₦airaland Forum

It would surely have been better to have a brand new stadium named in honor of Awo, but that doesn't detract from his legacy. It merely shows the indolence and visionlessness of leadership in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general for the last so many decades.

I hope the day would come when the OA stadium would be rebuilt - but that would require replacing these indolent leaders roaming around our landscape.

becomrich5:
It is sure a shame,  So they did not think awolowo merit anything new, than the over 50 years liberty stadium. O ma see.

If they loved awolowo they could have said they was going to build a new stadium or  airport in Ogun state  and named it after Awolowo, Old building, Oma see. So they do not even believe awo deservse anything in abuja. ?? O mase.

An ordinary stadium in lagos with better facility was named after thunder balogun. O mase, awolowo ni wa wa se ba yi. Iya ti je Yoruba. Yoruba people are suffering.   But they find it ok to build new road in the east, but they could not find it to built anything new.

In Benin republic. We shall build a Brand new stadium to the glory of God, if they let go. Name after chief Obafemi Awolowo. Better than Abuja stadium.


The the grace of God if edo,delta and Yorubas join the republic of benin, awolowo name shall be on one of the stadium that looks like this. .


If not for fashola, Yorubas stadium all look like secondary school stadium over here.

Iya je Yoruba people. O mase.  May God hear our prayer and we leave the people.

https://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/wembley-stadium.jpg




Ghana stadium, in a small town about the size of Oyo town.



[img]http://3.bp..com/_xFPS9xyZgnI/S_Y9tMs-xrI/AAAAAAAAABU/4lC5beU5mQo/s1600/Stadium_tamale2.jpg[/img]

Not that I don't understand your point, but Awo was a watershed in Yoruba history. In a mere few years he advanced both infrastructure and education farther into the future than anyone has been able to do ever since. Fashola is showing flashes of that brilliance, but not quite yet -he is borrowing a lot of money to do it - still you cannot take away from him these past few years in Lagos, and if he carries it through and improves on it during his 2nd term his name would be written in gold.

[size=14pt]Liberty stadium was the first in the whole of AFRICA[/size] - you don't go putting someone else's name on that other than the one under whom it was built!

Awolowo was greedy for achievements on behalf of the people, we should be greedy in commending his legacy.

If Yorubaland developed at the rate Awo had in mind and could have achieved, but for petty politics, we would have so many stadia to name for whoever deserved it.

abadaba:
No he does not deserve it. The univ at Ile Ife was named after him. The biggest hostel in Unibadan was named after him. You can not name everything after him.
I suggest the Cocoa House is named after him and Liberty stadium remains Liberty stadium or Bola Ige stadium, even Fajuyi deserves a short.

This is a really good observation.

They are trying to sell their products to the youths who flock to this kind of shows, but they will ultimate sell more beer if those youth are better trained to earn more in the future!

abadaba:
Awolowo has had University of Ile-Ife named after him. The liberty stadium would have been named after Fajuyi or former Oyo state gov--Bola Ige. This is wrong.

I am not sure about that. Chief Bola Ige certainly did his part to carry on Awo's legacy, but his time on the political scene was shorter. I am sure things that represented his legacy have been named after him, but these are things Pa Awo did 50 years ago that still rank well with the best we have built since then.

Also, that useless Akala man is eating crow trying to fight for his political life - one of the things he supported early in his tenure was a flimsy excuse by some people to remove Awo's statue. I don't know if he ever replaced it, although he seem to have suggested he would!

We need to recognize where politics end and where our common interests begin - those who have castigated Awo's accomplishment in Yorubaland have shown little compared to the man. Moreover, the Nigerian unity they "claimed" to be fighting for turned out to be a big ruse by dictators and corrupt politicians alike to arogate power to themselves.

Pa Awo deserves it.

According to her, "Governor Babatunde Fashola has mandated the resuscitation of uniformed clubs and societies like the Boys' Scout and the Girls' Guide to create positive social values. He mandated reading time in schools to ensure that children have extra time to read on their own."

I had wondered how these kind of clubs are fairing under our dilapidated system. This is what happens when you allow IBB and the like to ride roughshod over the entire system just because the leaders are sick. Our educational system died when NPN rigged elections (especially at the state level) in 1983 and got kicked out a few months later.

Kobojunkie:
Abegi . . . . Less talking, more DOING already!!! Make we see am start acting to fix the state. Spare us the lecture for now until you establish yourself as a different kind of politician.

Heh! You just like to cut through the chase, don't you?. Give the man some room - it was a speech to a mark an occassion.

I agree, we need to see what he is really going to do, but words also matter.

Reality is beginning to stare the irredentists in the face. They select somebody like IBB from PDP and Buhari wins handily. Even with Jonathan, Buhari would be tough but can be overcome with the reach of PDP.

