₦airaland Forum

on November 28, 2013 at 7:48 pm in News

Abuja – The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered immediate provision of adequate security in and around university campuses nationwide.
This is contained in a statement issued by CSP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement said the measure was designed to secure life and property in the institutions and provide enabling environment for lecturers, students and other members of staff to go about their lawful businesses without hindrance.
“The directive is a proactive and confidence-boosting measure designed to ensure that nothing untoward happens in our academic communities,” it said.
The statement directed all Command Commissioners of Police to personally oversee the intensification of surveillance in universities in their states.
It ordered them to “take all necessary security measures needed to provide for the safety and security of members of staff and students as well as property within the various Campuses”.
It urged lecturers, students and Nigerians within the institutions to remain law-abiding and go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarters.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government on Thursday gave universities lecturers, who had been on strike since July, one week ultimatum to resume academic activities.
Meanwhile, the I-G has urged officers and men of the force, who would be involved in the supplementary election in Anambra supplementary election on Saturday to remain steadfast.
He said they should be focused and neutral, as well as exhibit the highest level of professionalism.
He reassured the people of adequate security in the state during the election, promising that the force would continue to maintain optimal presence in Anambra till the end of the election.
The police boss called on the people to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in ensuring an atmosphere of peace and order throughout the election.
Abubakar also urged politicians, traditional rulers, and opinion leaders in the state to play by the rules and help in educating their followers on the need to allow INEC and other government agencies to conclude the election. (NAN)


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/g-orders-adequate-security-varsity-campuses-nationwide/

I remember when sahara reporters reportrd that COAS own the building

ilebaami: Did you say someone can "set Rivers people against the Ijaws..."? Do you really know much about the Rivers people? Do you know the Ijaws in Rivers? To imagine that you wish for ethnic tension in the region. You must be out of your mind.

dont mind the troll his one of those kids rooting for apc. He doesnt know that almost all the riverine areas in rivers are ijaws.

karl max: INEC’s Position on PDP crisis:

INEC, in its response to an earlier letter by the faction’s national secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, dated October 2, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY yesterday, affirmed its recognition of Tukur as the authentic leader of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

According to the INEC letter with the title “Notification of change in the leadership of PDP and request for formal recognition,” it stated: “The commission acknowledges the receipt of your letter dated September 1 and 23, 2013, respectively wherein you requested the commission’s recognition of the Abubakar Baraje faction of the newly elected National Working Committee.

“You will recall the commission monitored the national convention and the special national convention of the PDP held on March 12, 2012 and August 31, 2013 respectively which took place at the Eagle Square Abuja, after notices to the commission. A National Working Committee was elected at the two conventions wherein Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged as the national chairman,” adding that: “The commission will not withdraw its recognition of the leadership of the PDP elected at the election duly monitored by the commission.”

By INEC refusing to withdraw recognition to the Tukur-led PDP, it has actually put paid to the issue of faction, thus legitimizing the Tukur NWC. Whether this is the end of the road for the nPDP is another thing altogether. But INEC as the regulatory body for political parties has issued the nPDP a red card and have been sent out of the political field of play.

And the Court Decision

From the legal front and in response to a legal suit filed by the nPDP in Lagos, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie of the Ikeja High Court, struck out the suit filed by the Baraje PDP faction against Tukur and three others, for want of jurisdiction.

The breakaway faction of the party had asked the court to stop Tukur and other officers of the party from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP pending the determination of the case. The plaintiffs in the suit are Baraje, new PDP Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja,  Oyinlola and the PDP, while the defendants joined alongside Tukur are the Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus; Women Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

Tukur and his co-defendants had in their preliminary notice of objection filed through their counsel, Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN) and Mr. Emeka Etiaba, on September 18, asked the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction. The lawyers had also argued that the writs of summons did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act because they were not signed.

But counsel to the claimants, Mr. Robert Emukpaeruo, had argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit contrary to the objections being raised by the defendants.

In his ruling, Adefope-Okojie held that the Lagos State High Court had no power to assume jurisdiction over a matter which originated outside its territory. The judge said the applicants had averred in their affidavit that the course of action, which was the special convention of the PDP took place  in Abuja.

According to the judge, the plaintiff had also averred that the PDP had its registered office in Abuja and that none of the defendants was resident in Lagos State. In view of this, the Judge said the doctrine of enforcement of judgments was not relevant to the suit before the court.

Adefope-Okojie summed her ruling thus: "I hold that with the defendants not resident in Lagos and the subject matter originating in Abuja, the High Court of Lagos State has no power to assume jurisdiction over this suit."

As a result of this, a red card may have though been given to the nPDP by the court, unlike INEC position; there could be an appeal or a fresh case filed within the Abuja where all the combatants reside.

and here is the abuja judgement


It was a sad day in the camp of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, yesterday, as a Federal High Court in Abuja declared its activities illegal, just as it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to only recognize the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led national officers of the party.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/tukur-led-pdp-cages-barajes-group/

INEC’s Position on PDP crisis:

INEC, in its response to an earlier letter by the faction’s national secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, dated October 2, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY yesterday, affirmed its recognition of Tukur as the authentic leader of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

According to the INEC letter with the title “Notification of change in the leadership of PDP and request for formal recognition,” it stated: “The commission acknowledges the receipt of your letter dated September 1 and 23, 2013, respectively wherein you requested the commission’s recognition of the Abubakar Baraje faction of the newly elected National Working Committee.

“You will recall the commission monitored the national convention and the special national convention of the PDP held on March 12, 2012 and August 31, 2013 respectively which took place at the Eagle Square Abuja, after notices to the commission. A National Working Committee was elected at the two conventions wherein Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged as the national chairman,” adding that: “The commission will not withdraw its recognition of the leadership of the PDP elected at the election duly monitored by the commission.”

