₦airaland Forum

But this is the message I got from the site: This web site is temporarily under construction.
Be sure to check back shortly.

So what could be wrong?

Its possible but it is a collective effort of all stake holders both government ,politicians and the general public

One of the major constraints that he has is ethnic inclination,but when should our politicians stop manipulations?

Inec came up with last minute surprise as it has postpone the NASS election and in effect the entire time table is disrupted.
Now that the result sheet has finally arrived the country,what about ensuring the security of this vital document for the election knowing the antics of our politicians?

My humble submission is that all those who have been there before deserve no return because I don't know whet they forgot as to go and get it back.why the recycling? let's try fresh hands.

yaah

its good 2have history

I think it is a welcome development and another opportunity for youths of the Niger delta and other Nigerians in this area of specialization

Police deploy APCs, bomb equipment for elections
Headlines Mar 29, 2011

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI& AMAYO OKOLI
ABUJA – AHEAD of the general elections which begins with the National Assembly, Saturday, the Police High Command, yesterday, commenced the deployment of 600 patrol vans, armoured personnel carriers, bomb detonation vans and anti-terrorist equipment in all commands and Abuja with a view to ensuring security during and after the elections.

Police

This came even as soldiers, police and other security agencies have been warned not to do anything that would mar the exercise.

Speaking at the inauguration of the vehicles and equipment, Police Affairs Minister, Humphrey Abbah, warned that those who disrupted the elections would be dealt with according to the law.

Information on mischief makers

Abbah said: “With the inauguration of these vehicles and other equipment, you can see that government meant it when it promised providing the police with the requirements to ensure free and fair elections. Don’t go to voting centres with guns, knives, arrows and bows or even a stick because you will be fished out. If you have any information on mischief makers, report to the police who will act promptly.”

On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, said the police have never been so lucky with over 600 vehicles presented to it, noting that the logistics supply would enable the Police to prosecute the mandate constitutionally placed on their shoulders.

The deployment of the vehicles and equipment began even as the Inspector General directed all officers from the rank of police commissioners who were yet to comply with the Federal Government’s directive that tinted glasses that were not factory fitted be removed to do so or face demotion to the next junior rank.

The IG frowned at a situation where Police officers and other members of the force still drove their cars fitted with tinted glasses, noting that it was in total disregard of the directives of the Minister of Police Affairs, thereby depicting the force as unamenable to discipline.

He ordered all officers and police personnel still using tinted glasses both on police official vehicles and private vehicles to heed the minister’s directive, adding that he would direct all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, CPs, MOPOL Squadron Commanders to enforce the implementation of his orders.

Hafiz said: “For the avoidance of doubt, no police vehicle should bear tinted glasses unless it is factory fitted.”

Meanwhile the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Of Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Sarkin Yakin Bello, who spoke at the opening ceremony of 82 Division Garrison training exercise for the general elections, warned soldiers, police and other security agencies not to do anything that would dent the image of any of the security agencies.

The three-day training is being attended by officers and soldiers, police officers, operatives of State Security Service, SSS, NDLEA, Immigration, Civil Defence and men of Federal Road Safety Commission.

Bello said that no security agency can do the job of providing security alone, hence the need for all the agencies to work together to ensure good result is achieved. He urged the participants to be attentive in the lectures to be given them.

Bello advised: “Right attitude to duty and desired cooperation among us must be evolved and sustained in order to overcome the numerous security challenges faced by our society.”

Acts of indiscipline

While warning against any act of indiscipline during and after the elections, he urged them to conduct themselves and carry out their duties efficiently.

The GOC reminded the trainees that the objective of the training was to increase their knowledge of internal security operation as well as the techniques and procedures of election duties, and urged them to make proper use of the knowledge their will acquire during the training so as to ensure that they contributed to a free, fair and credible elections beginning from next week.

He noted: “Bearing in mind the limited time available for us to get our acts right before the elections, I urge you to take this exercise seriously. You must, therefore, touch on all grey areas and most importantly, I task you to clear all doubts on issues that would enhance your capacity efficient to discharge all assigned duties effectively.

“You must not forget that democracy has come to stay. This will mean that you must shun all acts likely to discredit the elections and the image of your respective organizations. Note that known cases of indiscipline during elections will attract the appropriate disciplinary action.”

Delta school of marine tech kicks off with 560 students
News Mar 29, 2011

Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, has kicked off with 560 students admitted into five departments for National Diploma, Pre-ND and other professional courses for two-year programmes.