Beaf:
More than likely, Ciroma is battling for relevance and brown envelopes. Regardless, he and his crew of bats represent the greatest danger to Nigeria and Jonathan.
Ciroma represents the last of a dying breed, a greedy cabal that will sell their owns kids last drop of milk to line their pockets.

Ciroma and Jonathan will never be on the same side of the fence. Ciroma will fall in line to save face or go to jail, but Jonathan will never compromise.

DapoBear:
I like Fayemi. I hope he does well and doesn't disappoint us.

Ileke-IdI:
Me and you both.
Ekiti a gbe a o!! God continue to lead you, Fayemi!

I agree.  These ACN governors seem to be leaders that are really thinking about doing something right for Nigerians in their domain. They may not know exactly how or even what, and that is where we come in - follow them closely and speak up as needed.

This is my main attraction to Jonathan and Ribadu as well. Buhari is good too, but I am afraid old soldier never die!

What do you say to the approach of Northern leaders insisting on zoning?
Do you know what they call politics? Politics is blowing hot air. They can talk about this and that, don’t mind that. They abuse one another and tomorrow morning, they are the best of friends. When you see politicians trading words with one another, don’t join them. I can assure you that Adamu Ciroma and Jonathan would soon be on good terms. I am telling you. So, newspapers that come between them are the ones to suffer. Just laugh and see it as words politicians use in order to get a clap from the crowd.

By DURO ADESEKO
Saturday, November 13, 2010

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is a leading member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was the chairman of the declaration committee of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation. He presented President Goodluck Jonathan to Nigerians at the Eagle Square on the day he declared his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.

In this interview, Tukur, said the Northern Leaders Political Forum (NPLF) is merely playing to the gallery with the intention of impressing Nigerians with their tough talks on zoning. He posited that the reality of today is that President Jonathan is wearing the presidential gown, adding that his concern is that the gown should not be torn apart.

“If those opposed to him can take off the gown democratically, it will still be a PDP president in control of the presidency,” he said.

Tukur advised Nigerians not to take the comments of political leaders seriously, as they will soon settle and become the best of friends. Specifically, he said that Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who is spearheading the retention zoning in the PDP and President Jonathan would soon become the best of friends. He said that journalist who get themselves involved, to the extent of coming between Jonathan and Ciroma, are the ones who would suffer in the end.
Tukur gave reasons he is supporting Jonathan, with emphasis on the fact that zoning is not sacrosanct. He would want Nigerians to look at the zoning argument from the point of reality.

He also spoke on the politics of the first and second republics and concluded that politicians of today are only interested in positions and money.

As a leading member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what exactly do you understand by zoning in the party?
Zoning, in PDP, was meant to bring that philosophy of inclusiveness, because in democratic parlance the majority always have their way, in electing the president, members of the National Assembly and other elective offices. This is because it is by majority vote. But if your philosophy is not winner-takes-all, you fashion something into it to add value or colour or sense of belonging. In Nigeria, if you say you are only going by figures, the North is more populated. There is the tendency that people will support their region, religion or their ethnicity. Politics does not rest on that alone. Otherwise, you find that there cannot be that integration, which we are looking for. We need that sense of belonging that will make people to take Nigeria as theirs and you bring something into the arrangement. So, the PDP said let us have zoning, in order to make sure the North and South can have it in turn.

The position of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP that Jonathan can contest, because he had joint ticket with the late Umar Yar’Adua and that others is free to contest is confusing. Could you explain it?
People refuse to understand. You can make your own laws. They are not sacrosanct. Sometimes you have to go by your wisdom and your understanding of the reality of the situation. Jonathan has never contested or campaign for any elective post. It is by providence or circumstance that he is today the sitting president of Nigeria. Even if Yar’Adua was alive, he could still have been the vice president of Nigeria. The deputy and the president are like the tyre of the same vehicle. You need a spare, in case you have a puncture. So, it is normal that Jonathan should continue that ticket without any hindrance. What I expected from the PDP and all Nigerians, when providence took Umar and we were left with Jonathan, was to say that Jonathan should continue. It should be a kind of endorsement without election. I was thinking that when Jonathan presented himself, I expected that after all of us at the Eagle Square presented Jonathan to Nigeria and the whole world, with all serving governors in Nigeria in attendance, Nigerians would say: Jonathan, continue for the next four years. Everybody would have clapped and we won’t have any problem. We should have said let elections hold for only governors and other posts. That is what I expected.

This would have ensured that we all have a sense of belonging. Nigeria is our country and we abide by the will of God. He gave and he takes. But he left us with somebody. After all, we did not oppose Jonathan becoming the vice president of the country. The vice president means the vice president. Immediately there is no president, the vice president takes over.

Why don’t people avoid unnecessary controversy? We should look at the future. If you know the past and you know the reality of the present, why don’t you factor for your future? The reality of today will now fashion the future. We need peace here. We need understanding and unity. We are talking about integration that can unite us into one Africa. The reality is that it is better to allow Jonathan to continue without any rancour and finish the four years. So, when he finishes the four years, we talk of other things.