By INEC refusing to withdraw recognition to the Tukur-led PDP, it has actually put paid to the issue of faction, thus legitimizing the Tukur NWC. Whether this is the end of the road for the nPDP is another thing altogether. But INEC as the regulatory body for political parties has issued the nPDP a red card and have been sent out of the political field of play.

And the Court Decision

From the legal front and in response to a legal suit filed by the nPDP in Lagos, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie of the Ikeja High Court, struck out the suit filed by the Baraje PDP faction against Tukur and three others, for want of jurisdiction.

The breakaway faction of the party had asked the court to stop Tukur and other officers of the party from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP pending the determination of the case. The plaintiffs in the suit are Baraje, new PDP Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja,  Oyinlola and the PDP, while the defendants joined alongside Tukur are the Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus; Women Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh.

Tukur and his co-defendants had in their preliminary notice of objection filed through their counsel, Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN) and Mr. Emeka Etiaba, on September 18, asked the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction. The lawyers had also argued that the writs of summons did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act because they were not signed.

But counsel to the claimants, Mr. Robert Emukpaeruo, had argued that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit contrary to the objections being raised by the defendants.

In his ruling, Adefope-Okojie held that the Lagos State High Court had no power to assume jurisdiction over a matter which originated outside its territory. The judge said the applicants had averred in their affidavit that the course of action, which was the special convention of the PDP took place  in Abuja.

According to the judge, the plaintiff had also averred that the PDP had its registered office in Abuja and that none of the defendants was resident in Lagos State. In view of this, the Judge said the doctrine of enforcement of judgments was not relevant to the suit before the court.

Adefope-Okojie summed her ruling thus: "I hold that with the defendants not resident in Lagos and the subject matter originating in Abuja, the High Court of Lagos State has no power to assume jurisdiction over this suit."

As a result of this, a red card may have though been given to the nPDP by the court, unlike INEC position; there could be an appeal or a fresh case filed within the Abuja where all the combatants reside.

adonisvg: ''Section 68(1)(g) puts the issue in perspective. It states,“A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if…being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected:
“Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”
The latter saving proviso permits the holder of an office to move out of the party if and when there is a faction within the party or his party goes into a merger with another party or parties.

Managing Factional Crises
Constitutional provisions such as the aforementioned seem clearly meant to manage factional crises in political parties, like the current one involving PDP, New PDP, and the members of the National Assembly and the about seven governors that have identified with the splinter group.
This aspect of the constitution has been used by political office holders as a basis to dump their parties and still retain their positions.
But now, questions are being asked as to what constitutes a division or faction in a political party, and who determines whether a faction exists or not in a party, among other issues. These are questions for the courts to determine. But the split in the PDP presents an interesting scenario'' #copied

which the court has already done by declearing nPdp an illigal entity and also recognizing tukur as pdp chairman. Inec also did same pdp has no faction the court has already cleared that just watch and see what would happen.

People saying npdp is a faction of pdp are just kids events in the next few days would prove this.

The court and inec has already confirmed that their is only one pdp.

Fake progressives

on November 26, 2013 at 6:00 pm in Metro
By Our Reporters

Parents and their wards in  Lagos public secondary schools are daily groaning under the acute shortage  of basic furniture in the schools. Some affected students say they either sit on bare floor,  windows or stand during lessons.
When Vanguard visited some of the affected schools, the sign of stained trousers and skirts showed that the students were sitting on bare floor in their classrooms. Early in the year, Governor Fashola awarded the construction of several block of classrooms to different contractors, aimed at increasing the number of classrooms.
But according to reports there was no complementary awards for supply of furniture.



The United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, while explaining the importance of furniture in schools said; “Furniture is an integral component of providing an appropriate learning environment.”
On the health implication
of lack of furniture, the organisation said: “Uncomfortable and unsuitable furniture can cause problems varying from backache to writing difficulties, thus reducing learning opportunity. When developing educational furniture, the size of the student, the educational function, availability and affordability of materials and the culture of the user have to be taken into consideration.”
A Junior Secondary School, JSS  student of Ikeja Grammar School, Oshodi Local Government, simply called Rasheed, lamented that there are no seats in their classes. Even those available in the 51-year-old school were already in state of disrepair.
State of disrepair
According to him, “when we resumed, there were no adequate furniture in the classes compared to our population. That was why those who gained admission early took the available furniture while those who came later, whose parents could afford furniture, bring theirs from home while indigent students sit on the floor.”
The story was the same for James Oluchukwu, a student of Ajangbadi High School, Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, who sits on the floor to take his classes.
Oluchukwu said; “we don’t have enough desks and benches in our classes. Those whose parents could afford to buy, brought  theirs from home. For me, my parents said they didn’t have the required N6, 000 for such.”
Miss Rofiat Ademola of Aganju Aka Junior Secondary School, Okokomaiko, Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, whose school was built less than four years ago, lamented that such scarcity should not have occurred in a school that is still a baby.
She noted that furniture should have been provided before the government gives the school approval to admit students.
Ademola said; “for our school, we were the first set and there wasn’t adequate furniture for us. In fact, I sat on the floor for one session before the state government distributed desks and benches to us.”
Mrs. Olateju Adekunle, a petty trader said: “I paid the furniture fabricator beside my house to provide desk and bench for my son when I discovered that whenever he returns from school, he looked dirty.”
Adekunle complained that the government was only busy erecting structures without providing adequate desks and benches for the students to aid their learning.
According to Mrs. Oby Solomon, “the government has successfully reduced the congestion in classes but has failed to supply required furniture which is an essential learning material.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/lagos-schools-parents-students-lament-lack-basic-furniture/

'
Definition of 'Excess Crude Account'

A Nigerian government account used to save oil revenues above a base amount derived from a defined benchmark price. The Excess Crude Account was established in 2004, and its objective is primarily to protect planned budgets against shortfalls due to volatile crude oil prices. By delinking government expenditures from oil revenues, the Excess Crude Account aims to insulate the Nigerian economy from external shocks.