Courses offered by the institution include, Marine Engineering, Nautical science and Marine technology. Others are, Fisheries and Fisheries Technology and Business Management Technology.

Provost of the institution, Dr Dittimi Johnson, while fielding questions from journalists, said that the school was established in 2006, adding that full academic activities started late 2010.

He noted that the advantages that would accrue from the institution to the host community were enormous and that it was the best thing that would happen to Burutu people.

He added that graduates of the institution would fit into the oil industries and other areas and can also be self employed.

let's wait for more developments

The North will not fold its arms and watch President Goodluck Jonathan complete its remaining term of four years in the presidency.
Second Republic governor of Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita, who spoke to Daily Sun in Katsina, said the North remains adamant on zoning and is furious over the handling of this year’s presidential primary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Kaita says part of the game plan is to get other candidates from the North to step down for General Muhammadu Buhari.

His words: “For the first time, you will see that the people of the North have honour. It is just unlike (some) people of the South who have no honour. We entered into agreement with these,
“We have come to the general elections where the ordinary people will vote. Have you heard a Katsina man shouting ‘Sai Jonathan?’ You can never hear it.”

Kaita, who is a close associate of the erstwhile consensus presidential candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said the North has remained unhappy following the decision of President Jonathan to contest 2011 election, contrary to his agreement with the North. “That is why we are going to the election with everybody drawing his sword. You don’t know what is going to happen at the election. Only God knows how many people will die. We don’t pray for anything but you, as a journalist, knows how hot the country is,” Kaita, 78, stated.

He also revealed that the North is likely to throw its weight behind the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive change (CPC) and former Head of State, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), in the April 9 poll. The highly respected septuagenarian who spoke on several issues however, said that Atiku may have put the forthcoming presidential election behind him for now.

Excerpts:

You were conspicuously absent at the PDP presidential rally in Katsina. Are you still opposed to President Jonathan’s ambition?
I don’t believe in him being the next president; I believe this, the (2011) presidency is the turn of the North. I believe this should be a Northerner’s turn, not a Southerner’s. I am not against Jonathan as a person; as a principle, I don’t welcome him.

The presidential election is around the corner, but many do not know what your close associate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has up his sleeves. What are his plans?
Leave Atiku alone as far as this election is concerned. We are talking of three weeks to election now, what can he do with that? The PDP has rigged him out, what else can he do?

Sir, the coming elections promise to be of great expectations. Do you think it is better for the North to support PDP in the presidency?
No! You see, we are fighting based on principle, it is not for something to eat; When you are fighting on principle like this, there is no reason for us to succumb or give up the fight. We will fight up to the day the election is held. We still want a Northerner to be the President; it doesn’t matter whether it is Atiku or not.

There are reported moves for the North to field a consensus candidate outside the PDP. What are the chances of such moves?
The negotiation is still on with Buhari, Shekarau and Nuhu Ridadu.

If they fail to reach a consensus, do you think any of them can defeat Jonathan?
It is going to be difficult for any of them to beat Jonathan as an individual, we agree, that is why we are fighting desperately for these people to come together; at least, for one of them to concede so that we can have our forces behind him (the consensus candidate).

What are the chances of such effort coming to fruition?
We will meet with the three of them.

On what platform are you meeting with them?
On PDP platform, I can say we are trying; we are pushing them, we have asked Emirs and chiefs to join hands with us to get all the votes of the North together. That is what we are doing; getting our votes together, which is several millions above the votes of the South.

With the support Jonathan has garnered, will it not be virtually impossible for any group or individual to stop him in the April 9 poll?
What support? What endorsement has he garnered in the North? He has come to Katsina, you were at the rally ground, his crowd was less than that of Lado Danmarke (governorship candidate of the CPC in Katsina State). And in any case, when people go to rallies, more than 50 to 60 per cent are paid agents. People were given N2,000 to come to his (Jonathan’s) rally but they will collect his N2,000 and vote for a Northerner.
I assure you, Nigerians will see a shock election of their lives. These people you have seen in his rally will take his N2,000 and will vote for the candidate of their choice.

You expressed the same confidence ahead PDP presidential primary, but we saw the power of incumbency at play against your candidate?
This is a world of difference. When the power of incumbency was at play, it was only a handful of people involved. In Katsina, there were about 200 to 300 people (delegates) whom the governor or government could corner or tie them up; they were all appointed anyway; about 90 per cent were appointed.
I know here in Katsina a day before the election, about 18 national delegates were changed, and these were chairmen of local governments and so forth.

