEC and all its Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, to furnish it with certain documents and material evidence that will be pivotal to the success of its petition against the result of the election.

About 400 other petitioners who contested the National Assembly, governorship and state Assembly elections have also gone to court over their defeat.


Buhari and Jega
Defendants in the CPC suit are INEC National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega; the presidential candidate of the PDP, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; his running mate, Architect Namadi Sambo; the PDP; and all the Resident Electoral Commissioners for the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In an ex-parte motion filed yesterday by counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Ricky Tarfa , SAN, pursuant to Sections 77(1) and 151 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), Order 26 Rule 8 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2009, CPC is seeking an order directing  all the respondents  to seal all the Direct Data Capturing Machines (DDC machines), ballot papers, as well as  the ballot boxes used in the Presidential Election with a view to preserving same for Forensic test in the course of  hearing a petition  it is yet to file before the tribunal.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/buhari%E2%80%99s-cpc-sues-jega-inec/

The results collected so far in the re-run Imo state governorship election indicates that APGA has won just as it has won majority of the LGA's election earlier held on 26th of April 2011

mo guber: Judge refuses to sit on suit to stop election
From GODWIN TSA, Abuja
Friday, May 06, 2011

A Federal High Court judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, yesterday in Abuja kept lawyers and politicians in suspense and confusion over a suit brought by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its Imo State governorship candidate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha seeking to stop the supplementary governorship election holding today in the state.

The situation was created by the absence of the judge to sit over the exparte application which was supposed to be moved in her court. However, after waiting for hours, an official of the court announced that Justice Aliyu was attending a meeting and would sit after the said meeting. The information kept lawyers, politicians and journalists who thronged the courtroom waiting with bated breath for hours.

But while the waiting game was on, calls started coming in from interested parties in Imo State that the elections had been cancelled by the court. It was in the midst of this confusion that an Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to approach the Court for an order compelling the state House of Assembly to pass a resolution empowering the Attorney-General of Imo State to take over power on May 29 till when a new governor would be sworn in.

In the suit, the plaintiffs/ applicants had in a motion on notice filed by their lawyer, Prof. Francis Dike (SAN) asked the court to stop INEC from conducting supplementary elections slated for today in the state. They warned that unless the court stoped the elections, there would likely be a breakdown of law and order in Imo State.
As at the time of filing this report, the court was yet to sit, as the Judge was said to be out of the court premises.
Meanwhile, Ume, who was reacting to the development said the supplementary election would generate a serious constitutional crisis.

To avoid such a stalemate, he called on INEC to apply to the court for an order, compelling the state House of Assembly to pass a resolution empowering the Attorney-General of the state to take over power on May 29 till when a new governor would be sworn in. He said that would be the only solution to the looming constitutional crisis engendered by the supplementary election.

The constitutional lawyer, in a letter to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, made available to Journalists in Abuja, stated that proceeding with the election in four local government areas where election did not hold in April 26 would worsen the constitutional problem that cropped up following the commission’s inability to declare a winner.
He warned that if not properly handled, the Imo State inconclusive governorship election could lead to avoidable anticlimax,u capable of dampening the accolade on the manner the commission had conducted some of the elections in the recent past.

According to him: “Even constitutionally, only court of law has the capacity to give an unbiased and bidding interpretation and way out from the grave constitutional quagmire. This is more so as after 29 April, 2011, any election, the declaration of result and making of a return must require validation from court of law, else all the processes in the Imo State governorship election would be void, having offended the constitutional provision.
“The Commission needs to consider putting on hold, the conclusion of the Imo State inconclusive governorship election slated for May 6, 2011.

The Commission should urgently approach court of law with, all the governorship candidates in Imo State, all political parties sponsoring them and Imo State House of Assembly, for interpretation of the constitutional issues now cropping up. Simply put, as the Commission has failed to put in place a governor-elect for Imo State as expected by the constitution, it is envisaged that this suggestion would also enable the Commission to apply to the Court for an order compelling the Imo State House of Assembly to pass a resolution empowering the current Attorney-General of the state to handle the affairs of the state from May 29, 2011 till when a new governor is sworn in and validating the conduct of the remaining election, the attendant declaration of result and return of the governor-elect.”