Above is the meaning of ECA and why it was establised. The $5 billion ameachi claimed was missing was shared between the three tiers Of govt due to budget deficits at all levels of government in Nigeria and the steep drop in oil production due to oil thieft that forced a lot of oil companies to short down production this year. And of which ameachi and his government has accepted they received 62 billion from

Abagworo: That is wrong. Very very wrong. It justifies the Governor's claim that Nigeria is broke. This means that ECA was illegaly used to complete our shortfalls in income without letting Nigerians and the Governors know. Okonjo needs to resign if she actually did this.

clearly u don't even know what the ECA account is meant for, is better you first of all understand what the ECA account means and the purpose of establishing the ECA account,then u would understand what the finance minister is saying

When would the state governors live up to their responsibity of providing Basic education,water and primary health care for its citizens their basic responsibity spelt out in black and white in the constitution

Efcc wont investigate but they investigated bode george, james ibori, fayose, gbenga daniels and other pdp members found wanting which people like some hypocrite above me now call thieves. Like i said if ur sure an FG or pdp member stole money and. U have facts be a responsible citizen and write a petition and send to them and if ur so foolish like the simpleton above who feels allegations on the pages of news paper dont translate to evidence.

I dont quote apc e rat any more on nairaland cos their reasoning ability can be compared to a brainwashed suicide bomber.

EFCC dont invite or investigate anybody based on a beer palour media report! They do so with hard facts just like the one they have against one of ur gbajuee progressives. If u have any evidence against any of the fG or pdp members. send a petition with ur evidence to efcc they would investigate. If u think the beer palour media report is enough evidence then u and ur likes will keep making noise on the internet and on the pay as u go media houses we have in nigeria now

We know is political. Nice one sha

But oga ameachi were still waiting for your response to what iwala said About the $5b missing from the ECA account.

So some hypocrites actually know that one has to be found guilty by a competent court before that person is punished.

When it involves apc thieves , the court has to find them guilty before their e rats would ask him to be removed or punished

But when it comes to the FG and the pdp once a news media publishes a beer parlour corruption story the resident e rats on nairaland would find whoever is involved guilty without a fair hearing. They would scream for that individual to be sacked before his been pronounced quilty or even taken to court

• Urge voters to participate in fresh exercise  

• APC, rights group decry detention of monitors 


STAKEHOLDERS Wednesday adjudged last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State free and fair, just as they urged voters to participate in the forthcoming supplementary poll. 

  In the same vein, National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, expressed satisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to hold supplementary election. 

  Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Network for Power Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) have described as totally inexplicable and unjustifiable the continued detention of the 182 election observers who were illegally arrested in Imo State two days before last the governorship election in Anambra, even after INEC has publicly said they were duly certified poll monitors.

  Also, the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) has revealed some of the challenges faced by INEC) in the conduct of the election which so far, has been declared inconclusive.

  A coalition of observers under the aegis of INEC Accredited Organisations, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) women’s wing and the traditional ruler of Awka, Eze Uzu, Obi Gibson Nwosu, yesterday declared that the process of the election complied with internationally-accepted standards and best practices.

  Addressing reporters in Awka, spokesman of the coalition of INEC Accredited Organisations, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu of the Independent Domestic Election Observers, commended INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for conducting ‘one of the freest and fairest elections’ in the history of Nigeria, adding that his committed members of staff also were determined to make a positive difference in the electoral process.

  Others at the briefing were Alhaji Ali Abacha (Voter Awareness Initiative); Nweke Fidelis (Centre LSD); Emeh Friday Eleogo (Transparency Centre Network); Freed Madubike (Reclaim Naija) and Serah Onele (Justice and Equity).

  The group said among other things that “the election was hitch-free and that there were no incidences of violence recorded,… there were no instance of voter apathy.” Even though they also noted that “elections commenced relatively late due to logistic problems in terms of distribution and arrival of materials, they said that they were in support of holding supplementary polls in the state.

  The group also appealed to aggrieved candidates to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship as election was not a do-or-die affair, stressing that in every election, a winner must emerge.

   Also speaking in his palace, Obi Gibson Nwosu, while giving the governorship poll a pass mark, said: “I have never come across any one election that was so peaceful and well organised.

“From reports received from my daughter whom I sent to observe events at the polling unit where I voted, there was no violence. If what happened in my ward is to be taken as a cue, the election was peaceful and security agents did their work well.

  The President of ASATU women wing, Dr. Chinelo Okechukwu, said the voting pattern and the results declared so far reflected the wishes of the people in Anambra State, especially in Onitsha area where she cast her vote.

  She cautioned those calling for the total cancellation of the results to be reasonable and join hands to work for progress in the state.

  Umeh, who was the party’s agent in the election, said shortly after INEC’s announcement that his party has no reason to worry about the development. According to him, the supplementary election will further boost APGA’s victory.

  He said: “APGA is the only party that has the numbers. Where will they get the votes to upset our lead? We have the spread in the local councils and we have the votes. Neither the first runner up nor the third candidate has the spread.

  In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed shock at the brazen contempt of court displayed by the police when the observers were brought before a Magistrate on Monday.

  It said even though the charges of conspiracy to commit misdemeanor, unlawful assembly and conduct likely to breach peace were bailable, the police acted in such an irresponsible, unlawful and contemptuous manner just to ensure the suspects were not granted bail.

  ‘’Having brought the alleged suspects before a magistrate, one would have expected that the Imo police command will allow the judicial process to follow its due course. Rather, men and officers of the police command acted in a manner that tainted the entire Nigeria police and called to question their motive for arresting the innocent observers in the first instance.

  ‘’Just before the case was called, the police suddenly seized and took away some of the suspects. When this came to the knowledge of the lawyers representing the observers, they raised it with the presiding magistrates, who ruled that the court will stand the matter down for two hours so that the remaining suspects could be produced before the court.