Was there any time northern political leaders met in 1998 and agreed that power should shift to the South?
I am not a witness to that. But I know we agreed in PDP, because of the episode of June 12. We felt that there was some misunderstanding. It was as if we, in the North, did not want a southerner as president. It was as if we did not particularly want a Yoruba as president. In our philosophy, that is not the case. Every Nigerian has the right to aspire to be president of Nigeria. That is what it should be. We decided that this time, it must be a Yoruba man. So, everybody supported Olusegun Obasanjo without any reservation. The people of the West did not elect Obasanjo. Go and find out. So, our party is not based on ethnicity. It is on understanding of inclusiveness.

In 1998, you put up a very plausible argument that the Yoruba people are only interested in good governance and gave the example of how the people of Lagos appreciated Buba Marwa, who is a northerner while deriding Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who hails from Yoruba land. People are now surprised at your present position.
In my philosophy, it is not the person, but the nation. Nations exist when there is peace and tranquility. So, the reality today is that you need to continue in order to maintain unity, security and peace.

Is your present position based on principle?
Yes. It is on principle. I always work on principle because it is only on principle that you can… I have a principle, in the sense that you allow justice and fair play to be your guide and not your emotions. You may like something, but it can be selfish. If what is not in your favour can bring justice and unity and even though personally you are offending your personal desire, please take it.

You supported Peter Odili in 2007 and he is from the Niger Delta. Many people were surprised.
Peter Odili came out and the zone from which he came always works with the North. The South South always works with the North right from the beginning of our independence. It was either South South or South East. That was why we tried to persuade the South West, by all means, to come into the mainstream of Nigerian politics. It is not good for the country. There should be unity in the way they do things. The majority of the components that make up Nigeria should be ready to work together. No one should work with one leg. It is better to work with two legs.

Do you expect all Nigerians to be in one political party?
No. I don’t mean that everybody should be in one party. If you bake a cake, there will be flour, salt, sugar and there will be pepper. It doesn’t mean that all must be in different places. No. You mix it together, so that you will enjoy it. If you make tea, you have teapot and you put sugar and milk in it. But at the beginning, you bring them separately. When you put them together, they can’t separate again and you will have a beautiful cup of tea.

Why did Peter Odili, who seemed to have upper hand at the time, suddenly step down? You should be in a position to know.
This is politics. It is what they call hard politics. That is the reason sometimes they tell you that politics is hard ball game. Everybody thought that if Peter would not be president, he must be vice president. It was so obvious, isn’t it? He is also from the South South. But he was not given that position.

What happened?
I don’t know. I wish I knew. But here again, it must be hard politics. If I were part of the decision, I would have asked.

As one of his strongest supporters, people expect he would explain to you that he was withdrawing and give reasons for doing so.
He didn’t. The fact is that I love Odili as a person, like my children. Anybody at the age of bearing is my son or my daughter. Believe me. I always pray for them to do better than I, in whatever good thing I have ever done, not the bad one. It is not in everything they ask my advice. But if they ask my advice, I will give them.

What was your position during the third term debate?
We did not want a sitting president after his term. It negates our constitution. Eight years is good enough for a president and a governor. After that, they should step aside and allow others to continue. The fact is that I never considered it to be a serious affair. I knew it wouldn’t fly. Nigerians would not allow such a thing. Nigerians are too politically sophisticated and too constitutionally conscious than to allow any element of manipulation to hold sway.

You did not take any stand at the time?
I knew it wouldn’t work. Nobody ever asked me.

Would you say former President Obasanjo is your friend?
Yes. He is my friend. I worked with Obasanjo, since he was the Federal Commissioner for Works. I worked at the Nigerian Port Authority at that time. He really assisted me to get Yakubu Gowon, as head of state, to allow me to build more capacity for port authority.
He is my friend up till today. The first time he wanted to take this job, he was in my house in Kaduna, six o’ clock in the morning to tell me he wanted to be president of Nigeria.

Did you assist him?
Oh yes, I did. I was one of those who went round all our emirs and to all our leaders, both chiefs and the clerics to pray for him to make sure that he succeeds in becoming the president of Nigeria.

Did you see anything he did wrong when he was in power?
Yes. You cannot be there for eight years and do everything right. Yes, he made a lot of mistakes. He is pragmatic. Somebody asked me why I did not support former vice president, Alex Ekweme and I said no, the situation required an Obasanjo. It is just like having a driver and a truck driver in a rugged terrain. You don’t use your driver in a rugged terrain. You use your truck driver. So, we used Obasanjo because at that time, Nigeria was very rugged.