They could be removed overnight; they know it and none of them was allowed to fill the name of the candidates he likes. The forms were filled and given to them.

Ahead the NPLF’s meeting with Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau, who among them is your favourite?
If I have the opportunity, I will support Buhari, he is the one that definitely has the chance to win. Even now, he has an equal chance as Jonathan.

Do you entertain the fear that some of the Northern presidential candidates are being influenced by PDP to remain in the race?
How can they be influenced? They have never been in PDP any way. Shekarau was never in PDP, he is a governor in All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). Nuhu Ribadu is a new comer; he was never in PDP. Why should I fear that PDP will influence them; because PDP has money or what?

The concern is that the plan would be aimed at splitting northerners’ votes. How do you see such fear?
That is what some people say, but what is likely to happen is that for the first time you will see that the people of the North have honour. It is just unlike the people of the South, who have no honour. We entered into agreement with these…

(Cuts in) Many Northerners are equally supporting Jonathan…
(Cuts in) Hold it, that was for the purpose of the primaries. We have come to the general elections where ordinary person will now vote. Have you heard a Katsina man shouting: “Sai Jonathan?” You will never hear it.
Even if a Katsina man says “sai Shema” hundred times, he will never say: “Sai Jonathan.” So, you people will be shocked over the (presidential) election outcome.

Are you confident that there will be free and fair elections?
Yes, I believe there will be free and fair elections. I believe Prof. Jega had been quite honest and decent; I trust him, I reason with him.

What is your message to President Jonathan?
He should not have contested in the first place. It is his intention to contest that has brought all these confusion. After all, Obasanjo contested yet, we Northerners gave him our votes to win, even though he is a Christian and a Yoruba man.

So, it is the dishonour, the dishonourable action of people that has brought the whole of this country into confusion. That is why we are going to the elections with everybody drawing his sword. You don’t know what is going to happen on that Election Day; only God knows how many people will die. We don’t pray for anything but you, as a journalist, know how hot the country is.

It is simply because of a dishonourable act. Obasanjo has done his two terms and Umaru did one term before he died, but Jonathan from the South wants the other term again. It is honourable for him to say he won’t contest again and there will be no quarrel.

Why are you rooting for Buhari?
I am not saying Buhari is better than Shekarau or he is better than Nuhu Ribadu. What I am saying is he looks set to be the best person to challenge PDP and Jonathan. So, giving him the consensus help will simply facilitate his victory.

It is not that he is better than any of the other two contenders, but he has a better structure and a better followership than the others. On individual basis, none of them has more followership than Buhari . I am Atiku’s man; 100 per cent, but I know the support for Buhari among ordinary people.

Is he doing enough to maximize the goodwill of the people?
Yes, he is everywhere. He has been to Port Harcourt, Katsina, everywhere. What can he do? He hasn’t got government’s money or machines but he is trying.

Yes he committed a blunder

Police bust INEC racket, 10 top officials quizzed
Eleven days to the election, a syndicate comprising some top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), suspected to be brain behind forged court orders to perpetrate illegal substitutions of party candidate’s names has been burst by the police. A serving senator from Anambra State has also been fingered in the substitution saga in the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controversial National Assembly primaries
http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/mar/23/newsbreak-23-03-2011-001.htm
NDLEA SHORTLIST CANDIDATES
http://gblcareers.com/2011/03/interview-for-successful-ndlea-candidates.html

As the stage is set for this year's General Election, its necessary we have all the necessary updates. COUNTDOWN: DAY 10
Concerns over rising pre-election violence

POLITICAL parties and activists on Wednesday, expressed concerns at the rising level of political violence across the country.

In Ekiti and Ondo States clashes among the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria and Labour Party left two dead and eight others seriously injured.

While the violence raged in the two states, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio, told journalists that more than 800 brand new cars and 500 tricycles were destroyed during clashes between PDP and ACN supporters in Uyo on Tuesday.

But in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered security agencies to bring the violence under control, even as the Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr. Ekpeyong Ita, accused politicians of introducing “a dangerous dimension” to electioneering.

In Akure, the PDP and LP traded blame on the cause of the clashes that led to the infliction of injuries on seven people at Obanla and Iro streets in the Ondo State capital.The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Yemi Adedipe, who first spoke with one of our correspondents, alleged that the Iro incident was caused by the supporters of the LP.