  ‘’Shockingly, the Officer in Charge (Legal) - acting on ‘orders from above’ - brought out his gun and ordered equally gun-wielding men to forcefully return all the accused to the police cell, and right in the presence of the presiding magistrate and other lawyers, the suspects were taken away and were never returned, forcing the magistrate to adjourn the case to December 6.”

 The party called on the police hierarchy, if it has any honour left, to sanction the officer and men involved in the contempt of court and perversion of justice, to serve as a warning to other policemen who are bent on turning Nigeria to a Banana Republic.

  Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the Programme/Advocacy Co-ordinator, NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, flayed the police for increasing partisanship and lawlessness in election, which he said, was a threat to Nigeria democracy.

  Chairman of IPAC, Tanko Yunusa, said in an interview in Abuja yesterday that many people could not vote because an electoral officer went away with the result sheet and did not return on time. Another cause of the problem, according to Tanko, was the mistake made in sharing voters’ forms among the polling stations. 

  Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, has called on the people of Anambra State to remain calm over what he called the stage-managed protest against the November 16 election.

  Obienyem said that investigations showed that those who protested, especially women that pretended to be crying, were imported from Osun State in five chartered luxury buses.  

  “Ngige and his group wanted protest at all costs, but when our people, who already know him for what he is refused, they had to go to Osun State,” Obienyem stated.

  “Even yesterday, they imported some boys from Imo State to protest as students. The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who has taken the university to great heights, Prof. Boniface Egboka, was alarmed. When contacted on phone, he had to rush down to that school for investigations. Having discovered that those involved were not his students, he said, ‘please beware of those evil men who lost.  I’ve checked with all my relevant officials; the story of UNIZIK Students is fallacious! We have our respects, belief and integrity, more so, students are not in the school right now.’ 

   “On further investigations and interrogation of the boys, they confessed that APC people paid them N1,500 each and chartered the buses that conveyed them from Imo State to Anambra.”

  Insisting that the November 16 election was one of the best in Nigeria, Obienyem wondered that while “the Igbo and all men of goodwill commend the election, only Ngige and his APC people are against it.”




http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/news/national-news/139050-observers-others-adjudge-anambra-poll-free-fair

Federal High Court, Lagos on a 54-count charge of money laundering.
The EFCC had alleged that the duo conspired between April 2010 and July 2011, to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273.3 million from the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) without going through a financial institution.

The anti graft commission called its first prosecution witness, Mr Adebayo Adedeji, an investigating police officer to give evidence today (Thursday).

The witness told the court, presided by Justice Ibrahim Buba, that the commission’s investigations revealed that Hon. Ikuforiji received cash payments from the accounts section of the Lagos State House of Assembly about 57 times.

Four cash release registers recovered from the state house of assembly, according to the investigation showed that the cash was released in favour of the Lagos speaker, and the second accused person, his personal assistant.

The cash sums were above the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering Act.
The witness also testified that apart from obtaining the four cash release registers, some members of the State House of Assembly had also made statements which confirmed the payments.

The members who made statements include, Mr Adewale Olatunji a former Clerk of the house, Mrs Toyin Atekoja the Accountant, Mr Rotimi Abirua the Director of Finance, and Mr Kolawole Taiwo the Deputy Speaker of the house.

The Second accused person also made a statement to the EFCC where he admitted to collecting the money on behalf of the Lagos Speaker.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Godwin Obla (SAN) then tendered all the statements in court as well as the cash registers.

Also tendered was a statement made by Speaker Ikuforiji admitting that most of the monies  received by the second accused, had been in cash since he assumed office as his personal assistant.
The Speaker had also disclosed in the statements that cash payments had been the tradition of the Lagos State House of Assembly since his assumption into office as Speaker.

The court admitted all the documents as exhibits before adjourning till the 2nd of December for continuation of trial.

The EFCC had on June 24, re-arraigned the two accused persons before Justice Ibrahim Buba, on an amended 54-count charge of money laundering.

The accused had however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were granted bail in the sum of N1 billion each with two sureties each in the sum of N500 million.

The prosecution had alleged that the duo conspired between April 2010 and July 2011, to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273.3 million from the LAHA without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC  had also alleged that Hon Ikuforiji used his position to misappropriate about N500 million of the LAHA’s funds.

He told the court that the offences contravened Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2011.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/11/21/ikuforiji-made-cash-withdrawals-57-times-witness-tells-court/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

ECOWAS Countries Takes Cue from PHCN Privatisation

21 Nov 2013


 
By Chineme Okafor in Banjul, Gambia

Nigeria’s reform of her electricity industry which include the privatisation of successor generation and distribution companies created from the unbundling of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will serve as a good and fast learning curve for member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), THISDAY has learnt.


Such level of interest on Nigeria’s electricity privatisation programme by ECOWAS member countries was shown yesterday at the consultative committee meeting of the fourth ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) currently holding in Banjul, capital of The Gambia.


Shortly before going into a closed door session, member countries of ERERA, which comprises electricity regulatory authorities of ECOWAS countries including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) indicated their willingness to learn from Nigeria’s privatisation experience especially in line with their aspirations to foster a competitive regional cross-border trade of electricity.
Discussions on minimum regulatory risk for all stakeholders in the electricity market, best contractual arrangements between operators in member states as well as transparency in cross-border power trade are some of the issues that will dominate proceeding at the forum.


Other issues such as the creation of transparent, predictable, and harmonised regulatory practices in the region to attract capital investments in the electricity sector through sustainable market rules are also to be discussed; NERC’s Commissioner for Government and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Abba Ibrahim, however told THISDAY that Nigeria’s experience on these issues have being acknowledged by members of ERERA who thus look up to her for guidance.
Ibrahim stated on the sidelines of the meeting that Nigeria’s electricity privatisation programme remains peculiar and provides a learning curve for members of ERERA.


He said: “Forums like this enable us to facilitate the integration of our electricity market; ECOWAS has been established specifically to bring together sub-regional market as well as streamlining policies that will lead to this and so it is a very important forum.
“Nigeria is a key player in the economy of the West African region and the earlier we harmonise our policies and regulatory framework, the better it will be for everybody in the region.”