Did you ever point out his mistakes to him when he was in power?
No. I don’t need to tell you that. But I discussed with him. We discussed together. We agreed and we disagreed. I respect his view and I believe that he also respects my views. But that is not for the public because he is a friend of mine.

Are you satisfied with the performance of President Jonathan since he mounted the saddle?
How many months has he mounted that saddle?

May this year.
He has not been there for a year yet. You see, that is the problem of our people. We are too fast. Even if God wants to bring a baby, the baby would be conceived and remain for nine months in the womb. He won’t do it immediately. I tell you what I see now, when I go out, I don’t have to queue to buy fuel in the petrol station. Is it not good for me? I see them commissioning things. This is what I pray they should do, to be that commander-in-chief and get his own team to do what they need to do. Let his ministers work.

But many complain about the way he handles some issues. First, after the World Cup, he said Nigeria would not take part in football competition for two years. When FIFA threatened him and gave him 48-hour ultimatum, he quickly reversed his decision. France that was threatened at the same time ignored FIFA. Secondly, people complain about the way he handled the October 1 bomb blasts in Abuja.

Listen, you have come here to ask me about politics. If you say you want to talk about the good and the bad for Nigeria, I cannot give you that interview in one hour. For God’s sake, we are talking about politics and zoning. Don’t confuse me. Don’t confuse your readers .I have nothing to do with Jonathan and football. That is not my issue. That is not what you have come for.

Do you believe that President Jonathan is the best for the job today?
God gives power to whoever he wishes. Today, Jonathan is the president of Nigeria. That is the reality. Thank you.

Can you compare the politics of the first and second republics with the politics of today?
The politics of the First Republic was well centred according to what we inherited from Britain. It was mature politics. It was politics of issues and not politics of positions and money. It was politics of patriotism, as opposed to politics of division. So, at that time, people were patriotic. People didn’t talk about their tribes and regions. They talked about issues and development. They thought of what to take to their constituencies.

How do you see your political associates from the North insisting that zoning must be respected in 2011?
It is wrong. They are over-heating the polity. Why zoning? Zoning is only thinking of fairness to the generality of the people. But you also understand the reality of the day. What is the reality today? If, for example, you now say you want to push out Jonathan and you want somebody else, you want to create problem. Because Jonathan is supposed to be representing an area, as you are representing an area. He is sitting on the chair now.

Did you discuss this issue with them?
Well, they did not ask me. If they ask me, I will say what I think. I travelled and came back only to find out that they call them G15 or G20. If they called me I would have told them. Before they can take that kind of position, I expected that in politics today in Northern Nigeria, at least, if they can call 10 people, they could make Bamanga Tukur 11th of them.

You, Atku Abubakar and Jibril Aminu are the renowned politicians from your state. Why is it that you don’t agree among yourselves? Why are you not all backing Atiku who is contesting for president?
There is no question of disagreement. Yes. We disagree on principle. Even in my own home, we can disagree, if I find that the principle governing the home is not just. At the moment, Atiku and Jonathan are in the same PDP. It is a contest. If Atiku wins, I will support Atiku.

But you are supporting Jonathan?
Yes. You must understand PDP is one party. It is a party affair. They are contesting. To me, the reality at the moment is that Jonathan should be supported. Jonathan is wearing the gown now. Constitutionally, he is the right person to succeed Umar and he did so. Now, he said he wishes to continue and others also said they want to contest. Fine. They can contest. But as a member of that party, I am supporting Jonathan because he is now wearing the gown and the gown should not be allowed to be turn apart. If the people want to take the gown from Jonathan, I say it is all right.

What do you say to the approach of Northern leaders insisting on zoning?
Do you know what they call politics? Politics is blowing hot air. They can talk about this and that, don’t mind that. They abuse one another and tomorrow morning, they are the best of friends. When you see politicians trading words with one another, don’t join them. I can assure you that Adamu Ciroma and Jonathan would soon be on good terms. I am telling you. So, newspapers that come between them are the ones to suffer. Just laugh and see it as words politicians use in order to get a clap from the crowd.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/nov/13/national-13-11-2010-005.htm

Quote:“The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”

•As Oshiomhole Inaugurates Projects To Mark 2nd Anniversary
Written by Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City
Saturday, 13 November 2010

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has declared that the question of the national structure, which even elections cannot deal with, is the central issue that must be resolved in Nigeria’s quest for democratic development and effective governance.

Dr. Fayemi made the declaration in a lecture entitled “An Insider’s View of a Broken Electoral System and Proposals for Reform,” which he delivered on the occasion of the second anniversary of the assumption of office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State on Friday, in Benin City.

This came just as distinguished personalities who were present at the event poured encomiums on Governor Oshiomhole for what they described as his progressive transformation of Edo State in the last two years.

The dignitaries included the national chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu; governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fasola (SAN); governor of Kano State and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential aspirant, Ibrahim Shekerau; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ACN presidential aspirant, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; former Foreign Affairs Minister and ACN chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi; legal luminaries, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Mr. Femi Falana.