He claimed that the PDP members had gathered to campaign for the House of Representatives candidate for Akure South/North Federal Constituency, Chief Adedayo Omolafe, when some armed thugs stormed the venue and insisted that the rally should not hold. A witness said that five people were injured in the fracas that ensued.

An eyewitness of the Obanla clash, Dr Dare Bada, said that some thugs arrived in the area and shot sporadically into the air to disperse LP members who were holding a rally. He claimed that two members of the LP were shot as a result.

The LP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Femi Okunjemiruwa, said PDP members were always the aggressors.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Aremu Adeniran, said the police moved into the two streets and brought the clashes under control. The policeman added that one person was arrested in connection with the violent clashes.

In Ekiti two policemen allegedly shot two persons dead in Kota, Ekiti East Local Government Area.

A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Femi Bamisile, was reported to have escaped when bullets were fired at his sport utility vehicle marked BAFEM.Bamisile’s driver, Mr. Femi Bankole, whose hand was hit by one of the bullets, is said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

However, the cause of the incident was sketchy. While the PDP claimed that a chieftain of the ACN in the town ordered the policemen to open fire on some PDP supporters, the ACN blamed it on the former speaker, whom it accused of terrorising its members with thugs.

The corpse of one of the victims was brought to the Governor’s office by Bamisile’s supporters and the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo. It was later carried away in a hearse to a mortuary.

The Chairman of the ACN, Chief Jide Awe, in a statement, called for the arrest of the former speaker.

He said, “The PDP thugs led by the impeached speaker attacked many members of the ACN in their homes and at business premises.

“We are calling on the police to arrest Bamisile to state what he knows about this unprovoked attack on our members.”

However, Olu-Ojo, in company with other PDP leaders, denied the allegation.

He told journalists, “What happened in Kota today (Wednesday) is unfortunate. Our members were attacked and three persons were allegedly killed.

“Those who attacked our people were in police uniform and in police van. We are calling on the Inspector- General of Police to call them to order.”

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, said, “We have deployed more men there to maintain law and order.”

As the two parties traded blame over the incidents, the Kwara Police Command declared 148 people wanted for their alleged involvement in political violence.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ezekiel Dabo, gave the details in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin on Wednesday.

More than 100 people, according to a non-governmental Organisation, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, have been killed in politically- related violence in the past one year in the country.

The CPC spokesperson, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who spoke with THE PUNCH, however blamed the security lapses in the country on the do-or-die posture of the PDP.

He said, “The spate of violence is worrisome, but I must say that it is the ruling party that has instituted the violence in our political system. People are yearning for change and the PDP knows they cannot curtail this demand. That is why the ruling party is very desperate to hold on to power, which explains the spate of violence we are seeing all over the country.”

The PDP, in a statement by its National Chairman, Dr. Bello Mohammed, specifically mentioned the Tuesday fracas in Uyo, saying it was a “calculated mission” to destroy anything with a PDP logo or the insignia of Governor Akpabio. He alleged that perpetrators of the mayhem were apparently bent on eroding the present visible gains of good governance in the state.

A human rights lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, reminded the government that it was its duty to protect the lives of its citizens.

He said, “When you talk of democracy in any part of the world, it means the rights of the citizenry must be respected by the government. When government misses this social contract by failing to protect the lives and property of the people, such a government is on its way to the end.”

Another human rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, said the violence in the country was compounded by the fact that majority of Nigerians depended on state resources for survival.

Aturu added that because survival depended on state resources, the aspiration to occupy public offices in order to benefit from the system, fuelled violence.
http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011032433095

The Police in Abuja have quizzed some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission allegedly involved in the illegal substitution of candidates for the general elections.

It was learnt that the police moved into action on Monday following petitions by some politicians adversely affected by the activities of the syndicate.

Sources at the headquarters of INEC told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that seven officers in the commission’s legal departments in Abuja and Awka, Anambra State, had so far been grilled by a police team led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

It was learnt that the aggrieved politicians who wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, included a former Minister of Water Transport, Mr. John Emeka, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Mr. Dave Salako.

THE PUNCH learnt that the police received a complaint that a serving Peoples Democratic Party Senator from Anambra State was involved in forging the result of party primaries as well as court papers in his bid to return to the Senate.

Emeka had emerged as the PDP candidate for Anambra North, Senatorial District, but was replaced with a serving senator based on a court order.

His counsel, Damien Dodo (SAN), consequently requested for a certified true copy of the results of the PDP primaries as well as the court order. The request exposed a number of inconsistencies which led to the discovery of the alleged forgeries.