“The country is very peculiar on itself, being the largest in the sub-region; there is so much other countries will learn from the reform taking place in Nigeria power sector especially for the future. Globally, governments have withdrawn or privatised key infrastructure services and with Nigeria being the largest market in the sub-region, definitely it has to take the initiative and carry along other countries in ensuring a competitive electricity market.


“I don’t think this will drag Nigeria’s electricity privatisation efforts backwards but it will create a very fast learning curve for other countries in the region to learn from our experience which NERC will show to participating countries here as one of the key presentations,” Ibrahim stated.


He further noted: “I am happy that market rules have been discussed today for the sub-region, Nigeria has had its own market rules in place for the past three to four years. And so you can see that it is a very interesting development that all other African countries can learn from what we have done and put in place frameworks that will support the regional market as operated by the West African Power Pool (WAPP). It is an opportunity for other countries to learn from us and also for Nigeria to close up gaps in her electricity market.”


The ERERA forum with the theme; “fast-tracking the regional electricity market: the regulatory issues” is expected to examine the place, roles and responsibilities of regional electricity regulator and national regulators in speeding up the establishment of a regional electricity market in West Africa. The 15 ECOWAS member countries are equally in attendance at the forum.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ecowas-countries-takes-cue-from-phcn-privatisation/164920/

alexchiny: Front page please!!!!!!!!!!

front page kee. If it had PDP as the headline then it would make front page cus the traffice would be high the likes of gbawe,agba meta,take dat, berem,the resident retard demdem and other dullards would invade the thread with their multiple monika's. Foaming from the mouth ,just like they are doing with the anambra election To push it to the front page. Don't worry by mentioning their name on this thread they would help us push it to the fp with there usual abuse and diverting attention to PDP and other lame defenses for their 419 progressive party like one of Them did earlier on this thread.

Those acn thugs caught should be investigated and punished .

This an article written by punch news paper way back in august about how much has been witdrawn from the ECA and take note of the amount given to state and local governments




N606bn withdrawn from ECA in three months —Report

The Federal Government withdrew the sum of N606.12bn from the Excess Crude Account within the first three months of this year, the Budget Monitoring and Evaluation report prepared by the Ministry of Finance has revealed.

The document presents information on the implementation of the 2013 budget in the first quarter. It also gives information by which government’s performance in the management of public resources as planned in the budget is to be measured.

The 33-page report, obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Monday in Abuja, was jointly signed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu.

It details how crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism had affected the country’s projected revenue of N11.339tn for the 2013 fiscal period.

The projected revenue is made up of N7.734tn oil revenue, representing 68.2 per cent, and non-oil revenue of N3.605tn or 31.8 per cent.

According to the document, while inflow into the Excess Crude Account was N400.92bn in the three-month period; the sum of N616.12bn was withdrawn from it to augment revenue shortfall to the Federation Account.

A huge chunk of this, it was learnt, was shared by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee to the three tiers of government to enable them to perform their statutory responsibilities.

The document stated, “The Excess Crude Account was set up to serve as a stabilisation and savings account. Inflows into the ECA in the first quarter of 2013 amounted to N400.92bn.

“The inflow in the first quarter was N73.88bn (or 15.56 per cent) and N446.99bn (or 52.72 per cent) lower than the N474.8bn and N847.91bn recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, respectively.

“The sum of N606.12bn was withdrawn from the account in the first quarter of 2013.”

According to the document, the N606.12bn was withdrawn from the ECA as follows: payment of petroleum product subsidy, N50bn; distribution among three tiers of government (augmentation), N485.02bn; and transfer for the special intervention fund, N71.10bn.”

Further analysis of the actual performance of the oil and non-oil revenue receipts in the first quarter of 2013, according to the document, showed a mixed trend in the revenue.

For instance, an appraisal of the oil revenue in the first quarter of 2013 showed that the oil and gas royalties of N216.01bn, gas flared penalty of N1.12bn and petroleum profit and gas taxes of N814.22bn exceeded their respective quarterly expected estimates of N190.27bn, N620m and N590.79bn by N25.74bn (or 13.53 per cent), N500m (or 79.84 per cent) and N223.43bn (or 37.82 per cent), respectively.

On the other hand, crude oil sales of N724.84bn, gas sales of N64.0bn, rent of N100m and other oil and gas revenue of N380m were lower than their quarterly projections of N1.060tn, N89.90bn, N220m and N770m by N336.14bn (or 31.68 per cent), N25.90bn (or 28.81 per cent), N130m (or 56.82 per cent) and N390m (or 51.17 per cent), respectively.

The report stated, “In the first quarter of 2013, the actual net oil revenue that accrued into the Federation Account was N967.84bn, indicating a shortfall of N245.96bn (or 20.26 per cent) below the projected quarterly estimate of N1.213tn.

“On the other hand, the net oil revenue in the first quarter of 2013 was higher than the N905.69bn net oil revenue recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012 by N62.15bn (or 6.86 per cent).

“In spite of the favourable oil prices at the international market, the below-than-projected performance of the net oil revenue in the first quarter of 2013 was due to the fall in oil lifting figure during the period.

“A comparative analysis of the data further indicates that the aggregate gross oil revenue receipts in the first quarter of 2013 were not only lower than their respective projections for the period, but were also short of the corresponding levels in the same period of 2012.

“The low performance can be attributed to the incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region during the period.”

For non-oil revenue receipts, the report stated that N448.68bn was received within the first three months of 2013.

This, it added, signified a shortfall of N264.24bn (or 37.06 per cent) below the quarterly estimate of N712.92bn.

It said, “In the first quarter of 2013, the actual gross non-oil revenue of N448.68bn was received. This signifies a shortfall of N264.24bn (or 37.06 per cent) below the quarterly estimate of N712.92bn.

