₦airaland Forum

The yuletide season is quite around the corner and desperate measures have been devised by dare-devil armed robbers to rob their victims of their valuables in some parts of Lagos State.It was learnt that the men of the under world now disguise as beggars to snatch valuables from their unsuspecting victims. Their targets are often lone occupants of posh and exotic cars, they dispose them of their most expensive items ranging from laptops, phones, money and jeweleries.The hoodlums, who usually operate between the hours of 5-9pm are always armed to teeth with dangerous weapons such as knives and shotguns (carefully stuck in their dresses).

It was also gathered that some of them had formed the habit of disguising as a handicapped and beggars to deceive their prey and rob them in the process.
Areas in Lagos state that are well known for such ugly activities are Mile Two Bridge; Coconut and Apapa, all on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Recalling, how he escaped death by the whiskers in the hands of beggars- turned armed robbers, Mr. Lucky Uduikhue, a managing director of an information and computer technology firm said he was robbed three times within one month in the same Oshodi-Apapa area.

Disclosing their modus operandi, Uduikhue said the robbers usually threaten their victims saying , ‘I need N5, 000. If you respect yourself, bring the money. They will point gun at you.’

And failure to grant their request would incur their wrath; they would either vandalism the car of the victim or physically attack their target leaving him or her with injuries.

“For many months now, motorists who drive through Mile 2 lose valuable items to robbers. As from 5pm, they have become kings of the road. Funny, they pretend as people begging for money but they end up robbing motorists of their valuables.
If one fails to give them money, they would break one’s side screen and take whatever they lay their hands on and flee.
This is a daily occurrence starting from Auto Wharf to Mile 2 Bridge up to Mile 2/Oshodi junction. Their target is always on big money, phones and laptops and they focus on big cars and vehicles whose drivers are alone. I have been a victim several times.
I have reported several times to the policemen on duty at the Mile 2 bridge and have also called 112 police emergency number for the same complaint with both the police and the receiver of the police emergency number promising to take urgent action, yet nothing seems to have been done as the hoodlums are still operating uncaught and unhindered.”
Another motorist, Jonah Okorie, who was once a victim of robbery attack on the same route expressed his anger over the nonchalant attitude of some policemen at the checkpoint who were busy arresting okada riders while he was being robbed and they never bothered about what was happening to him.

Yet another victim of the trending robbery acts, who gave her name as Blessing narrated how she was dispossessed of her laptop, BlackBerry and telephone sets.
“I can never forget that fateful day. It was early October. I was going to Apapa. At Mile 2, there was a hold-up. One man, dressed like a beggar came and begged me for money.

I told him I did not have. I thought he understood me. Before I could move further, he brought a hammer and hit my side door. In the process, he made away with my laptops and other valuables. In fact, my entire day was disorganised because I lost a lot of data with the laptop,” she said.
However, when contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer, Ngozi Braide, claimed that the police had not received such complaints.
“We are not aware of that. Find out if the victims actually reported to the police and the station. All the same, the information is noted,” she said.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/16/how-robbers-now-disguise-beggars-rob-victims-lagos/

Former Super Eagles goal keeper Peter Rufai has finally regained consciousnesses after he suddenly slumped and was rushed to a Lagos hospital.
While doctors at the Toki Hospital, where the ex-international is being treated are yet to discharge the 49-year-old, Bruce Rufai, his brother, told PREMIUM TIMES the goalkeeper has regained consciousness but yet to get back to his strides.
Bruce revealed that prayer sessions were ongoing at the bedside of Rufai while he also called on other Nigerians and fans alike to pray along.
“I cant say anything thing now but Peter Rufai has regained his consciousness but yet to be discharged from hospital’
Bruce admitted that the battle might not yet be over as he called on Nigerians to keep praying for the USA 94, France 98 goal keeper
“He is still receiving treatment after finally gaining consciousness, we dont know if he will be strong enough to be discharged today,” Bruce said.
According to Bruce,Rufai never showed any sign of illness and never had any previous history of such before slumping Monday night.
“He wasn’t ill before, he has actually been busy in recent times with one project or the other. We were surprised when he  just collapsed and passed out late Monday,” Bruce explained.
He added “You know his mother just passed on, and he is the first son. For now, his mum has not been buried, and the emotional trauma, coupled with all the activities he’s been involved in, probably got to him.
“Right now, we just want Nigerians to pray for him. He is also one person we all look up to, and we don’t want to lose him too,” Bruce said.
As at the time of filing this report, Rufai has not eaten any food, Bruce said.
His daughter, he said,  had gone out to get something for him to eat.
The rest of Rufai’s immediate family are believed to be based in Spain where the Super Eagles shot stopper played most of his profesional football.
http://premiumtimesng.com/sports/103831-peter-rufai-regains-consciousness-family-calls-for-prayers.html

Budget details show that, the Nigerian police will spend N110, 179,250 next year on dogs. N55, 065,000 for the procurement of dog handling equipment and feeding, the construction of Force Headquarters dogs’ section barracks will cost N9, 915,194 and N45, 199,056m for the development of Police Veterinary Dogs Breeding Centre at the FHQ, Abuja.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim will spend N1.59bn on welfare packages in 2013.

According to the Budget presented by the President, the three principal officers, Jonathan, Sambo and Anyim would spend N1.59bn on an undefined item tagged ‘welfare packages’.

 

It is however, not clear whether the ‘welfare packages’ involves diverse expenses such as transportation of visitors to government officials and so on.

 

In a breakdown, the SGF office will spend N1.07bn, which is more than the Presidential and the VP’s office, which will both spend N355.9m and N160.83m respectively.

 

The nation will spend close to a billion naira, N990.24m to be precise, on the President and his VP’s feeding in 2013.

 

While N110m is budgeted for feeding Police dogs in the 2013, Jonathan will spend N406, 738,969 on foodstuffs and catering materials.

 

The President’s cooking gas will cost N13, 420,750 and N327, 154,931 for refreshment and meals in the State House. N112, 500,000 will be spent on Foodstuffs and catering materials, and N123, 402,499 for Refreshment and meals at the VP’s office in 2013.

 

The President said, because of dwindling resources the Federal Government would try to save cost.

 

He said, “The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, which could have adverse effects on commodity prices, highlights the downside risks for our economy. The oil market is well known for its volatility. We recall the 2008 experience at the height of the global economic downturn when oil prices fell almost overnight from $147 per barrel to $38 per barrel.”

 

“This threat of oil price volatility remains constant and underscores the need to rely on a robust and prudent methodology to estimate the benchmark price. The global economic slowdown can also have far-reaching implications for the demand for our export commodities, given that the Euro zone and the United States of America account for over 50 per cent of the nation’s crude oil exports.

 

“These global developments are also being transmitted to our economy through a dampening effect on foreign capital inflows and remittances by Diaspora Nigerians. These are uncertain times in the world economy, and my administration is continuing to take necessary steps to mitigate possible adverse effects of the global economic slowdown on Nigeria.

 

“In spite of these, our economy has done relatively well. Over the past nine months, through a number of initiatives, we have created new jobs directly and supported many young entrepreneurs running SMEs to create jobs.”

http://businessnews.com.ng/2012/10/13/nigeria-to-spend-over-n100-000000-on-dogs-in-2013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NigeriaBusinessNews+%28Nigeria+Business+News%29

Going by Nigeria’s enormous land resources, she should be counted as one of the very few countries of the world with potential to provide enough food for its teeming population, but consequent to the visit of natural disaster, flood, hunger seems to be the best company of an average Nigerian.
Even with the continuous importation of food, the prices of foodstuffs have been on the increase in Nigerian markets, especially yam which is believed to be the king of other farm products.