The Ekiti state governor said, “The notion, which paints a pre-conceived destination, almost a uni-directional focus on election as democracy - Have elections, and every other thing shall follow – is a seriously flawed one and there is now concrete evidence to suggest this with the retreat into façade, democracies in the West Africa sub-region particularly, with developments in Mauritania, Niger, Guinea Bissau and now Guinea-Conakry.”

According to Fayemi, “The question that many continue to pose will have to be answered with all its attendant ramifications: What is this nation called Nigeria? What does it mean to be Nigerian? What is the relationship between the citizens and the state? Can it survive its unitary, over-centralised nature? What is the nature of inter-governmental relations?”

Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said his administration has awarded contract for the rehabilitation of the Benin moat with a view to tackling the perennial flood problem in Benin City.

Besides, Oshiomhole said the road projects being executed by his administration were those with the greatest positive impact on the lives of the majority of the people of the state, just as he added that so far no road project had been executed in Government Reservation Area (GRA).

According to the governor, his administration could never be anti-workers in spite of budgetary and resource challenges, pointing out that he remained indebted to the people of the state because they gave him all they could and his obligation was to service that trust.

Oshiomhole spoke during the inauguration of some projects executed by his administration to mark his second year in office.

The projects included the 2nd West Circular Road/Aruosaghae Road; an 80-bed ultra-modern female hostel at the state-owned School of Health Technology; ultra-modern blocks of classrooms and state-of-the-art multipurpose hall at St. Maria Goretti College, a state-of-the-art Eye Centre at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital and  water fountain, all in Benin City.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/2549-fayemi-seeks-resolution-of-nigerias-structural-problems-as-oshiomhole-inaugurates-projects-to-mark-2nd-anniversary.html

Headlines Nov 13, 2010
No. 163 P.T.I. Road, Effurun home of Delta State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, guber aspirant; Mr. Jude Ukusare set ablaze on Thursday night, roasting his 73-year- old mother and a 9 -year-old niece alive
By Emma Amaize,Warri/Samuel Oyadongha
Militants, early yesterday bombed the Opokuma, Bayelsa State country home of the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, killing his police guard.

Also, earlier on Thursday, unidentified mercenaries attacked the Effurun, Delta house of an ACN governorship aspirant, Mr. Jude Ukusare with dynamite that claimed the lives of his 73- year old mother, Agnes and a nine year- old girl identified as Favour Najemo.

Mr. Alaibe is currently involved in rehabilitation of repentant militants.
The police guard’s name was given as Derigo.

A Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher, RPG, believed to have been abandoned by the invaders, was reportedly recovered from the scene by men of the Joint Task Force.
Troops have since condoned off the area.

A community source said residents were woken up by sporadic shooting.

ACN gov aspirant’s home too

The 73 -year old mother of an Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, governorship aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Jude Ukusare and a nine- year old girl, Thursday lost their lives after unidentified men bombed his Effurun residence near Warri.

Mr. Ukusare who was the target of the attack was not at home when the men believed to be members of a private political group struck at about 9 pm . He returned from a meeting to meet his house on fire.

The charred remains of his mother and the young girl were taken away in an ambulance yesterday to the mortuary.

Policemen from the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Delta State Police Command visited the burnt residence on 163 Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Road, Effurun, near Warri yesterday morning to carry out investigations. Saturday Vanguard also saw the Area Commander, Warri, Zanna Ibrahim and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ekpan Police Division, Mohammed Muazu, CSP, inspecting the razed building.

The Area Commander said the police would go all out to find the brains behind the incident and ensure that justice was done.


Sympathizers weeping uncontrollably at the Ukusare's home.Photos by Akpokona Omafuaire
It was learned that the some of the mercenaries who mingled with the crowd that gathered while the fire was on, refused fire fighters access to the house to put it off and the men went back to seek reinforcement.

Ekpan DPO, Muazu , who personally led policemen to the scene to disperse the hostile crowd about 45 minutes later, told Saturday Vanguard that he alerted the fire fighters when he received a distress call, but was taken aback when he was told that they (fire fighters) were stoned and chased away by some youths.

Ukusare told Saturday Vanguard that the attack had to do with politics, adding, “Some people don’t want me to be in the governorship race because they feel I am a threat to them and my chances of getting there is brighter, so they want to eliminate me.

“Apparently, they had been trailing me without my knowledge. I had been away from days and just returned from Abuja. They could have been monitoring me to know I was back and came at about 9.00 pm, not knowing that I had gone out for a meeting.

When they came, they were searching the whole compound and later, they fired bombs into one of the rooms.”

According to him, “Few days before the incident, a Hilux with unidentified occupants pulled off in front of my compound and asked some persons to detach one of my campaign posters on the wall for them. They refused to come down probably because they were many people around the place at that time.