“A breakdown of the non-oil revenue items showed that all the items fell below their quarterly projected estimates. Value Added Tax of N180.41bn; Company Income Tax of N158.33bn and Customs and Excise Duties of N109.94bn were below their quarterly estimates of N236.32bn, N248.01bn and N198.24bn by N55.91bn (or 23.66 per cent), N89.68bn (or 36.16 per cent) and N88.3bn (or 44.54 per cent), respectively.”

Compared to their respective fourth quarter of 2012 outcomes, VAT, CIT and Customs and Excise Duties fell by N3.42bn (or 1.86 per cent), N9.76bn (or 5.81 per cent) and N11.07bn (or 9.15 per cent), respectively.

“The low performances of these revenue items in the first quarter of 2013 can be attributed to the slow pace of economic activities at the beginning of the year and it is expected that the trend will improve in the subsequent quarters of the year,” the report added.

Channels Television Posted date: November 19, 2013 In:

The federal government has denied allegations by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state that $5 billion is missing from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), describing the allegation as “absolutely shocking and false”.

The federal government pointed out that the governor could not have denied knowledge of the status of the ECA, when his state benefitted handsomely from the share of the $5 billion, which was severally used to augment revenue shortfalls for sharing to the three tiers of government.

Amaechi had alleged during the retreat of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which he chairs, in Sokoto at the weekend, that $5 billion had disappeared from the ECA and demanded explanations from the government agencies responsible.

However, in a press statement yesterday (Monday), the Federal Ministry of Finance said: “Amaechi cannot credibly deny knowledge of the status of the ECA,” insisting that “he has been closely involved and actively participated in making requests to the presidency for the ECA to be shared for the purpose of augmenting the regular allocations from the Federation Account whenever there was a shortfall.”

The statement further adds that the $5 billion in the ECA had been shared to the three tiers of government to make up for the revenue shortfalls during the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) process.

“Part of this fund also went for SURE-P payments and the balance for subsidy payments to oil marketers,” it added.

The ministry said Rivers State received N56.2 billion, the second highest share among the states, from January to September 2013 from the ECA, adding that the amount included N43 billion for shortfalls plus N12 billion released for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

“In fact, earlier this month (November 2013) Rivers State along with other states, benefitted from the sharing of $1 billion from the ECA to augment the allocations.
“It is therefore curious that Governor Amaechi seems not to know the whereabouts of the N56.2 billion which Rivers State has received from the ECA this year,” the statement added

The statement also faulted Amaechi’s allegation that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, refused to sign the African Development Bank (AfDB) loan for a water project in Port Harcourt.

“The loan in question has been appraised but it is yet to be negotiated. Before the minister can sign it, it has to go through the negotiation process and be considered and cleared by both the Board of the African Development Bank and the Federal Executive Council. So the issue of the minister refusing to sign it simply does not arise.

“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala handles issues concerning the states on the basis of professionalism and equity,” the statement said.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/11/19/89496/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

SLIDE waxie: i don't care wot u say, but only a fool will remain truthful in Nigeria under the context of an election!!

So, when i knw that all other parties will rig to death, i shld just expect truth to prevail and fold my arms?

What sane man leaves his property for robbers without doing all things to protect it?

So as a Christian, if u av a gun and an arm robber tries to break into ur home with ur family around, will u abide by 'thou shall not kill' rule and watch him molest, terrorize, maim and loot ur family or shoot him at the slightest opportunity?

Even though u knw u av killed, u will still face the court and claim its in defense. ain't it?

So, if PDP, who will rig was able to amass 30,000 extra votes for itself, will it count as APC's? Only a fool won't counterattack an opposition's tactic!

In 2003 in ogun state, we voted for AC, PDP won! Clear day robbery!
By 2007, we voted again for ACN against PDP, but now, the people won. Did u knw how?

Cos we went all out against the robbers, those who can participate in the robbery did so, but this time, they carried the loot to our side!

Stop being an hypocrite! We knw in edo, the PDP who has lost the seat will come back in full force and that required more stern counter-measures!
Who is a saint, you?

coming from a proressive that claims they want to transform and reform nigeria and wipe away corruption. Like odumakin said APC is a GBAJUEE (419)political party.

Tintinix: How many people like me are just realizing that there are State and Local government chapters of this SURE-P project!
I haven't heard anything about it in Rivers State!

Madam NOI next step, please issue an explanation to the dwindling of the Excess crude Oil account flagged by Amaechi and co.
Thanks!

yes there is sure-p funds for for state and local government that ur state governor collects and the FG always publishes how much the FG, state and local government share on the pages of news paper but I guess ur to fixated on what the FG does with its own that u don't bother asking what ur state and local goverment chairman has been doing with the billions they've received to better ur life.. Am even happy this aligation came up and I want the house to investigate how both the FG, state and local government acct for how they spent those monies accurued to them since SURE-P started let see who would be vindicated

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA— THE national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, alleged that governors of All Progressives Congress, APC, donated money ahead of last Saturday’s Anambra State governorship election to import thugs and cause mayhem in the state.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who urged APC to be good losers, said that the antics of the party was to use propaganda and blackmail to discredit the Anambra governorship election and create confusion in the minds of people of the state and Nigerians generally.
He added that whenever the opposition wins election, INEC was doing well and whenever it loses election, the electoral body would then be condemned as not doing well.
Metuh said: “Whenever APC wins, INEC has done very well, when they are not winning in an election and when they are losing, INEC has compromised.
“The NWC has released a statement that INEC should try and resolve all genuine com-plaints while we enjoin them to disregard all pure propaganda deceit and falsehood.
Tasks INEC
“We await INEC to fix a date for the conclusion of the process of the Anambra governorship election in the interest of the people of the state, genuine democracy and committed Nigerians.
“We want to alert the entire nation of the antics of APC and their campaign on the use of the instrumentality of blackmail and propaganda to attempt to discredit the Anambra election as a way of creating doubts in the minds of Nigerians on the electoral system, especially having discovered that it was not practicable for APC to win the confidence of Nigerians in electoral victories.
“In Ondo State, we had an election where APC came third. In the Delta re-run, we had an election and APC came fourth. In Anambra, from the result released so far, APC is coming third, but they want to discredit the entire process.
“In the last three days before the election, APC attempted to import thugs into Anambra to manipulate the election and alter the course of the election, but they were apprehended by security forces.”
Metuh, who noted that the party had directed its members to continue to rally round its candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye, for the election, commended Nwoye for showing in less than two weeks of his campaign that PDP was the preferred party of the people of Anambra.
He said if PDP had settled all its nomination and court crises, the party would have won the election with a landslide.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/anambra-guber-pdp-accuses-apc-importing-thugs/

The same rail system that buhari and his gang of coupist distroyed is gradually but surely coming back to life..... Kudos to the FG.....