Attributing the current scarcity of the yam in Lagos market to the raging flood, Sokoto Umar, the market leader of Alaba Rago Market, Ojo Lagos, maintained that yam supply into Mile 12 Market at Kosofe Local Government had reduced in the last few weeks because of the ongoing flood disaster that has taken over their farmlands.

According to him, “before, we used to receive between 24 and 29 trailer loads of yam every week; but now, we hardly get up to five trailer loads due to the flood disaster in the country,” he said. “Many farmers complained that their farmlands have been washed away. People are looking for yam to buy and the price is not encouraging.” he said.
Painfully, Umar lamented that the flood has in a short run caused his supplier from Benue, Abuja and Kogi to quit but in other to at least have some yams to sell to buyers; he and other wholesalers had to figure out better ways just to get few tubers from the farmers based in south western Nigeria into the market.
However, Umar kindly advised other agriculturists to be vigilant and take insurance policies seriously in order to avoid total loss in the persistence of the flood or any other form of attack on their farmlands. The farmer who doubles as a trader also advised the government to assist farmers with credit facilities and distribute free yam seeds to boost food production that will better the lives of the citizens. http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/11/scarcity-yam-hits-lagos-market/

The Federal Government has been asked to suspend the execution of over 800 inmates on death row in various prisons in the country.

Lawyers Without Borders France, otherwise known as ASF France, and the National Human Rights Commission, made the appeal while canvassing a review of the law on capital punishment at a news conference to mark the World Day Against Death Penalty in Abuja on Wednesday.

Head of Mission, ASF France, Celine Lemmel, noted that there were over 800 inmates on death row in Nigerian prisons.

She said, “While ASF France commends the Nigerian government for its self-imposed moratorium, it urges the government to issue an official statement clearly declaring that Nigeria has adopted a moratorium on execution of death sentences, i.e an official suspension of executions and, eventually, of death sentences.”

She noted that many of those on death row were condemned based on confessional statements made under duress.

Lemmel said, “Currently, there are over 800 inmates on death row in various prisons in Nigeria. These inmates were convicted for crimes ranging from murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.

“The majority of these convicts cannot afford the services of lawyers let alone counsel of their own choice.

“In most cases, their convictions were based on confessional statements of the accused made under duress during interrogation by law enforcement agencies.

“Besides, these agencies lack apparatus to carry out forensic investigations.

“The commission supports the call for a moratorium on death penalty.

“As far back as 2004, the National Study Group on Death Penalty called on the government to impose a moratorium on execution and commute persons on death row whose appeals have been concluded to life imprisonment.

“This is given the fact that the criminal justice system has its flaws which need to be overhauled.” http://www.punchng.com/news/suspend-execution-of-800-condemned-prisoners-in-nigeria/

Toyota is voluntarily recalling more than seven million vehicles worldwide, including some Yaris, Corolla and Camry models, over faulty window switches, reports the BBC.

It affects 1.39 million cars in Europe – 138,000 in the UK – 2.47 million in the US and 1.4 million in China.

It is the biggest single recall since Ford called back eight million vehicles in 1996.

Toyota said there had been no reports of accidents, injuries or deaths as a result of the window problem.

Toyota is also recalling 459,000 vehicles in Japan, 650,000 in Australia and Asia, as well as hundreds of thousands from across the Middle East, and from within Canada and its other, smaller markets around the world.

The number of vehicles being recalled is roughly the same as its sales for the whole of its last financial year.

The carmaker did not say how much the recall would cost.

Toyota’s latest recall of millions of faulty cars will do little for its already-dented reputation as a manufacturer of quality cars.

And even though its latest recall over faulty window electrics appears to pose no questions about safety, it will remind drivers of the Japanese carmaker’s ‘s last mass-recalls in 2009 over problems with accelerator pedals.

Arguably – and this has been Toyota’s defence all along – it takes a responsible carmaker to recall cars quickly for repairs when they discover that something is wrong.

As such, consumers should perhaps be mollified by Toyota’s recall, though in reality it is more likely to be seen as a costly and alienating error. The range of Toyota cars affected worldwide include certain models of the Yaris, Vios, Corolla, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010.

In the UK, the models affected are the RAV4, Yaris, Auris and Corolla. It will be contacting drivers with the affected models over the coming weeks and asking them to bring their car in for checks to see if there is a fault. Toyota said fixing the switch should take about 40 minutes.

The customer services director for Toyota GB, Steve Settle, apologised to customers for the anxiety the problem had caused, but reassured them that tests had shown there was little danger.

“What we’re talking about is the power switch on the driver’s door and there is a very, very outside chance that there could be melting inside the switch,” he said.

“But there are some vehicle agencies around the world that interpret melting as fire. We’ve no evidence of fire and our engineer testing of this item doesn’t reveal any chance of fire.”

Toyota’s reputation was damaged in 2009 by a recall that ended up involving 12 million vehicles, fines from US regulators and an eventual apology from the company’s head.

The recall followed problems with accelerator pedals in vehicles, with worries that they could get jammed under floor mats.

Toyota has since overcome massive production problems resulting from the disruption caused by tsunami in early 2011, and has returned to its position as the world’s biggest selling car firm.

However, it has recently seen sales in China plummet as a result of Japan’s territorial dispute with China.

Latest sales figures released earlier this week show Japanese carmakers’ sales to China fell sharply last month, with Toyota’s dropping by almost 50%.

 http://businessnews.com.ng/2012/10/10/toyota-to-recall-7-4-million-cars/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NigeriaBusinessNews+%28Nigeria+Business+News%29

Less than 24 hours after the kidnap of  Muiba,  wife to Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Najeem Salaam, her  abductors have demanded N200m ransom for her release.

A source told our correspondent in Osogbo on that the suspected kidnappers  phoned the Speaker on Wednesday to make the demand.

It was learnt that the hoodlums assured him that his wife would be released as soon as the money was paid.

Investigation showed that the suspects told  Salaam to call them back between 11am and 12 noon  on Wednesday, assuring him  that his wife was in safe.

But the  Speaker  told our correspondent that  he would not comment publicly on the matter.

He said, “People have been telling me about N200m ransom; you know, people would come up with various versions but I’ve not been contacted by the kidnappers.”

Meanwhile, investigation  has revealed that the six-man  gang trailed  Muiba, who is in her 40s, from her shop in Olota’s compound to the Speaker’s residence in Oke Oyo area.

Accoirding to reports, she was driving home in a Honda car with the state House of Assembly number plate when she noticed the suspcious movement behind her car.

She quickly  alighted at the front of her house and made a dash into the compound but the gunmen caught up with her and forced her into their waiting car before speeding off.

The state House of Assembly has described the kidnap as “strange, barbaric and criminal”.

A statement by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Goke Butikakuro, said the incident might be aimed at disrupting the peace  in the  state.

It said, “The state  is known for peace and tranquility. The rate of crime in the state is very low and kidnapping is very strange. So, abducting the wife of the Speaker is worth investigating in order to determine whether the act was political or not.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria, Osun State chapter, described the development as “an ominous development signaling the gradual but seemingly unstoppable spread of criminality and anarchy across the country”.

A statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Osun ACN, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, said the Federal Government had lost grip of security control in the country.

The statement said security agents had  the responsibility to rescue Muiba from her abductors, stressing that the incident had further strengthened  the call for state police.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Sade Odoro, refused to pick repeated phone calls to her line by our correspondent.

Text messages sent to her line by our correspondent were neither acknowledged nor replied.

Odoro has formed the habit of ignoring inquiries by journalists over crime matters.

She had been reported by journalist on several occasions to the Commissioner of Police, Osun Command, Mrs Kalafite Adeyemi.

Repeated calls and text messages by our correspondent to the lines of the commissioner of police too were neither acknowledged nor replied.

http://www.punchng.com/news/kidnappers-demand-n200m-ransom-for-osun-speakers-wife/

Well, the saga is not over.

The accusation and counter-accusations are flying everywhere. First, Yoruba actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe came out with claims that Honourable Dino Melaye impregnated her and wanted her to abort the baby.

The former House of Reps speaker, responded and called the actress a liar, who is trying to ruin his image. He also assured his friends not to be bothered by the stories.

But in a new twist, his brother-in-law, has taken to Twitter and opened a can of worms, calling Melaye a liar and insisting he must be responsible for the pregnancy. Moses Fabiyi, an event planner, also claimed that Melaye, was a human activist, who constantly abuses his wife. He went on to give kudos to his sister, who has endured it all.

See some of his tweets below:



http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/09/im-sure-impregnated-girl-hes-lucky-married-one-calmest-fabiyis-dino-melayes-in-law/

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that it has recovered  and returned to customers a total of N5bn wrongfully taken from depositors by banks operating in the country.

It also said it would focus on the protection of consumers of products being brought to the market by banks over the next three years,.

The Deputy Governor, Financial Services, CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, told the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions on Tuesday, that there had been a crisis of confidence between banks and their customers regarding charges on deposits.

He said, “In the next few years, between now and 2015, we will be focusing on consumer protection. There are ranges of bank charges that are acceptable.

“As I speak to you, we have recovered from the banks N5bn as wrong charges, which have been returned to Nigerians.”

He said CBN was also focusing on data integrity from the banks, financial stability, disclosure, transparency, corporate governance and risk management.

Moghalu said that although some stability had been achieved as a result of the reforms in the banking sector, CBN was taking measures to ensure that the gains of the reforms were not reversed.

He justified a recent circular that put embargo on further lending to bank debtors, who owed about $5bn, saying there were indications that financial indiscipline was rearing its ugly head again.

“They will not be allowed to borrow until they start paying their debts. This is to ensure that the gains from the reforms were not reversed,” he said.

Moghalu also explained the economics of high interest rates, arguing that it was necessary to keep inflation at a stable rate, while sustaining the value of the naira.

According to him, the reforms are not a destination, but a process that will continue so as to save the country from the effects of the global financial crisis.

The committee sought clarifications on the various intervention funds operated by the CBN, expressing concerns that the agriculture sector was receiving little of the funds, in spite of the fact that it was crucial to the national economy.

Moghalu, however, explained that the intervention funds were meant to stimulate the economy and mop up excess liquidity.


http://www.punchng.com/news/cbn-returns-n5bn-illegal-bank-charges-to-customers/

The Federal Government plans to spend N251.2bn on the repairs of three refineries.

The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke made the disclosure  on Monday when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).

The minister was at the Senate with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, and the Managing Director of Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momoh. They were summoned to explain the continued scarcity of Petroleum Motor Spirit and the increase in the price of the product by marketers.

Alison-Madueke said the government would be spending N251.2b on the Turn Around Maintenance of the three refineries in the country, adding that there were some adjustments in the timelines for executing the TAM. She noted that although there were plans to build new refineries, existing ones would still be maintained.

The minister, however, incurred the wrath of the lawmakers when her security aides prevented journalists from recording her testimony. She, at a point during her speech, pushed off a reporter’s tape recorder, insisting that the device should not be placed by her side.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, had to caution Alison-Madueke and threatened to throw out her security aides if the minister refused to comport herself and allow journalists to do their work.

Earlier, the members of the committee had accused the PPMC of operating a system that bred corruption.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, said a visit to the refineries on oversight functions showed that the style of operation at the depots was tardy and subjected the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to untold hardship.

Abe said, “We were at the Port Harcourt Refinery and we saw about 5,000 people waiting to get products; some of them told us that they had paid for the products five months back and were yet to get the products. How do you expect them to sell at the official price?”

He asked the minister, PPMC and the NNPC to address alleged unwholesome practices at the depots. He added that it was the only way to ensure that petroleum products were objectively and effectively distributed.

Reacting, the minister said she was not aware of the observation raised by the committee regarding the practices at the depots. She explained that she had no preferences in the allocation of petroleum products.

Momoh noted that the problem of vandalising had been a major constraint to smooth product distribution,.

The PPMC boss said the easiest and cheapest means of transporting products were through pipelines but that continued disruptions by vandals had stalled the smooth distribution of the products across the country.

According to Momoh, the company has identified about 774 vandalised spots in the distribution network, adding that stakeholders and communities could help in keeping the pipelines safe. has identified sharp practices and shoddy operations at depots of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as factors responsible for the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at filling stations.

Although NNPC officials said they were making efforts to make the product available and blamed the continued scarcity on the activities of recalcitrant marketers,Secretary of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Thomas Alawore, admitted before the committee that marketers incurred hidden charges before they could access the products.

He said, “There are hidden costs. You have to pay some money to the unions. Even the security agencies along the line will collect their own. You may go home with an official receipt which states that you bought the product at N84.66 per litre, but you have to add those hidden costs.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-spend-n251bn-on-repair-of-three-refineries/

Canada is to assist in enhancing the operational capabilities of Nigerian security services to enable them respond adequately to internal and regional security challenges.

This came as both countries agreed that effective political, economic, security and development cooperation among them would help to build a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. 

They also committed themselves to promoting human rights for all, good governance and democratic development. 

The resolutions came at an inaugural meeting of the Nigeria-Canada Bi-National Commission (BNC), which took place on Monday in Abuja.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird. 

At the meeting, the two countries restated their commitment to work together on issues of common regional and global challenges, including counterterrorism, the Mali crisis and Commonwealth reform.

Both countries also reaffirmed the underlying principles of the commission and pledged that it would be the basis for constructing a lasting strategic partnership between the two federal and multicultural democracies.

While recognising that lasting security demands a multilevel approach, including development, education, democracy and human rights, both countries resolved to effectively cooperate, particularly on counterterrorism measures.

Equally, the two countries committed themselves to aim for the reduction and elimination of barriers to increased economic and commercial relations.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/48861--canada-to-assist-nigerias-security-agencies

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said that the incessant summons on him to appear before different committees of the National Assembly were becoming too much to bear.

Speaking when he appeared before the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Aids, Loans and Debt Management over the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) yesterday in Abuja, Sanusi said that no previous CBN governor had been so frequently invited like him. He told his hosts that his itineraries were being obstructed.
“I don’t think there has been any CBN governor that has been brought here (the National Assembly) as much as me. I have even offered to be moved, or open my annex office here. Nobody asks me how my itineraries are before inviting me.”