“They did not succeed and the next day, at about 11.30 pm, they came again in the same Hilux vehicle, with one of them wearing a police uniform. The one with the police uniform came down himself to detach my poster. I was told about the two visits but I wondered what a policeman would be doing with my poster.

“However, there was power outage on Thursday and at about 9.00 pm, two men rode into the compound on a motor_cycle. They detonated two fire bombs and quickly disappeared. My parents were asleep and were jolted by the explosions. My father was later rescued and when I asked of my mother, I was told she ran away too.

“The situation was tense as the fire was still on. Nobody could go into the building. It was only yesterday (Friday) morning that we found out that my mother could not make it.

She was trapped and died in the inferno with the daughter of her younger brother, who slept in the house with her,” he said.

Ukusare corroborated the statement of the DPO that some onlookers pelted the fire fighters that came to quench the fire until they returned with police reinforcement.

He said that splinters of explosives used by the attackers were picked up in the compound by the police, adding, “I will, however, leave the police to do their work.”

Though, Ukusare said the attack was politically masterminded, a police officer who asked for anonymity told Saturday Vanguard, “I am not prejudging anything but I think it was two gas cylinders that exploded. However, investigation is on, let us wait and see.”

Initially, a source said it was PDP thugs that threw explosives into house of the governorship aspirant but a PDP leader in the area who commented on the allegation said, “How can they say it is in PDP when they know they are the ones fighting themselves.” in ACN.

The Court of Appeal had just ordered a re_run and the battle is definitely between the former governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Great Ogboru of the DPP. So, what is the business of the PDP with the ACN.

“This is a laughable because the AC candidate in the 2007 election, Chief Okocha was disqualified and I am not even sure the party will be part of the re_run, except there is a way they are going to make a case that the party is now ACN.

And even though Okocha was not validly nominated in 2007, as held by the court, somebody has been validly nominated by the party for the re_run in 2011.

Like I said, I don’t know what their plans are, but, assuming that is the agenda, it still had nothing to with the PDP. It is their internal matter,” he added.

[url]http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/militants-bomb-alaibe%e2%80%99s-house-kill-police-orderly/[/url]

Quote: "The President recalled that the late Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) leader started his political career early in life, explaining that the main ambition of Awolowo in life was to improve the quality of life of Nigerians."

That devotion to the life of the average Nigeria is the main reason why the man is both the most beloved and hated figure in Nigerian politics - depending on which side of the river you are standing. What is not in doubt are his legacy of contributions in terms of concrete & lasting achievements, and the many lifes he touched with policies that continue to pay forward for those who took advantage of the opportunity. Always in our hearts.

Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji
November 12, 2010 08:09PM

Twenty-Three years after the death of the former premier of the old Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday re-named the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan after the late sage.

The President made the announcement during a visit to the Ikenne home of the late politician as part of activities marking his 2-day official visit to the state. The stadium was built during Awolowo's tenure as the Premier of the old Western Nigeria.

Mr Jonathan who was accompanied by the Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, and his Oyo State counterpart, Adebayo Alao-Akala pledged to continue with Awolowo's dreams and vision, saying, "Awo, the voice of Wisdom, Awo, the voice of reasoning, Awo, the voice of courage."

The President recalled that the late Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) leader started his political career early in life, explaining that the main ambition of Awolowo in life was to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

"Chief Awolowo was a visionary leader. We will continue with his vision. We will continue with his dream to transform this great country so that those of us who are alive with his children, by the time his great grand children will get to our age, Nigeria will be a different country."

The President profusely thanked Hannah Dideolu Idowu Awolowo, the late sage's wife, for supporting his administration. "The Awolowo family is not the family of Ogun, it (family) has grown beyond his town, his region and state, it is now the family of Nigeria".

Earlier in her address, Mrs Awolowo told the visiting President "I wish to encourage you to be very strong and focused in your service to the fatherland. I would not wish to feign ignorance of the enormous challenges prevalent in governance in Nigeria, especially as such level as the Presidency".

She added further "The challenges are insurmountable. The presence of challenges is not to stop a man from reading his goal but to bring out the best in him." She volunteered to donate some books that her late husband wrote to analyze the challenges of the country and the solutions to them.

Mrs Awolowo thanked the President for honouring her late husband at Nigeria's 50th anniversary celebration as well as naming the Liberty stadium after him.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5641861-146/jonathan_renames_liberty_stadium_after_awolowo.csp

chyz1:
I'm still curious to what tempted them to go after him in the first place.

The kidnapper's camp was located behind his church, and they were getting water from the church.

I agree. Jonathan certainly chose an experienced hand for this project.

I consider this an introduction to the populace. Come January we need to start hearing about real programs, and so on.

mikeansy:
Even though Dalhatu Tafida did not necessarily state major policy differences on why Jonathan is great nor did he defend Jonathan's spending very well (i.e. Jets)

I must say his attitude to politics is very refereshing, what a Gentleman he is.