By Omoh Gabriel
LAGOS — Nigeria’s economic growth, GDP, rose in the third quarter as the oil industry’s contraction eased and agricultural output increased.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics,NBC, said that the amount of goods and services produced in the country in the month of July, August and September 2013, (Gross Domestic Product) rose to 6.81 per  cent on an annual basis. This it said was the fastest rate of growth this year, compared with 6.18 per cent in the second quarter.
The Africa Development Bank, AfDB, had said that the outlook for growth of the economy remains positive while listing the downside risks to include security challenges arising from religious conflict in some states and slower global growth.
According to the AfDB, as economic growth is largely driven by capital-intensive sectors, it has not translated into sufficient job creation and poverty remains high. As a result, Nigeria has a low Human Development Index, HDI. The country has made some progress towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, albeit slowly and unevenly.
“There is a high need to diversify the Nigerian economy into the non-oil sector. This would help expand the sources of growth and make it broad based, both socially and geographically. Further development of agriculture, manufacturing and services could broaden growth, create employment and reduce poverty.”
The Nigerian economy slowed down from 7.4 per cent growth in 2011 to 6.6 per cent in 2012. The oil sector continues to drive the economy, with average growth of about of 8.0 per cent, compared to 0.35 per cent for the non-oil sector. Agriculture and the oil and gas sectors continue to dominate economic activities in Nigeria.
The fiscal consolidation stance of the government has helped to contain the fiscal deficit below 3.0 per cent of the  GDP. This, coupled with the tight monetary policy stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, helped to keep inflation low.
According  to the NBS “On an aggregate basis the economy when measured by the Real Gross Domestic Product, GDP, grew by 6.81 per cent in the third quarter of 2013. This was higher than the 6.18 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2013 and 6.48 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2012.
“The nominal GDP for the third quarter of 2013 was estimated at N11.16602639 trillion, up from the N10.96727289 trillion estimated for the corresponding quarter of 2012 by 1.81 per cent, and N10.20483797 trillion recorded in the second quarter of 2013 by 9.41 per cent.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/economy-expands-6-81-third-quarter/

Apc na gbajue characters full there

According to channels tV

Result announced by inec

APGA = 172,000

PDP = 94,000

APC= 92,000

Omexonomy: But we are told that tinubu and his gangs are the mouth pieace of yoruba people and they want to include oshiomole. What a set of clownsg

that's the stereotype The apc goons would want you to believe on nairaland and the print media. The upcoming ekiti and osun election would teach them a lession before 2015. They can yap and make all sorts of noise that they want on social media but one thing I always assure them and their pay master is that the SW electorates has seen through their deceit ,fraud and propoganda. I stated this in one thread and of course they came with their normal abuse and foaming from the mouth but come 2015 they would be taught a lesson. Most of these goons are so ignorant that I don't even respond to their pathetic ranting any more.

By Dapo Akinrefon
Mr Yinka Odumakin is the National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere. In this interview, he takes a swipe at the All Progressive Congress, APC, for kicking against the National Conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Excerpts:
In recent times, you have taken a decision that is favorably disposed to the National Conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan. What is the basis of your optimism?
Dr Tunji Braithwaite said at the town hall meeting recently, that the  conference is a divine agenda to perhaps give Nigeria a lease of life because Nigeria, as it is, is heading for the precipe. Next year will be our centenary celebration and there is a widespread mood among those who are frustrated with the way Nigeria has distorted the aspiration of its people. And that may be the  year to put an end to Nigeria.