The court order was reportedly given in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/189/2011 on March 17 and dated March 18. While the stamp on the order indicated March 18, the content of the order showed that it (order) was given on January 31.

The result of the PDP primary on the basis of which the order was given was discovered to be fake.

INEC officials have kept sealed lips over the issue, stressing that since investigations were on-going, it would be premature to comment on it.

Salako emerged as candidate from the primaries conducted by the Ogun State PDP faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But in the list of House candidates posted on INEC website on Monday night, he had been substituted with Mr. Oladipupo Adebutu.

Curiously, Adebutu’s name appeared as a candidate of both the PDP and the Peoples Party of Nigeria for different constituencies.

When contacted on the probe led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Force Public Relations Officer, Sola Amore, said he was unaware of it (investigation).

Meanwhile, the police in Anambra State have arrested one Kingsley Ezenwenyi in Awka, Anambra State, for being in possession of election documents, including result sheets.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, said on Wednesday that Ezenwenyi was arrested in a hotel.

He listed the documents as Form EC 8A with serial number, 01008997 (original copy and a duplicate); 56 copies of Form EC 8(R) – Publication of result of poll; and Form EC8B (II) – Summary of Results from Polling Stations (for the election to the House of Representatives, collation at registration Area Level).

Onukaogu said, “It was gathered that the suspect was in the INEC State Office in the morning of March 22. He was found to have copied from the INEC notice board, the list of postings of the electoral officers released by the commission’s state office Monday, March 21, 2011.

“I have examined all the exhibits recovered from the suspect and found out that they were unlawfully procured.

“The commission has not released any format on what election result forms would look like in the forthcoming general election.”

More actions and less talk,qualities of a good leader

For ignoring his directive not to join opposition parties in smear campaigns, the Peoples Democratic Party, [PDP] Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has suffered a casualty as President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, ordered the suspension of the PCC Director of Research and Strategy, Mr. Mike Omeri.

I think this is a leadership type that we need, matching words with action,what do you think?

The electoral forgery remains a problem until culprits both highly and lowly placed are tried and punished id found guilty

I wonder most times where the so-called leaders put their head.As shame has gone out of most of them why they tell lies to achieve selfish purpose, Conscience is an open wound,only truth can heal it.

some of them might have their hands by aiding the so-called offenders,let's watch and see

Its today's Punch Newspapers

Could this be a sign that the electoral offenders would after all be punished?
If going by the zeal shown both by the electoral body and Nigeria Bar Association, then there is hope that electoral offenders can be punished with the initiation of trial to prosecute over 870 thousand offenders in the just concluded voters registration exercise. If this is judiciously concluded then Nigerians can now have trust and believe that their vote would actually count which is the essence of the whole exercise.

Imagine a student to attend an exam with no zeal but the hope that his/her result is already waiting through exam malpractices.
The same goes with Nigerian Politicians,so any time people are away that they can only get to public office through the POWER OF THE BALLOT,they will be anxious and work hard towards their success, but when it is already a prepared result then the person occupying such a seat will rule with impunity.

So let the prosecution commence and hasten up to avoid justice delayed is justice denied syndrome.

As I cannot ascertain the certainty or otherwise of this issue,but if it is true,its condemnable,but if not why the topic in the first instance, anyway the security agencies are there and the economic and financial crimes too, let them do their work, investigate the source of the money and where applicable punish offenders not only Jonathan but any person found to have used state funds, embezzled money to prosecute his/her election even the Governors.

It will be a welcome development if youth of this country are allowed to display their God given talent for the growth and development of the country but with the old men at the saddle of leadership it becomes hard as these youths lacks the financial muscle with which Nigerian Politics is well known for.

Be it as it may with the entrance of middle age politicians this year, there is every hope that in the near future we may get it right just like some of the western nations.

The can do attitude of the youths should be put in place so that together a future can be placed for the unborn generation of our children who deserve nothing less than what their counterpart in the foreign country are enjoying.

I was chatting the other day with a friend in far away UK only for him to tell me that one of his daughter has been given scholarship by the British government.

The country is so much blessed that we don't deserve what we presently get from the so called leaders. Let this election be the beginning of the good things to come for Nigeria

And if there is any Presidential candidate that fails to participate in the presidential debate, let Nigerians remark such a fellow as he/she does not deserve their votes.

Presidential debate has become part of political culture in most advanced democracies and we are aiming to be among the advanced countries with policy of vision 2020, so let's follow globally acceptable norms.