The CBN governor was responding to observations made by a member of the panel, and chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Rep. Opeyemi Bamidele (ACN, Ekiti) who wanted to know why it was always difficult for the CBN governor to honour their invitation without making an issue out of it, or refusing to come at the appropriate date and time.

Sanusi was to appear before the joint committee on Tuesday but some high ranking officers of the CBN went instead, only to be turned back by the legislators who insisted that the CBN governor makes a personal appearance. He told the committee yesterday that he was not aware of the invitation.

Lead chairman of the joint committees Rep Abdulmumin Jibrin (PDP, Kano), said the panel had to insist that Sanusi appears in person because the Central Bank plays a very important role in the overall economic decisions of government.

“You must come and explain things to help our understanding of the fundamentals of our economic decisions,” Rep Jibrin said.

“You don’t devalue the institution of the National Assembly because it will outlive all of us.”

Sanusi then stroke a joke, saying he envied Rep. Abdulmumin’s position as the chairman of the committee because it wields a lot of powers, and that when he retires as CBN governor, he may consider contesting election for the House of Representatives.

Just yesterday the Senate also summoned the CBN Governor alongside the minister of finance Dr Igozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Accountant General of the Federation for allegedly withholding funds meant for the Petroluem Technology Development Fund.

The apex bank’s boss also denied having any rift with the National Assembly as being insinuated in some quotas saying, “I don’t have problem with you.”

It would be recalled that in 2010 Sanusi raised the alarm when he delivered a lecture at the University of Benin in which he said National Assembly members get 25 percent of Federal Government’s overhead vote.

The submission appeared to have marked the beginning of a very frosty relationship between him and the national legislators who are currently working on a bill to whittle down powers of the CBN governor.

Last year, the House also summoned Sanusi over the controversial cashless policy and the introduction of the non-interest banking system. However, Sanusi insisted and went ahead with the policies.

Also, in February this year, the CBN boss refused to submit the apex bank’s annual budget estimate to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny as provided for by law.

He rather wrote a letter to the House committee on Banking and Currency on 10th February 2012, informing it that the National Assembly had donated its appropriation powers to the CBN board in the CBN Act of 2007 and as such he does not require the approval of the legislature to pass his budget.

Infuriated by Sanusi’s comments, the legislators increased their momentum to curtail the powers of the CBN by initiating amendments to the CBN Act 2007 to insert clauses that will compel the apex bank to forward its annual budget to the parliament. The amendment bills have since passed second reading in both Senate and House of Representatives.

As if that was not enough, during the investigative hearing on the “near collapse” of the Nigerian capital market by an ad-hoc committee led by Rep. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (PDP, Taraba), Sanusi again, refused to submit some documents requested by the panel arguing that the law does not compel him to do so.

Consequently, the committee recommended that he be charged to court for contempt of parliament. The report was adopted by the House in plenary on July 19th 2012. However, implementation lies squarely on the table of the President, who Sanusi work for.

Last month, the two chambers also banged their legislative hammer on the botched N5000 note and currency restructuring proposed by the CBN when they passed resolutions on September 18th asking President Jonathan to stop him from printing and issuing the new note. The president fainally acceded to the demand and suspended the plan.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/other-sections/lead-stories/178177-im-tired-of-nassembly-summons-sanusi

Great...........is she back to Aso Villa, Nigeria or where? Anyway, I praise God on her behalf oooo

The Federal Government Tuesday lashed out at the opposition parties in the country, stating that it would be political suicidal to leave the governance of the country to the opposition that offers no better alternative on how to move Nigeria forward.

But in a swift reaction to President Goodluck Jonathan’s Independence Day broadcast, the leading opposition parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – Tuesday dismissed the president’s claim that Nigeria has made progress in the fight against corruption.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said, “The opposition political parties in the country and other opposition groups are too weak and unintelligent to be left with the affairs of governance,” adding, “the opposition in Nigeria has not provided a better alternative in Nigeria.”

According to the presidential aide, “It would be reckless and preposterous to allow the opposition take over the affairs of governance because they are not prepared for power. Nigerians cannot trust an ill-prepared opposition with power.

“If the opposition continues this way, they are providing room for whoever the PDP presents as the presidential candidate in 2015 to be returned to power so easily.

“This opposition cannot run the country; they are not prepared for power. It is reckless and dangerous for the Nigerian people to trust the opposition with the destiny of the country.”

Okupe said the only stock in trade of the opposition is to abuse the president, as if in doing that, it is providing a credible alternative to governance.

He reiterated what the president’s statement in his independence speech, that he alone cannot solve the crisis in the country.

According to Okupe, “It is important to note that the president who took over the affairs of this country 16 months ago had provided the necessary leadership to tackle and solve the challenges of this country and it is not possible that the problems would be resolved over night.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/presidency-opposition-parties-not-a-better-alternative/126687/


“What is expected of all Nigerians is patience, as President Jonathan who is the David of our time is gradually but steadily defeating the Goliath problems of Nigeria.”

Speaking on the improvement in governance, Okupe said, “It is gratifying to note that today elections in Nigeria are now nationally and internationally acclaimed to be free and fair.

“The import of this, which may be easily taken for granted, is that under the old order, opposition candidates like Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko stood no chance of possible re-election even though they may be popular.

“The Goodluck Jonathan administration has undoubtedly reduced to the barest minimum the fear of the manipulation of electoral process in favour of the party in control at the centre.”

According to the presidential aide, “The increase in contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from non–oil sector for the month of July was N178.92 billion or 27 per cent, while from mineral resources it was N646.47 billion.”

He said that for the first time, under President Jonathan, there has been a significant contribution to GDP coming from the services, telecoms and especially agriculture sectors.

“Agriculture today is being elevated as a sector that can provide the much desired transformation through the transfer of wealth to rural communities, farmers and their families.

“At this juncture, it is necessary to add that the Federal Government’s share of the subsidy removal money is being re-invested responsibly in the areas of health care delivery, public transportation and infrastructure projects like the Benin-Shagamu Road project costing about N65 billion,” Okupe said.

On why a new unit of the guards brigade was cited at the Presidential Villa, Okupe said, “We are dealing with a serious sect. In any war situation, the Commander-in-Chief is the flag bearer and therefore needs to be protected.

“The improved security within the State House is borne out of necessity,” adding that the Federal Government had invested substantially in hi-tech security equipment for fighting crime.

“As with other sectors, some opposition politicians erroneously canvassed that the problem of Boko Haram was of such magnitude that would overwhelm the government.

“Even the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande, joined the team of doubting Thomases when he recently uncharitably stated that Nigeria’s problems will overwhelm President Jonathan.

“It is now obvious that this statement is blatantly untrue and not supported by facts on the ground,” he said.

He revealed that the 2013 budget would be presented to the National Assembly when things are sorted out, describing the decision by the House of Representatives not to accept the presentation of the budget on Thursday as nothing unusual, but democracy in action.

However, Okupe’s defence of the administration coincided with reaction from the three main opposition parties yesterday, which faulted the president’s claim that Nigeria was making gains in her fight against corruption.

The president had in his independence speech last Monday made reference to the recent ratings by Transparency International, which had placed the country as the second most improved nation in the fight against corruption.

ACN said Jonathan ought to apologise to Nigerians for misleading them on the alleged improved rating given to the country by the global anti-corruption body.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, demanded an apology from the president came after it (party) saw a copy of Transparency International’s response to inquiries on the president’s claim.