And thank you very much Saharareporters, what can we do without you?

Sahara Reports has obviously attempted to conduct interviews with the candidates. If you have the time please listen to these so we can begin to access these candidates.

From the little I have heard most of the questions are yet to address real issues of concern to the Nigerian people - but I haven't heard them all.

[size=14pt]Buhari[/size]
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[size=14pt]Tafida - GEJ Campaign Director - Part I[/size]
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[size=14pt]Momodu- Part I[/size]
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sulad82i:
whats funny about it?

You couldn't spot the 419?

Blazay:
With all the threads on this board on this topic, you still deemed it fit to start yet another on the same subject matter?
Being a 3 year-old shows maturity.
You on the other hand, are quite a zygote for starting this thread.

Aptly said

How low can you go? This how, you get suspended from an association of former "slave" economies because you cannot conduct simple elections.

Who is voting for A?: 1,2,3; Who is voting for B?: 1,2,3,4? B wins.

When you cannot get that done, then you deserve to be disowned by your former "master".

Who wants to be in such an association anyway?

Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69710:2011-fail-and-be-suspended-commonwealth-tells-nigeria&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

Nigeria received stern warning yesterday from the Commonwealth Organization on the need to abide to democratic values by conducting credible, free and fair elections in 2011.

The organization, which Nigeria belongs to by virtue of her being colonized by Britain warned that Nigeria will face sanctions if it fails, adding that no country can now aspire to be a member of the organization without demonstrating adherence to democratic values.

The Commonwealth had in November 1995 suspended Nigeria for executing nine Ogoni activists, including the popular playwright, Ken Saro Wiwa, during the regime of late Gen. Sanni Abacha.


While delivering a speech yesterday during a workshop on credible elections in Nigeria at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, leader of the Head of Africa Section, Commonwealth Secretariat, Amb. Ayo Oke, reminded Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the whole world is watching Nigeria for the conduct of the 2011 general elections.

Oke also told the INEC management that the Commonwealth was prepared to assist Nigeria to conduct elections that will meet international expectations.

He said: “This workshop is a tangible illustration of our commitment to Nigeria and the importance we attach to assisting INEC to organize a credible and well managed election in 2011 that Nigerians will be proud of.

“The Commonwealth is committed to supporting the development and consolidation of democracy in its member states, and has developed a strong international reputation on the basis of that political commitment and its practical support to democratic processes and institutions. Indeed, no country can now aspire to be a member of the Commonwealth without demonstrating adherence to democratic values.

“Democracy is a belief, and an aspiration, a process, a work-in-progress, and one which often involves challenge and change. The task of facing that challenge has brought us to this gathering.

“The people of Nigeria have hopes vested in INEC, and the Commonwealth stands ready to assist you in every possible way in meeting the democratic aspirations of the people. We welcome the opportunity to work by your side in this endeavour.

“We look forward to the successful sharing of experiences at this workshop, and trust it will be a useful step in helping you deliver a peaceful, orderly and credible elections in 2011.

“We must be mindful of the fact that the eyes of the world will be focused on Nigeria, before, during and after these elections. I wish you well, in this gargantuan and challenging task.”

The INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his earlier speech, said that the country had never been blessed with the conduct of a free and fair election that is openly endorsed by Nigerians and International observers.

Speaking on preparations made so far, Jega said: “We have adopted a methodology which will enable us do voters’ registration, polling units by polling units, within two weeks. By middle of December, the DDCM would have arrived and before the end of December, the machines would have been fully deployed to the states.

Kobojunkie:
Didn't the initial claim that it was from Iran on it's way out to palestine or was it Israel, come from the SSS? Or who made all that up?

It was Israel itself that made the claim.

na2day!:
Maybe they were trying to deflect the heat from some VIPs involved, uno naija naa!

alj harem:
gbam
this ppl are just lying to us

There is no "gbam" to that question in terms of SSS lying - we don't know at this point, and they didn't not make the initial claim.

Well, at least they are given us some news, instead of the backdoor resolution it appeared to have become.

Hopefully, they will keep us updated on developments. This is a national emergency, and though this news conference provided some useful info, it has raised more questions:

1. If it was meant for Nigeria, where is its final destination?
2. What is the plot behind importation of such deadly weapons?
3. Most importantly, WHO is/are behind this treasonable act?

We are watching and waiting!

This represent an immense contribution to the Nigerian economy, especially during this difficult global economic times. I only wished that more than half of these funds were going into investment in Nigeria.

In any case, the next time some fool complains about the contributions of Nigerians in the disapora - you know where to point them.

By Stanley Oronsaye
November 11, 2010 01:38AM
Nigeria is ranked first among the top 10 remittance recipients in 2010 in sub Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Remittances Factbook 2011 released on Tuesday.