Umeh said the supplementary election ordered by INEC was illegal as it was not known to the nation’s statute books.
He said: “The reality now is that as at April 29, 2011, the Commission has neither declared nor returned a governor- elect for Imo State contrary to what the constitution expects of the Commission. “Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, states that, an election to the office of governor of a state shall be held on a date not earlier than 150days and not later than 60 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.”

Ume argued that Governor Ohakim, the current governor of Imo State took the oath of allegiance and oath of office on May 29, 2007. Thus, any valid election, declaration of result and return to that office ought to have been concluded on or before April 29, 2011.“It is interesting to note that though Section 178 (3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) grants the Commission power to extend time for nomination of candidates for election to the office of the governor of a state, same constitution denies the commission the power to hold election and return a candidate to that office on any date not lesser than 30 days to the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”

He stated that the Imo State inconclusive governorship election on May 6, 2011 would never be in consonance with section 178 (2) of the constitution. The puzzles were, considering the provision of section 26 (3) of the electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), if the Imo State inconclusive governorship election was concluded on or about May 6, 2011, what date would the Certificate of Return bear and how would that date not offend section 178 (2) of the constitution.

“Agreed that Section 26 (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) empowers the commission to postpone election, in any case, the postponement must be subject to that constitution provision of Section 178(2) as the constitution overrides every other law”, he stated. He stated that since the commission had failed to take advantage of section 26 (4) and (5) of the Electoral Act 2010 , coupled with the failure to continue and conclude the election, declare a winner and make return on or before April 25, 2011, the Imo State governorship election had gone far beyond the May 6, 2011 hasty solution.

Conakry – Col. Moussa Tiegboro, Guinea’s Secretary of State for Special Services and the Fight against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime, said on Wednesday that some Guineans sold their kidneys for 10,000 dollars.

Camara, who was speaking on National Radio also said the phenomenon was more prevalent
in rural areas.

“People of bad faith, driven by easy gains, drive uneducated people to sell their kidneys, and these organs are exported for a fortune. The organ removal surgeries take place in huts, even outdoors, with people who have no qualifications whatsoever,” Camara lamented.

Having recently visited some clinics in Conakry, particularly in neighbourhoods where Chinese doctors offer their services to patients considered poor, Camara said he had all structures that do not meet required standards closed with the support of the Ministry of Health.

According to him, following his visit to the clinics, patients who were operated on in makeshift clinics were transfered to specialist centres.

“The makeshift clinics kill as much as drugs, and these are at the heart of my struggle,” said Camara.(PANA/NAN)

Equity is what is needed in this country

Power sharing: It’s either the Senate president or speaker -S’East Reps
From MODESTUS CHUKWULAKA, Abuja
Thursday, May 05, 201

Members of the House of Representatives from the South-east said yesterday that the zone would not accept any position in the in-coming administration short of that of the Senate president or Speaker of the House of Representatives. In a statement jointly signed by 43 members of the House from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States in Abuja, the lawmakers alleged that “the South-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria has suffered serious political setbacks,” some of which had been self-inflicted while others were imposed in recent times.

They noted that the zone had demonstrated absolute good faith in the recent presidential election when it “whole heartedly and unconditionally” backed the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan, following what they called the block votes given to him by the zone at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries.“It is pertinent to mention here that under the present circumstances only the position of Senate president or Speaker of the House of Representatives is acceptable to the South-east. It is a gratuitous insult to offer the South -east any position less than this,” the lawmakers insisted.

According to to them, the argument about religious balancing is not historically tenable even as they pointed out that in “the Second Republic, while the president (Shagari) was a Muslim, the vice president, Senate president and Speaker were all Christians. Hell was not let loose. During the 1993 presidential elections, the South-east put its weight behind the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Muslim - Muslim ticket of MKO Abiola and Babangana Kingibe.”

“In 2007, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, were Christians. In fact, in the current legislature, both the speaker and the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives are Muslims. Religion has never been an issue. How has it now crept in surreptitiously?”
“We call on Ohaneze Ndigbo, all the governors of the South-east, all Senators and honourable members-elect and all stakeholders in the politics of the South-east, who were in the forefront in convincing the people of the South-east to support President Goodluck Jonathan to once again rally round and ensure that the South-east is not further humiliated.

“We insist on either the offices of the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives. We will reject other offices such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Deputy President of the Senate or any such office that may be offered to undermine the attainment of the two offices so mentioned.

“Our patience, support and loyalty must not be taken for granted. In the words of Mr. President, ‘enough is enough.’”