ACN said Transparency International does not have a recent rating or report that places Nigeria as the second most improved country in the fight against corruption.

“Transparency International has denied claims by President Jonathan, in his 52nd independence anniversary speech on Monday, that the global body had rated Nigeria as the second most improved country in the fight against corruption.

“In the 2011 Corruption Perception Index, which measures perceived levels of public sector corruption, Nigeria scored 2.4 on a scale where 0 means highly corrupt and 10 means very clean. It was ranked 143 out of 183 countries,” the party said.

It said in addition to apologising to all Nigerians for the bogus claim, the president should immediately kick-start an investigation into the source of the claim that has exposed his administration and the entire country to global ridicule.

ACN said the wrong claim, which was apparently intended to showcase the “achievements” of the administration in the fight against corruption, had raised doubts over the authenticity of other claims by the president in the anniversary speech.

“Among other claims, the president had said that real GDP grew by 7.1 per cent on average; that his administration’s Investment Climate Reform Programme has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion local and foreign direct investment commitments, and that Nigeria is ranked first in the top five host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, accounting for over 20 per cent of total FDI flows into the continent.”

The party said if the president failed to act quickly to unearth the source of such a spurious claim on corruption and ensure it does not recur, he risks bigger embarrassment from officials who may want to tweak facts and figures to justify their positions.

Speaking in the same vein, the CPC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fahakin said the president’s position was laughable. Fashakin, who spoke to THISDAY, said President Jonathan might have given a spin with his success claims.

A disagreement over a over $20,000 gift to Dandalin Siyasa Online Forum, a vigorous Northern Nigeria online discussion forum, is said to be tearing the group apart.

The largesse was doled out at the weekend in Dutse, capital of Jigawa State, by Governor Sule Lamido, following the group’s annual meeting in the city.

Our source said that the members were led on a courtesy visit to the governor, who gave the money as “transport fare,” by a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Umaru Dembo.

The members present, however, allegedly shared $18,000 among themselves. When the information reached the other members who were not there, they expressed irritation as they saw the entire matter as having compromised the group’s integrity and independence.

Some of them, according to our source, insisted that the money be returned to the governor.  Others are said to have accused the members who made the visit as “insensitive” for collecting and sharing the money instead of handing it over to the forum on whose behalf they had visited the governor in the first place.
Following these developments, the management of the forum has now given a 24-hour ultimatum to members involved to return their share of the money.

That message was, however, quickly challenged by Alhaji Dembo, who, in a terse statement, told the affected members not return their share of the money as he would refund the money on their behalf.

Our source further said noted that Alhaji Dembo, in a post in the forum, noted that he has already booked an appointment with Governor Lamido at which he will return the controversial $20,000 which has generated controversy all day today in the forum.  

Below is the full text of the message to that effect sent by the group’s legal adviser, Abdullahi Yusuf Imam Imam, to those members who paid the courtesy call on Governor Lamido:
“I am directed by the management team of dandalin siyasa online forum to post its decision on this subject matter.
 Immediately after the attention of the management of dandali was called on what had transpired during and after the courtesy visit to Governor Lamido, the management called an emergency meeting and has this to say;
 
1. That the courtesy visit to Jigawa State Government House was part of the activities scheduled to take place on Friday 28th by 4:30, but it was not done because there was no response then from the Government House.
2. That it was during the evening event on saturday, that the message reached the management through one of the members Lamara that the Governor is inviting dandali members to the government house on Sunday by 10:am.
3. That most of the management team members and members of Dandali foundation BOT were at the Govt house up to 11:30am, but for one reason or the other the Governor did not show up for the visit at the scheduled time. Most of the members including some management team members left for their respective unavoidable reasons.
4. That Chairman appointed the most senior member and member of BOT Alhaji Umaru Dembo to lead the delegation and handed over the speech to him to be delivered during the visit.
5. That the delegation were representing the entire members of dandali at the visit.
6. That non of the management team members were contacted when the delegation collected the sum of $20,000 from Governor Lamido and distributed same among them selves untill arround 5:30pm when the assistant secretary of dandali called Engr Muazu Magaji who happened to be together with chairman at airport and informed them.
 
Inview of the above, and after making due consultation with members of the dandali, the dandali management team as representatives of the entire members passed the following resolutions;
 
1. That the action of the delegation to Jigawa Govt House under the leadership of Alhaji Umaru Dembo of sharing the $18,000 among themselves is suppositious and therefore unacceptable.
2. That the management team hereby suspend the Secretary and his assistant from their respective posts till further notice.
3. That the mangement team advise members of the BOT of Dandali foundation to use the appropriate section of the constitution to suspend Alhaji Umaru Dembo from the membership.
4. That all the delegate members are advised to return their respective shares taken from the said amount to dandali management and handover same to Alhaji Uba Danzainab within 24hours from the time this decision was posted.
5. That all delegate members should apologize to the entire members of this forum.
6. The management should handover the money to BOT dandali foundation and apply same to the purpose of foundation.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/gov-lamido’s-20000-largesse-rips-apart-dandalin-siyasa-online-forum

The Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai had disclosed the ministry’s readiness to approve the request made by Nigerian teachers that the government should consider 65 years as their retirement age as against the existing 60 years.

Disclosing this in Abuja, yesterday the Minister said that the ministry and the federal governmnet has not discarded the appeal made by the teachers through its highest body, National Union of Teachers ( NUT) on the extension of their retirement age from 60 to 65 years . The minister had divulged that the ministry was working towards the matter, only that it must follow the normal procedure.

The minister who was at a press briefing of the event marking the 2012 World Teachers Day which will be holding on Friday promised to support the teachers in the best possible way in relation to their request, but equally stressed that the higher authority must be made to understand why such concern raised by the teachers must be implemented. He assured that the ministry would not let them down.

The Minister advocated for the revival of commitment amongst Nigerian teacher. He also stressed on the need to encourage committed teacher. Thus, he said, “encourage them with motivation, training, and providing welfare packages as most people in the profession have taken to it as a last resort.”

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/10/03/fg-consider-65-years-retirement-age-teachers/

An activist website giving Shell workers updates on the current U.S. Supreme Court review of Shell's collaboration in the death of the 12 Ogonis has been blocked by Shell.

Over 7,000 employees had learned of the site from People Against Legalizing Murder who had obtained the Shell email list from a disgruntled employee.
 
"I would love to participate, but access is denied to all links you sent out," wrote one employee among many. The 71,010 employees were informed this morning of  the situation and the site's new URL.

  PALM intended the action to help shine a spotlight on the case, brought by  the widow of Dr. Barinem Kiobel, who was hanged along with novelist Ken Saro-Wiwa for opposition to Shell's drilling plans in West Africa. Shell is alleged to have aided paramilitary forces that raided more than 60 villages, killed over 800 people, and displaced 30,000 more.

  "Surely most Shell employees, like most people, don't want multinationals to get away with murder just because murder's convenient," said Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Lab, which provided technical assistance for the action.

  "Shell needs to let its employees speak," said Mike Bonanno of the Yes Lab. "They can prevent it for a day, but in the long run they have no
  choice."