Nigeria received $10 billion (about N1.5 trillion) from remittances, followed a distant second by Sudan, with $3.2 billion; Kenya, $1.8 billion; Senegal, $1.2 billion; and South Africa, $1 billion. The report also listed Nigeria among the top 10 emigration countries in the region alongside Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Sudan, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa.

The report described remittances to developing countries as a resilient source of external financing during the recent global financial crisis, with recorded flows expected to reach $325 billion by the end of this year, up from $307 billion in 2009. The report added that worldwide, remittance flows are expected to reach $440 billion by the end of this year.

The true size of remittances, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is believed to be larger.

Official data for the months of January-August 2010 indicate that the Central Bank supplied approximately 27.1 percent of the $52 billion of inflows to Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, with “autonomous sources” oil companies, international institutions, and remittances accounting for the rest.

Source of financial support

“Remittances are a vital source of financial support that directly increases the income of migrants’ families,” said Hans Timmer, director of development prospects at the World Bank.

“Remittances lead to more investments in health, education, and small business. With better tracking of migration and remittance trends, policy makers can make informed decisions to protect and leverage this massive capital inflow, which is triple the size of official aid flows,” Mr. Timmer said.

Christian Udechukwu, West Africa regional director, Money Transfer International (MTI), a money transfer firm, said more remittances inflow into the region can be achieved when regulators of countries, which have high numbers of Diaspora population, lower barriers on remittances from their countries. “These barriers are usually in terms of restrictions on minimum remittances, stiff documentation requirements, and outright refusal of permission to financial intermediaries to license companies who are keen to serve the diaspora remittances market,” Mr. Udechukwu.

The World Bank report stated that officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries are estimated to increase by six percent to $325 billion in 2010. This marks a healthy recovery from a 5.5 percent decline registered in 2009.

“In line with the World Bank’s outlook for the global economy, remittance flows to developing countries are expected to increase by 6.2 percent in 2011 and 8.1 percent in 2012, to reach $374 billion by 2012,” the report said.

The top remittance sending countries in 2009 were the United States, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Russia, and Germany. Worldwide, the top recipient countries in 2010 are India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and France. As a share of GDP, however, remittances are more significant for smaller countries - more than 25 percent in some countries.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Finance/5641033-147/nigeria_gets_n1.5tr_in_remittances_.csp

Any idea of the population of these two groups i.e. Ogoni & Eleme.

Environer:
Eleme is not ogoni although they were once under the same LGA as Tai- Eleme LGA. The languages are distinct and an Eleme folk needs to learn Ogoni to be able to speak it well. A few words sound similar though. Ogoni begins around Tai and extends to Gokana and Bori. I think it ends in the Bane waterside which is the country home of Saro Wiwa and in Akwa Ibom state. On the other hand, Eleme comprises of Alesa (refinery area) Aleto/Akpajo (Petrochemical area), Onne (Nafcon/wharf areas) Alode, Ebube, Ekporo, Agbonchia and Eteo. Eleme, all things being equal, should have been the richest single community in Nigeria but every thing there is not different from those in lesser endowed communities elsewhere.

The Elemes dare not engage the ogonis in a warfare because aside their close affinity, the Ogonis would simply swallow them due to their larger size, although these days wars are fought by how much weapons at your disposal and not by the number of fighters. So a richer Eleme, with all its wealth to purchase weapons, will probably give a poorer Ogoni a run for their population in a warfare.

alj harem:
quiet woman
i said u would be my first wife(1)
but for your punishment i demote u to second wife subject to your reaction in the room, i might change my mind
allah bless this union
Wannan albarka aure

Not funny at all - if you were trying to be funny!

alj harem:
ileki-idi
u are also coming with me, to be my first wife(head wife)
i hope u love the way we roll in the north
leave this yoruba men alone

ROFL

It is called checks and balances man. The NASS has become a "congregation of thieves" shouting hallelujah to their already overstreched bellies, allocating money to themselves and their cronies. This daylight robbey cannot continue uncorrected for too long.

Evil Brain:
This is insane. So the court is saying that one little man in Abuja can veto an ammendment passed by a two-thirds majority of both houses and 26 state assemblies?
This ruling has serious and far reaching consequences. It means it is now nearly impossible to pass any ammendment that in any way limits presidential power as the president can unilaterally block it. The president can also blackmail the national assembly by refusing to sign an ammendment unless it include clauses that favour him (think of GEJ trying to change the electoral act to allow public officers to vote as delegates in primaries)
The court just made it easy for a corrupt president to transform himself into a Hugo Chavez/Mugabe type tyrant. If this ruling survives on appeal it will be a major flaw in our constitution and the National assembly will have to pass another ammendment to fix it fast.
And then we'll have to hope that GEJ signs it (and being a PDP man, he probably won't). God help us.