*Yinka Odumakin
Here is President Goodluck Jonathan who, two years ago, said there was no need for a National Conference. All of a sudden, he changed his mind. I think it is something that all those who want this country to continue, who love this country and who believe that there is an alternative for this country before it disintegrates, should grab with both hands to ensure that we sit down for the first time in our history since 1914 that we were amalgamated to discuss this nation.
The North and South did not meet until 1946, though amalgamation took place in 1914. There is a structural imbalance. So, this conference has given us an opportunity for the component units of the country to come together, for the first time, and discuss their union of how they want to live together so that we can live in peace and harmony.
The suspicion is that President Jonathan has been stifled by the North, which is clamouring for power and that his sudden change of mind is spurred by the fact that he wants power in 2015.
Well, sceptics are free to their opinions and I think the issue is that the credibility of President Jonathan is at stake or that he wants power but I think that should not be the consideration of those who love this country. It is just the fact that he has provided a window for reforms and we should turn that window into a door.
I have said it before that the fears of the cynics is that they doubt Jonathan’s intention and also that they do not want Nigeria restructured. The major groups, given that the Okunrounmu panel has been going round the country, there is an emerging consensus that every section of Nigeria wants a conference. There may be divergence on how we should compose and there is the consensus that representation should be on the basis of nationalities.
There is a kind of understanding that the existing geo-political zones should be used as basis for representation. Every section of this country has accepted the conference but the only people who are against this conference are the All Progressive Congress.
What informed your allegation?
It shows that they are in politics not for the people but about themselves. I think they have this thinking that this is their best time to go to the centre. They have been recruiting  people from the Peoples Democratic Party which they said was a corrupt and useless party, they have been going round to meet governors to join them. There are some delusions in their approach, they must be poor students of history to think that they can vote any sitting president out of office.
So for a group of people to think that one man will be in charge of the armed forces and they will still defeat him, I want to see them making that history. More importantly, people, over the years, have been talking about true federalism and the rest this is an opportunity for us to achieve that,and to now begin to raise all kinds of excuses to frustrate the desire of our people to get out of bondage shows one thing, they want to lead the people they do not understand.
It takes the Yoruba people to come to a consensus on any issue but once they come to that consensus, it will be difficult to change position. Those who did it in the First Republic saw it, those who followed Abacha in 1993 to 1999, what happened to them? From the 1950s, what the Yoruba have fought for is Nigeria’s autonomy, true federalism, now they want to have that autonomy and some people want to stand on their way and say they cannot have it saying they should wait till after the 2015 election.
They are deceiving our people. Go and ask for the APC manifesto today, it is there that they are committed to the same Constitution that enslaves our people. So if they say we should wait till after election, who are they deceiving, when they have written in their manifesto that they are committed to the existing Constitution? They just want to do ‘Gbajue’ for our people or one chance. And our people will not fall for that. From what happened in Akure and Lagos, it was clear that there was no organisation in Yoruba land that is not in support of this conference.
Afenifere, Yoruba Unity Forum, OPC – everybody was there!  It was clear where we are. So they are standing against the people and I watch them and laugh.  One man came in the plane, he had not even stepped down from the plane and he said he does not want the conference and all of you now say that is the thing.  Were the present governors in Yorubaland the same governors in Yorubaland in 1999?
How can we talk about constitutional development and issue for Nigeria and some people, who are governors in the South-west, would not think they should consult their leaders – those who are the authorities in their states? That Fashola would not even ask Mr. Tunji Braithwaite: ‘Sir, what do you think about this matter? before taking sides with a man who just jumped down from the plane, who has not talked to anybody?
That in Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun would not go to Kola Ajibola, a former Attorney-General, a former World Court judge – ‘what do you think sir, about this matter?’ before following a man who just came from the plane and was takling about the conference. That in Ekiti State, a Kayode Fayemi would not think that:  what does Chief Afe Babalola or Wole Olanipekun think about this matter? Let this conference hold, after that, you will come and face the Yoruba people.
How do you think this conference can be useful such that the Yoruba race can make the best out of it?
Of the tripod in Nigeria, Yoruba is the only one that has never questioned the corporate existence of Nigeria. After the legislative crisis of 1946, the Sadauna was quoted to have said “the mistake of 1914 has come to fore”, that is the amalgamation was a mystic. And in the revenge coup of 1966, the theme was ‘Araba’, lets divide Nigeria.
In  fact, after the 1953 motion by Enahoro for independence, the North came out with their own agenda which amounted to nothing but confederation.  When the Igbo got frustrated, they took up arms against Nigeria for three and a half years. In fact, at every point, in spite of what they did to Awolowo between 1960 and 1965,  Yoruba never took arms against Nigeria, to say let us divide the country.
For five years, we engaged Abacha; there was no resolution that we should divide Nigeria. So we believe Nigeria can prosper through federalism and Yoruba will be going to the conference asking for true federalism and regional autonomy. That is what we want out of this conference because we know the benefits and we know that dangers of not having it. Any experiment with a unitary Constitution in a multi-ethnic and multi-lingua nation is bound to fail. And if you are in doubt, go to Sudan – two major nationalities on unitary constitution were at war for over 50 years.
In Cyprus; the Spanish speaking and the Turkish speaking, for over 1,000 years they have been together, there is still tension.  In Syria today, the Kurds have been asking for autonomy for a long time. Even the problem in Iraq was because the one million Kurds there were asking for autonomy. Yugoslavia has disappeared from the world map since 1991.
So we believe that for Nigeria not to disintegrate, we need to come together, understand ourselves and then constitute ourselves in a way that we can live together in peace and harmony. Why Nigeria is not working is that it is said that the speed of a convoy is that of the slowest moving vessel. That is, if you have ten vessels and there is one among them that does not have locomotion like the rest, that will be the speed of that convoy; except the others get frustrated and decide to break away from that convoy, they will continue to move at the same speed.
That is what Nigeria has been doing in 53 years, because we are not exposed to the same level of speed at the same time. Between 1955 and 1965 when Awolowo led Western Nigeria, the least we spent on education was 29.8 percent in any year. There was even a time he spent 41 percent. Now suddenly you  came and say you want…unitarism – you want to standardise – you want all of us who have not invested that kind of money to go at the same pace. So for as long as your son cannot score 200 in JAMB, my son who scores 201 does not have a place in the university whereas your own son who scored 100, because he is not from my area where I’ve invested in education over a long time, must go to the university while there is no space for my own.
The second thing, it is said that birds of identical pulmage flock together. That is the normal thing, but in order not for birds of identical pulmage to flock together in Nigeria, Nigeria puts all the birds in one cage and locked them up and then because the birds are not in their natural habitats – because birds are supposed to fly – but they cannot fly anymore, then start to peck and bark at themselves inside the cage.
But now the president has gone ahead to say the outcome of the conference is to be submitted to the National Assembly as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment, which those who against the idea have further pointed to as part of the flaws of the proposed conference?
The statement made by the president was a convenient excuse for those who don’t want the conference ab-initio. Well, even if President Jonathan said we would take it to the National Assembly, which we have disagreed with, is it not better than them who said they are committed to the current Constitution that enslaves our people?
We have disagreed with the president on that and I think the president himself must have seen what the people are saying. The final authority lies with the Nigerian people and it is very clear.  The president put his view on the table but his view may not be the view. When we finish, the National Assembly promulgates our constitution into law; they will repeal the current the present decree which Abdulsalami promulgated; Decree 24, and put in the new Constitution that has been produced by we the people.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/national-confab-apc-standing-people-odumakin/