For further information, contact

    Sean Dagohoy
    People Against Legalizing Murder (PALM)

 
 71,010 employees blocked from tweeting Oprah about Supreme Court murder
  case

  Houston, TX (October 2, 2012) - EarlyMonday morning, 71,010 Shell
  employees received an email from the company's "Grassroots Employee
  Empowerment Division" providing information on Kiobel v. Royal Dutch
  Petroleum, a pivotal human rights case being argued in the U.S. Supreme
  Court. The email contained links to news stories, as well as a tool to
  help employees tweet their feelings about the case at key US news anchors
  (and Oprah Winfrey).

  The only thing is, Shell has no "Grassroots Employee Empowerment
  Division," and they don't want publicity for the case. The email was in
  fact the work of an activist group called People Against Legalizing Murder
  (PALM), who received the list of Shell emails from what they believe to be
  a group of disaffected employees. (A similar leak occurred two years ago.)

  Within minutes of the email being sent out, Shell internally blocked the
  site, preventing employees from accessing it. "I would love to
  participate, but access is denied to all links you sent out," wrote one
  employee among many. The 71,010 employees were informed this morning of
  the situation and the site's new URL.

  PALM intended the action to help shine a spotlight on the case, brought by
  the widow of Dr. Barinem Kiobel, who was hanged along with novelist Ken
  Saro-Wiwa for opposition to Shell's drilling plans in West Africa. Shell
  is alleged to have aided paramilitary forces that raided more than 60
  villages, killed over 800 people, and displaced 30,000 more.

  To prevail, Shell lawyers must overturn a 200-year-old law, the Alien Tort
  Statute (ATS), that compensates victims of international crimes. (The law
  has been used to compensate Holocaust survivors who sued for restitution
  from corporations that profited from slavery and forced labor during World
  War II.) Shell's lawyers are arguing that their corporation is not subject
  to the ATS because it is not a person.

  "When it comes to things like election spending, Shell and other
  corporations want to have all the rights of people," said Sean Dagohoy
  from PALM. "But when accused of murder, Shell conveniently argues that
  they aren't a person. A ruling in their favor would be a very dangerous
  precedent, and would badly undermine the United States' reputation as a
  place that cares about human rights. That's why we attempted to reach out
  to Shell employees to help get the word out."

  "Surely most Shell employees, like most people, don't want multinationals
  to get away with murder just because murder's convenient," said Andy
  Bichlbaum of the Yes Lab, which provided technical assistance for the
  action.

  "Shell needs to let its employees speak," said Mike Bonanno of the Yes
  Lab. "They can prevent it for a day, but in the long run they have no
  choice."

  http://saharareporters.com/news-page/shell-blocks-workers-reading-whistleblowing-website-ogoni-torture-case

Why Does The North Rage Against Jonathan?  
Published on October 2, 2012 by   ·   No Comments
BY BEN NANAGHAN
It has become a common and regular feature of the Northern elite to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan on very trivial and vacuous inanities, to set road blocks on his path and to contest every action and decision of the President through variously undemocratic channels.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became Nigeria’s first Prime Minister in 1957 and since then there has been no break in Northern hegemonic rule until some invisible but divine hands threw up Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan after the unfortunate demise of their bosses,  General Murtala Mohammed and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 1976 and 2010 respectively.
I do not want to believe that the duo’s ascendancy to power was nature’s balancing act to rectify an extra constitutionally mounted device by the colonial masters to ensure an eternal northern domination over Nigeria. This could be so because the concept of harmony and balance exist in various aspects of life for the quality and sustenance of life and the natural environment.
All over the world the main function of the opposition party is to democratically challenge the ruling party to keep them in check if there is any derailment or political immaturity rears its head. The aim of the opposition is not to invite international terrorists to overthrow governments in power. The aim of the opposition all over the world is not to use Islamic fundamentalists to frustrate and engender anarchy all over the country as is being perpetrated now by boko haram.
One of the most salient duties of opposition parties is to fashion out a better way of governance than the government in power which will be more appealing to the electorate who decide which party gains power in the next election.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced free education in the Western Region in January 1955. He also introduced free health facilities for all westerners then. But the federal government and the governments in the northern and eastern region were not as foresighted as  Awolowo’s government.
As opposition leader in 1957,  Awolowo displayed so much parliamentary ingenuity, adroitness and constantly put the Federal Government on its toes and on the path to benevolent democracy.
Northern Nigeria has never accepted the role of opposition because of the manipulation of census figures to their advantage by our Colonial Masters. Even during Obasanjo’s three years military rule and eight years civilian rule, Northern Nigeria was very vocal and was not in any way an opposition party.
Even today Northern Nigeria which still remains a monolithic unit is not an opposition member in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. The Vice President Arch. Namadi Sambo is from the North and he has a lot of input in this government.
The only crime committed by President Goodluck Jonathan is that he is from the Southsouth of Nigeria – a minority geopolitical zone. The founding fathers of Nigeria never even in their remotest imaginations expected the Southsouth zone to produce a President because governance then was a triple entente between the Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
This tripartite alliance crumbled after the 1966 coup de’tat and the subsequent civil war in June 1967 because the Hausas felt the Igbos have lost all rights to the governance of Nigeria by waging a war of secession against  their fatherland.
And so the former wazobian tripod now stands on two wobbly legs as the southwest and the North are in a sizzling political romance while the Southeast has understandably pitched their tent with Southsouth.
The crux of the matter is that the North has governed Nigeria for 41 years from 1957 when Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the first Nigerian Prime Minister. At independence in 1960  Balewa was returned as Prime Minister. Also in 1964 he was re-elected Prime Minister. The North has always ruled Nigeria except for General Aguiyi Ironsi’s 6 months, Gen. Olusegun  Obasanjo’s 11½  years, Chief Ernest Shonekan’s almost 3 months and President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2 years which total 14 years 3 months.
Why then should a part of the country be more powerful and greater than the whole country? What really do the northern elite want after ruling the country for 41 years? The Nigerian constitution permits every qualified Nigerian to contest and aspire to the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitution does not exclude any Nigerian on the basis of tribe, gender or geopolitical origin. And so why does the north rage against President Jonathan?
When the President came to power he proposed a 7-year single term tenure for Nigerian Presidents but those who have vowed to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan termed this great idea a tenure elongation strategy for the President. And today we have seen the wisdom of the President’s proposal. The race for the 2015 Presidential election kicked off immediately the President was sworn-in on 29 May, 2011. This unwarranted distraction could derail an unfocused President. President Goodluck Jonathan has warned politicians not to beat the gun in the race for the 2015 Presidential election. This applies to government officials only and not private citizens.
The North has never supported any of Jonathan’s good programmes because they are in a hurry to take over power from him. I personally foresee great crisis if the north attempts to access the Presidency because in my view President Jonathan is constitutionally entitled to two terms in office while the Igbos too are entitled to their two terms after Jonathan. The Igbos are the only geo-political group that has not occupied Nigeria’s executive seat-The Presidency.
I know it’s a long wait to 2027 but prudence and justice makes it the only alternative for the North even though we have heard of the Northern elite boasting to seize power politically or otherwise if Jonathan attempts to run for President in 2015.
The Northern rage against Jonathan is both uncalled for and in very bad faith. The failed Northern political class has used several devises to intimidate, frustrate and even physically chase Jonathan out of Aso Rock because it is a very strong and unshakable northern belief that Aso Rock belongs to the North and that any non-northern occupant is a stranger who will leave sooner or later. Even children born today are taught this northern philosophy of political power.
And recently again the North and its agents descended on the President to reveal details of the First Lady’s illness and where she is receiving treatment. This to me is increasing the war against President Jonathan to ridiculous and comical heights. This is a great distraction of the President’s precious time and focus.
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is not a member of the Federal cabinet neither is she a Federal Government official. Why then compound the President’s emotional burden by ridiculing and violating the President’s fundamental human right to privacy?
The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was governor of Katsina State for  8 years and for these 8 years he was in and out of German hospitals for most of the 8 years while his wife Turai governed Katsina State. And when Yar’Adua became President in 2007 the story did not change. He was in and out of German and Saudi Arabian hospitals until he had a major crisis on 21 November, 2009. He was then rushed to Saudi Arabia two days later and was flown back to Nigeria on 24 February, 2010, 93 days after he left Nigeria. For those 93 days the Northern elite did not see anything wrong in Yar’Adua’s absence without official leave. He was given 100% support by the Northern elite who even went further to posit that the  ailing President could rule Nigeria from where ever he was and return whenever he wanted.
What Jonathan needs from Nigerians including the garrulous Northern elite is lots and lots of prayers and empathy. It would be grossly unfair and mischievous to embarrass and ridicule the President because his wife is indisposed. After all, we are all human and we are all subject to the vagaries of human frailties.
Instead of building the objectionable culture of lambasting the nation’s President as a daily routine, we must rally round our President in love and unity so as not to look stupid before the international community. It is only if we respect our President that the international community and the outside world will respect our President and our country.
The President himself has shown undisguised disgust at the flagrant abuse and insults he receives daily from Nigerians especially from some high calibre personalities who are expected to know better. Let us all join hands together and show maximum love and respect to our President whether we are from the North or from the South. It is never too late to do so.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/10/02/why-does-the-north-rage-against-jonathan/

The President of the Senate, David Mark has said under normal circumstances, people ought to have been fired over the poor state of the multi-billion naira National Stadium. Mark spoke in Abuja on Wednesday.

In an obvious reference to an exclusive story published by The PUNCH, last week, Mark lamented that even football which used to be a source of national pride was now in tatters. He decried the poor showing of the Nigerian Olympic team which failed to return with a single medal after the London Olympics.

Mark said, “This should not surprise you, distinguished colleagues. After all, the National Stadium, Abuja, our supposed symbol of sporting excellence, was recently discovered to be decrepit, overtaken by weeds and reptiles.

“What is surprising, and very worrisome, is that our psyche is beginning to accept this malady as normal. Ordinarily, such an appalling state of affairs ought to have been followed by voluntary resignations, or mass purges.

“But nobody has resigned, and nobody has been fired. Distinguished colleagues, there is no doubt that a drastic overhaul of our sports administration is long overdue.”

Mark identified corruption, sloppiness and tardiness in preparations as well as mismanagement as the bane of Nigerian sports.

He also said, “One issue that worries me deeply is the decline of our nation even in areas in which we once excelled.

“The reasons for this decline are not far-fetched. Corruption, sloppiness and tardiness in preparations, mismanagement, degradation and lack of maintenance and vandalisation of national assets, absence of rigour and thoroughness in planning – these, and more, are the reasons for the rot.

“Perhaps no singular event reflects our current attitude to things, and exemplifies our decline, as the fiasco of Nigeria’s participation at the recently concluded 2012 London Summer Olympics.

“You will recall that our contingent failed to win a single medal in the Games. Our fortunes are even more dismal in football, which is a national pastime, and a great unifying factor. It is heart-warming, however, that the tale has not been defined entirely by gloom. Almost unexpectedly, and just as we were about to yield to despair, a glimmer of hope appeared.

“Thanks to our gallant and patriotic Paralympians whose exploits at the just concluded London Paralympics, have buoyed the national spirit. Defying physical challenges and often chaotic preparations, these matadors soared, and left millions of our countrymen and women once more beaming with pride. Their heroism reminds us of the old Nigerian spirit of tenacity, of endurance, of perseverance and of excellence.”

http://www.punchng.com/sports/abuja-stadium-mark-wants-officials-sacked/

“So as government we are committed to creating the enabling environment. I’m quite pleased with the way President Kufour spoke on the issue of transformation. I agree that the leader must be the key actor for transformation but those who will  implement are the citizens. For instance, during the election, we advocated  one man one vote, we were totally committed and I said it that nobody should rig election for me. But Nigerians believed that we were sincere and because they knew we were sincere, that took the life of its own. No I don’t need to go and preach again.

“We have monitored elections in Edo and other places, nobody wants to compromise with his vote. It is government that created that environment but it is not government that will enforce it, it is the citizen.

“That is why we are a bit worried that sometimes when government creates the environment, whether economic, social or even the media, how the citizens use those privileges matters so much.[i][/i]

Yea....there is a lot of sense in the above...

The Lagos State Police Command today paraded three suspected kidnappers who allegedly held captive a cousin  of business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. The name of the victim was given as Yahaya Aminu.

The suspected kidnappers paraded today at Ikeja Police Command.
The three suspected kidnappers paraded are: Pius Ubaka Livinus, 25, who allegedly kidnapped an Indian  national in 2010 and also kidnapped a Dangote worker  in February this year; Kenechukwu Onyema, 27, and Segun  Ayebe, 32, who was arrested while collecting $40,000 ransom  at Ajah, Lagos.
The three suspects were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, recently during a well  coordinated search for the gang members.
SARS sources told P.M.NEWS that the gallantry of one of their men, Corporal Abdulrahaman Mohammed, led to the  arrest of the suspects.
The corporal was said to have trailed Ubaka Livinus to a roof top at Ajao Estate.
When SARS men arrested the suspects, a KIA Serato car was recovered from them. Their captive was also  released.
The suspects, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to SARS men that they committed the crime.
In his confessional statement, Ubaka the son of a dismissed Inspector of Police, Livinus Afone, who was said  to have been serving in Force Headquarters, Obalende, said his arrest was the second in recent times. He  stated that he participated in three of the gang’s operations.
He confessed that he had wanted to quit kidnapping in February this year when his attempt to kidnap a staff  of Dangote company was foiled.
He added that he was nabbed when he attempted to collect a $32 million ransom from relatives of his victim.
Ubaka, who is from  Abia State, southeast Nigeria, said he went back into kidnapping because his share of  $40,000 (N5.5 million) out of $200,000 collected from an earlier operation was used to buy two plots of land  at Lekki Free Trade zone for N2.5 million and he was defrauded when he attempted to obtain a visa to Portugal  after he paid N850,000 to a fraudster.
He said when he was arraigned before a Lagos magistrate’s court for an earlier crime, he was admitted to bail  in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
Ubaka added that his Infinity SUV was given out as collateral to his counsel, Barrister Evans Duru who  applied for his bail before the court.
That was how he blew the $40,000 share he got from the first operation in 2010.
In his confession, the second suspect, Segun Ayebe, from Delta State, southsouth Nigeria, said he joined the  gang during their third kidnap operation because he had just returned from a heart surgery in India and  needed money.
SARS officials said the three suspects will soon be arraigned in court at the completion of investigation.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/09/18/kidnappers-of-dangotes-cousin-paraded/

By Ini Ekott
The House of Representatives has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to shelve its plans to print the N5, 000 notes.

The House gave the directive at its plenary sitting on Tuesday after weeks of recess. Ongoing debates on the floor of the Senate shows that the Senate may arrive at a similar resolution.

The lower chamber also directed the President to remove Aruma Oteh, the Director General of The Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, who was initially suspended and later re-instated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The house in its resolution asked the President to implement its recommendations following the report of a committee that probed the capital market.

One of the recommendations was the removal of Ms. Oteh who was indicted by the committee of malpractices.

Should President Jonathan fail to remove Ms. Oteh, the House said it will henceforth stop dealing with her as the SEC DG
 
 http://saharareporters.com/news-page/house-representatives-directs-cbn-halt-introduction-n5-000-note-premium-times

THE chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has thrown his weight behind the Steve Oronsaye Committee’s recommendations for the merger and scrapping of some parastatals and agencies of government.

This, according to him, will reduce the cost of governance and ensure effective service delivery.

Tukur, who  is also  the chairman of National Council on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), spoke in Abuja on Monday in his remarks at the meeting of the council.

He said: “As you may be aware, the Federal Government recently set up a committee on the rationalisation and restructuring of  parastatals under the Federal Government.

“The objective of the exercise is to reduce the cost of governance. This is a right step in the right direction,” he said.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/47756-tukur-backs-merger-scrapping-of-govt-parastatal-agencies

The fuel shortage that has crippled Lagos State and left scores discomfited is caused by the shutdown of system 2b pipeline as a result of vandalism, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said.
The Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Fidel Pepple, said this on Monday in a press statement.
He said the system 2b pipeline, which is a major pipeline which evacuates about “nine to eleven million litres of fuel from Lagos to Ibadan, Ilorin and the north” had to be shut down after it was vandalised.
A couple of weeks ago, in Arepo, Ogun state, petroleum product pipelines were destroyed by a group of vandals. They harassed some journalists and killed three NNPC staff. The pipeline vandalism in Arepo has caused a severe shortage of petroleum products across the South West and some parts of the North.
However, Mr. Pepple said the NNPC has taken measures to end the current fuel scarcity.
“To alleviate the problems resulting from the shutdown of the pipeline, the NNPC has stepped up distribution through tankers.
“As I speak, we have raised the daily supply of fuel from Folawiyo tank farm from 150 tankers to 250 tankers, MRS from 100 to 200 tankers, Capital Oil to 300 tankers, NIPCO to 70 tankers and AITEO to 100 tankers,” Mr. Pepple disclosed.
He said that fuel delivery and supply to Port Harcourt, Aba, and Calabar has also been increased.
Mr. Pepple said that as at Thursday last week, the NNPC had 32 days sufficiency of petroleum products.
He added that the NNPC is currently collaborating with the security agencies to fix the pipeline in order to restore normal fuel supply to the affected areas.
The NNPC’S spokesperson called on Nigerians to participate in securing pipelines, by being vigilant.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/100552-pipeline-vandalism-causes-fuel-scarcity-in-lagos.html

The Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Sani Abubakar Danladi on Sunday evening lost the opportunity to be decorated with OON national award by President Goodluck Jonathan following a protest from his state.

Daily Post gathered authoritatively that Danladi who had earlier been nominated among the 148 others for the glorious day was withdrawn due to the alleged political crisis rocking the state.

Danladi and his boss, Governor Danbaba Suntai have been having some internal problems , degenerating into serious crisis where the state deputy governor has been served with an impeachment letter for alleged corrupt practices.

The deputy governor whose name was removed from the award’s list yesterday was one of those nominated earlier.

A source close to the Taraba Government House said Governor Danbaba Suntai who was awarded CON yesterday recommended the withdrawal because the deputy governor has been served  an impeachment notice by the state House of Assembly on alleged corrupt practices and abuse of office.

A top government source disclosed that “We understand that he (Danladi) was denied the honour on Sunday night as a result of protest from home…You know he is presently at loggerheads with Governor Danbaba Dan Fulani Suntai and the state assembly is even planning to impeach him,”

All effort to get the reaction of Danladi proved abortive as he could not respond to our SMS.

Also, Chief Press Secretary to the Taraba State governor Hassan Umar Mijinyawa said he was with the governor and would not be able to talk to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to retrieve honours from undeserved Nigerians whose subsequent actions failed short of the conduct expected of national award honourees.

He spoke at the investiture ceremonies where 149 Nigerians, including five paralympians received different categories of award.

He said he had directed the committee to “compile a list of those unworthy” of award so that such honours will be withdrawn to safeguard the integrity of the award.

His words, “We are convinced that the National Honours Award is a very important part of the symbols of the country’s values and pride. Whilst government is always pleased to admit deserving persons into the ranks of those honoured by Nigeria, all holders must not fall short of our collective expectations. The dignity, honour and respect of the National Honours must never be tarnished.

“In light of the foregoing, I have directed that the National Honours Committee compile a list of persons conferred with the National Honours but that their current credibility is questionable.

“If they are found wanting, our prestigious Honours will be withdrawn. This is essential in ensuring that holders of National Honours are truly worthy representations of our nation, chains of values and honour, and especially are patriotic Nigerians or real friends of our dear land.’’

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/09/18/jonathan-vows-withdraw-undeserved-national-honours-taraba-state-deputy-governor-missed/

Good work GEJ...... Am feeling the improvement in power supply at my end.......pls don't relent

National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) had on Saturday confirmed its operation in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where about 10 Nigerian young women who were compelled to work as prostitutes were rescued by the Agency.

It confirmed that those rescued are young girls from Benue, Edo, Delta, Rivers states. However, it was said that out of the 10 girls, six of them are from Edo State.

NAPTIP had disclosed that the operation was successful through its timely collaboration with the regional bureau office of in Abidjan.

The Agency had also assured that immediate rehabilitation of the girls will begin as soon as possible as all was already set to carry out a medical screening on them.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/09/17/naptip-rescues-10-nigerian-girls-forced-work-prostitutes-cote-divoire/

The judiciary, the last hope of the common man...... Keep representing wella

The Northern Elders Forum has been firing at its perceived political opponents, and declared that the onshore-offshore dichotomy is not settled. The former university don described as “stupid” the insistence by Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, that the matter was closed.

Abdullahi submitted: “I have heard some stupid remarks from the Attorney General of the Federation. He said that the debate on Onshore/offshore dichotomy is closed. By who? It is stupid for him to say the debate is closed.

“Is he saying Nigerians have no right to speak on issues? Is the Onshore/Offshore dichotomy not a national issue? He said the matter is closed; on what grounds? It is a matter of continuous discussion and debate. He has no right to say that the matter is closed.”

Also, in a sign that the forum is spoiling for a fight against the incumbent in 2015, the spokesman of the forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, who once called former President Obasanjo "an idiot" because he was allegedly acting against the North's desire to reclaim the presidency, has now declared that zoning is dead.

His words: “The contest should be opened to a Tsekiri man, Uhrobo man or a Tiv man. The question of allocation of position based on regions should be thrown away.

“The question is the issue of politics as we understand it, particularly when it comes to elections.There are rules for elections and the elections will be contested on the basis of those rules.So let it be and that is what it will be in 2015.

On the political committee inaugurated at the meeting by the convener, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, the forum’s spokesman said the committee was charged with looking at the politics of Nigeria and see how the North would fit into it.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/adokie-is-stupid-for-saying-onshore-offshore-dichotomy-is-settled-northern-elders-forum